Rough practice

"You are half a step away from the right spot," said Melissa as she stared at Ares, who was panting in front of her. "Just half a step cost you the victory," then, her eyes moved to her own arm, which was pointing to Ares' neck. There was a small ball of flames on the tip of that finger. A small flinch and she could shoot it fastly enough to pierce his throat and kill her disciple right there.

'Damn it... If only I had advanced half a step! What a boomer...'

The redheaded boy thought that, after two months of fighting nonstop against his master, he had finally taken the grasp of it. He was expecting to win that battle this time. He hadn't a single victory against Melissa since they began to train seriously. Even though his development was fast and noticeable, it was not enough. 

"Where do you think you lacked?" Melissa asked while withdrawing her finger from Ares' throat.