Cackling in typical Psycho style, Cadell evaded a flurry of punches while Hazel advanced with a smirk. They exchanged punches and kicks and parried and dodged. To the unsuspecting eye, the mentor and student engaged in a heated fight when in actuality every movement was rehearsed and calculated. It was less of a spar and more of a choreographed fight scene.

“Lesson five hundred and fifty-four!”

Hazel ducked under a fist and leaped into a portal. Suddenly, she appeared mid-air behind Cadell, her right leg crashing into his shoulder.

“Aggression won’t save you! Technique will save you!”

Cadell winced but nodded. “Lesson two!” He grabbed her right leg and swung with all the superpowered strength he could muster.

Hazel cut through the air with too much grace as she repeatedly somersaulted into one portal and zoomed out of another, heading straight back towards Cadell.

“Your superpowers are my superpowers!”

BOOM!

Hazel’s flying kick collided into Cadell’s chest with so much force he flew two metres backwards. Instead of rolling and tumbling on the ground, he managed to catch himself in an awkward handstand. He could have easily dodged or even blocked the attack with a Delirium shield but that wasn’t part of the routine.

And besides, she had certainly earned it. Simply mastering the first 20-seconds of the fight sequence was the culmination of thousands of failures. Hazel had been battered and bruised countless times over. Any error she made resulted in painful repercussions which typically involved bad landings or just getting her ass whooped. Cadell showed no mercy. At the beginning of the training exercise, he just attacked her without explaining the fight sequence but gradually Hazel learned what to do and what not to do. It was a brutal and harsh method. Was there probably a better way of teaching her? Yes. Did Cadell give a shit?

No. No, he didn’t.

Hazel crouched low and one arm reached into a portal on the ground to receive a staff. She immediately dashed into another portal and yet again they engaged in close combat. Cadell unleashed a ferocious onslaught of attacks and, this time, nothing was held back.

Although the Voice pleaded for Hazel’s demise, Cadell prayed the opposite. The tenacious woman had been knocked down or knocked out too many times at this particular stage. Spinning kicks, solid jabs, oxygen stealing body blows… she’d been on the receiving end of them all.

But now… Cadell smiled.

Hazel blocked every attack with her staff. It was like something from a movie-- too flashy and cool to be real. All of Cadell’s attack patterns had clearly been memorised. The impenetrable defense persisted until the two found themselves circling each other. Hazel’s green eyes pierced through the superhero’s mask and a rare hallucination suddenly erupted-- flames burst out of her clothes. A sign of passion, concentration and jubilation.

Hazel’s pupils darted left and right, reacting to every slight movement. She was in the zone.

“The exercise is over,” Cadell said quickly.

Hazel continued twirling the staff. “I don’t believe you.”

“Lesson one thousand. Trust me. No matter the circumstances, you must trust me, Hazel.”

Almost immediately, the vigour in her eyes dimmed and the mesmerising flames flickered out.

Cadell caught her unconscious body.