The test examiner had already signaled the start of the match as Ellia and Aerie stepped onto the platform. Yet they did not start immediately; instead, they circled around the platform, their eyes locked in a fierce gaze.
"Just so you know, I won't go easy," Ellia spoke.
"Yea... I know." Aerie's response was unwavering as she gazed back with a determined look, a glint of fierce resolve in her eyes. She understood that the path ahead wouldn't be easy and that she would need to push herself harder than ever before.
"Good, I'll show you where your limits lie," As Ellia spoke, she lifted her fists into a familiar boxing stance that Aerie had seen many times before. However, in the world of close-quarter combat, boxing had become a relic of the past, replaced by the art of magic that had evolved over time. Aerie couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief as she watched Ellia, seemingly out of touch with the modern era of fighting. "Come at me."