He increased the pressure.
A quick combination drove Lena toward the edge of the mat, where Marcus attempted to cut off her escape. She stepped across his line, changed direction, and left him turning toward empty space.
Someone laughed.
Marcus heard it.
His next attack came harder.
Lena blocked, redirected, and disengaged.
"You're holding back," Marcus said.
"I'm following the rules."
"You think I can't hit you?"
"I think you can hear Master Ward perfectly well."
Ward's expression darkened.
"Marcus."
The warning was unmistakable.
Marcus lowered his hands, breathing through his nose.
"Fine."
Lena bowed again.
"Thank you."
He stared at her.
"For what?"
"For showing me how you move when you're comfortable."
The words struck more deeply than she intended.
Marcus attacked again without waiting for Ward's signal.
His right hand shot toward her head.
Lena moved off the line, controlled his arm, and used a brief turn of her hips to disrupt his balance. Marcus stumbled forward and dropped onto one knee.
She released him immediately.
The room fell silent.
Marcus rose, his face burning.
"You caught me off guard."
"Yes," Lena replied. "That's why we train."
Derek stepped onto the mat.
"Let me try."
Ward shook his head.
"Not yet."
But Derek was already removing his warm-up jacket.
"She got one lucky movement. I want to see if she can handle speed."
Lena looked at the instructor.
"Is this part of the assessment?"
Ward considered the situation.
It was not how he would have chosen to conduct the session. Yet he could also see that refusing outright would allow Marcus and Derek to interpret the encounter as an unfinished argument.
"One round," he said. "Controlled contact. Stop immediately when I call it."
Derek smiled.
"Of course."
The round began.
Unlike Marcus, Derek did not attempt to overpower Lena. He moved constantly, changing angles and attacking in short combinations. His speed was genuine, and his footwork had been sharpened through years of practice.
For the first time, Lena's expression became completely serious.
She read his rhythm, checked his advancing leg, and used small movements to prevent him from establishing a comfortable range.
Derek landed a light touch to her shoulder.
He grinned.
"See?"
Lena nodded.
"Good timing."
His smile widened.
Then he attempted to repeat the same entry.
This time, Lena anticipated the angle. She moved away from the line of attack, disrupted his balance with a controlled counter, and guided him past her.
Derek recovered quickly, but he had lost his position.
Before he could reset, Ward called the round.
"Enough."
Derek stepped back, breathing harder than before.
Lena bowed.
He returned the gesture stiffly.
The spectators exchanged uncertain looks. No one had seen a dramatic knockout or a spectacular throw. Yet two of the academy's strongest fighters had been unable to impose their preferred style on a woman who had barely broken a sweat.
Julian finally stood.
"I suppose it's my turn."
Master Ward looked directly at him.
"No. It isn't."
Julian smiled.
"Why not?"
"Because training is not a public execution, and this is not a circus."
"Then why bring her here?"
"I didn't bring her here. She came to train."
Julian's expression sharpened.
Lena picked up her water bottle.
"I'm happy to continue another day."
Marcus stepped forward.
"Don't leave yet."
She paused.
He glanced at Derek, then at Julian.
A familiar, dangerous idea had begun forming in his mind.
"If you're as good as you seem, you should have no problem choosing an opponent."
Lena slowly replaced the bottle's cap.
"What do you mean?"
Marcus gestured toward the other two champions.
"Pick one."
The room became utterly still.
Lena looked at Marcus, then Derek, then Julian.
She could see the challenge for what it was: not an invitation to test skill, but an attempt to restore three wounded egos through a public spectacle.
She could have refused.
Instead, she placed the bottle beside her bag.
"Why not all three?"
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Marcus burst out laughing.
Derek joined him. Julian shook his head with the expression of a man who had just heard an amusing joke.
Master Ward did not laugh.
He was looking at Lena's face.
She was no longer smiling.
The laughter continued until Master Ward struck his training stick against the floor.
"Quiet."
The sound echoed across the academy.
Marcus stopped laughing first. Derek followed. Julian's smile lingered for another second before disappearing.
Ward turned toward Lena.
"Explain what you mean."
Lena folded her hands in front of her.
"I mean that if they genuinely want to test my abilities, we can arrange a structured session involving all three."
"Against all three simultaneously?" Ward asked.
"If that's what they want."
"No," Ward said immediately. "Not without clear rules, appropriate supervision, and a serious discussion of the risks."
Marcus threw up his hands.
"There it is. She makes the challenge, and now everyone has to protect her."