"My father."
Maya returned to training eight months later.
She was slower.
Her confidence was gone.
The first time she stepped onto the mat, she froze.
Noah stood across from her.
"Ready?"
"No."
He smiled.
"Good."
She laughed.
"You've become annoying."
"I learned from Miller."
They started slowly.
One movement.
Then another.
Maya stumbled.
Noah caught her.
She immediately pulled away.
"I can stand."
"I know."
That was the difference.
He didn't try to control her.
He simply stayed nearby.
Weeks passed.
Maya improved.
One afternoon, she completed an entire training session without stopping.
Miller watched.
At the end, he approached.
"You know what I see?"
Maya smiled.
"Someone exhausted?"
"No."
He looked at Noah.
"Two fighters who finally understand why they're here."
A year later, Iron Ridge entered another national tournament.
Noah was now one of the assistant coaches.
Maya was competing.
A new fighter arrived.
His name was Victor Kane.
He was talented.
Very talented.
But aggressive.
During practice, he ignored instructions.
He pushed opponents too far.
He laughed when they complained.
One afternoon, Victor slammed another fighter to the mat after the bell.
Noah stepped forward.
"Stop."
Victor looked at him.
"Why?"
"The round is over."
"I know."
"Then release him."
Victor smiled.
"Or what?"
The gym became silent.
Noah remembered himself one year earlier.
The anger.
The pride.
The need to prove something.
He stepped closer.
"You don't want to find out."
Victor smiled.
"You think you're better than me?"
Noah shook his head.
"No."
He pointed toward the coach.
"But I know better than to ignore him."