The room went quiet for a second.
The girl immediately stepped back.
"Sorry."
Marcus stared.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"You swept me."
"I don't think so."
Marcus smiled.
"You definitely did."
Adrian watched carefully.
The movement had been too clean.
The girl hadn't used strength.
She had redirected Marcus's momentum.
Marcus attacked again.
Harder.
The girl moved.
His grip missed.
He stumbled.
This time he fell to one knee.
A few students laughed.
Marcus looked furious.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Marcus."
"I'm fine."
"Technical roll."
Marcus stood.
He looked at the girl.
"What's your name?"
"Maya."
"Last name?"
"Ellis."
Marcus nodded.
"Well, Maya Ellis."
He smiled.
"Let's see how long you can keep that up."
Maya said nothing.
The timer continued.
Marcus attacked.
And for the next two minutes, something strange happened.
He couldn't control her.
She didn't dominate him.
She didn't submit him.
She simply refused to give him what he wanted.
Every time Marcus pushed, Maya moved.
Every time he pulled, she changed direction.
Every time he tried to establish pressure, she disappeared from the angle.
When the timer ended, Marcus was breathing heavily.
Maya wasn't.
Adrian blew the whistle.
"Switch."
Marcus stood.
He looked at Maya.
"You've trained before."
Maya shook her head.
"Not here."
Adrian heard the answer.
Not a denial.
A carefully chosen sentence.
Marcus walked away.
Leo immediately approached.
"Your turn?"
Maya looked at Adrian.
Adrian nodded.
"Go."
Leo smiled.
"Don't worry."
He crouched.
"I'm faster than him."
Maya looked at Leo's stance.
Then at his left knee.
Then his hands.
"You favor your right side."
Leo frowned.
"What?"
Maya said nothing.
The timer started.
Three seconds later, Leo understood exactly what she meant.
Leo attacked quickly.
He shot forward and tried to establish a collar grip.
Maya turned.
His hand caught empty air.