"A spar?"
Rey blinked, caught off guard.
Lady A nodded, walking toward him with a faint smile. "Yes. It's not often I find someone interesting enough to spar with here. What do you say?"
Rey hesitated, his mind racing.
Sparring with Lady A wasn't just an opportunity to test himself—it was a golden chance to observe and potentially copy her abilities. Her reputation as the strongest in the Resistance was no exaggeration, and her Skill set was rumored to be borderline mythical.
If he could replicate the precise nature of her power, it would be a massive boost.
But his hesitation lasted a beat too long, and Lady A raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're scared," she teased, her tone light but her eyes watchful.
Rey narrowed his gaze. "Not scared, just… considering."
She chuckled, tilting her head. "Well, if you need extra motivation, how about this? Let's make a wager. If you win, you can ask me one thing—anything—and I'll answer. But if I win, the same applies to you."
Rey crossed his arms, intrigued. "Anything?"
She nodded.
He frowned slightly. "What would you even want to ask me?"
Lady A's violet eyes studied him intently, her smile softening. "I'd ask you why you look at me the way you do."
Rey froze, his thoughts grinding to a halt.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked carefully.
She shrugged, but her gaze didn't waver. "You look at me in a strange way. Sad and confused, sometimes bitter, but with a hint of… longing."
Her words hit too close to home, and for a moment, Rey struggled to respond. Then he forced a smile.
"You're imagining things."
"Am I?" she countered, her expression calm but curious.
Shaking off the discomfort, Rey refocused on the wager. "What about me? What if I win? What do you think I'd ask you?"
Her lips curved into a sly smile. "I suppose you'll have to win and find out."
Rey returned her grin. "Fair enough. But for the record, don't hold back. I'm stronger than I look."
Lady A's expression shifted, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I know that. I saw a recording of your match with Ezra. You took him down fast."
Rey raised an eyebrow.
"You're keeping tabs on me now? Sounds a little stalker-ish, don't you think?"
"Me? A stalker? That's rich coming from someone who stares at me like he's trying to solve a mystery." She laughed, the sound surprisingly light.
They both chuckled, the tension easing slightly.
But then her tone grew more serious.
"Just so you know, I'm not Ezra. If you don't give it your all, you'll regret it."
Rey smirked, stepping into position. "I wouldn't dream of it."
She mirrored his stance, her expression calm but focused. The air between them grew charged, the faint hum of the training hall seeming to amplify the anticipation.
Both of them locked eyes, ready to fight.
*******
'This guy…'
The training hall crackled with tension as Rey and Lady A stood across from each other.
The quiet anticipation in the air felt almost deafening. Lady A's gaze lingered on Rey, studying him with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.
Unlike everyone else in the Resistance, Rey didn't approach her with the same reverence. No awe-stricken stares, no formalities, no careful choice of words designed to appease her reputation.
He was... casual. Friendly, even.
As if they were equals.
As if they were familiar with each other.
'Have we met before?' The thought flitted across her mind, unbidden. But she quickly dismissed it, choosing instead to focus on the spar ahead.
Questions could wait.
She took a breath and activated her Special Ability. Her body ignited with a crimson aura, destructive energy swirling around her in visible waves.
~WHUUUUSSSHHH!!!~
Her muscles tensed, her physical abilities enhanced to their peak.
Rey's eyes narrowed as the energy rippled around her, and his stance shifted slightly in response.
Lady A smirked.
"Let's see what you're really made of."
In a blur of motion, she closed the gap between them, her speed now a staggering level.
~BAM!~
Rey barely had time to raise his arms before her first strike collided with his defenses, the force reverberating through his body.
The impact sent him sliding back, but he dug his heels in and braced himself. She pressed forward, her movements relentless as she unleashed a flurry of blows. Rey blocked and dodged where he could, his eyes sharp and calculating.
"You're fast," he muttered, deflecting a kick that could have knocked the wind out of him.
"And you're slow," she countered with a grin, delivering a spinning strike that forced him to retreat again.
Rey's energy flared briefly as he reinforced himself, his body glowing faintly.
He pushed back, his movements more deliberate now, meeting her strikes with calculated precision. For a moment, their exchange seemed evenly matched, but it didn't take long for Lady A to start gaining the upper hand again.
"You're holding back," she said, her voice firm as she ducked under a swipe and landed a sharp jab to his side. "Stop wasting my time."
Rey winced but kept his stance, his expression unreadable.
Lady A frowned, then allowed her crimson aura to shift.
The red energy surrounding her body deepened into a darker, more ominous shade of purple. Her strikes became even faster, her power more overwhelming.
She aimed a blow at his chest, a punch imbued with enough force to send him flying.
The impact connected, and Rey staggered back, his defenses crumbling under the sheer power. The force launched him across the training hall, and he hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop.
Lady A straightened, her energy pulsing around her.
"Get up," she called, her tone half-commanding, half-teasing. "Or are you done already?"
Rey groaned as he pushed himself to his feet, brushing the dust off his sleeves. Despite the hit, he wasn't angry or shaken.
Instead, he smiled, his gaze locking onto hers with renewed determination.
"You really don't pull your punches, do you?" he said, rolling his shoulders.
"I told you not to hold back," she replied, folding her arms.
"You're right," Rey said, his smile widening. "I won't."
Lady A's lips curled into a grin. "Good."
They took their stances again, the tension between them building even higher.
The real fight was about to begin.