The next session did not go as smoothly.
Kael realized quickly that improvement didn't mean consistency.
"You are rushing again," Lyra said as she stepped past his defense for the third time.
Kael winced as he stumbled back. "I'm trying not to get hit."
"That is the problem."
"That feels like a necessary goal."
She attacked again.
This time faster.
Kael reacted too early.
He grabbed at the force before it had fully formed, and instead of redirecting it cleanly, the energy slipped past his control.
Lyra stepped through it without resistance and stopped her blade just short of his shoulder.
"You are dead again," she said.
Kael exhaled sharply. "I'm noticing a pattern."
She lowered her weapon.
"You are trying to force control instead of understanding it."
Kael frowned slightly, thinking that through.
"That sounds like the same thing."
"It is not."
He took a slow breath and reset his stance.
"Then explain it better."
Lyra didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she attacked again.
This time, Kael didn't move right away.
He waited.
The strike came.
He felt the shift—
And moved with it.
Not ahead of it.
Not against it.
With it.
His hand met the force at exactly the right moment, and instead of pushing, he guided it.
The attack slipped past him cleanly.
Lyra stopped.
Not because she had to—
But because she chose to.
"That," she said, "is closer."
Kael let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"…Okay," he said quietly. "So, I don't control it. I just… adjust it."
"Yes."
He nodded slowly.
That made more sense.
"Again," she said.
Kael smiled faintly despite himself.
"…Of course."