The First Pull

Helaine's face was still painted with concern. "Your body was shaking uncontrollably, and the amount of energy coming off you… it was overwhelming."

"Oh…"

Evryn wasn't sure what to make of it. At this point, strange things happening to him was the norm—but this? This felt different. It felt like his soul was being torn apart. And then those eyes… No doubt in his mind—they were hers. Eira's.

"What's up with you?" Helaine's voice cut through his thoughts.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb." Her tone sharpened. "Back on Virealia, you were found on the ground with blaster wounds and covered in your own blood. It was a miracle you were even alive." She exhaled sharply. "Do you know how hard it was to cover for you?"

Evryn stayed quiet.

Helaine's grip on his shoulder tightened. A faint growl escaped her before she let go, stepping back with a sigh.

"Get ready," she said, voice colder now. "Because I'm not going easy on you."

She didn't hit me… surprising. Though maybe she's planning to use training as an excuse to throw a few rough punches. Evryn sighed and lifted his arms, fists forming as he got into position.

Helaine raised her guard. "I'm not entirely sure how your powers will unlock… but this is how I learned mine."

So she has no idea… great. What was the point of asking for help then?

"Alright."

Helaine shifted her stance. Her left foot slid back, right hand raised near her chin, the other slightly lowered. She didn't move aggressively—yet—but her eyes were sharp, watching Evryn carefully.

"Don't hold back," she said flatly.

Evryn didn't respond. He stepped forward, throwing a cautious jab with his left. Helaine leaned aside with ease, her footwork smooth.

"Too slow." She ducked under his next swing, pivoted, and tapped the side of his head with a quick, open-palm slap. "And too predictable."

Evryn clicked his tongue and pulled back. He rushed forward again, this time faking a right hook before swinging low with his leg.

Helaine hopped over it, twisted in the air, and landed behind him in a crouch.

Before he could turn, she swept his legs from under him. Evryn hit the floor hard, groaning.

Looking down at him, a satisfied smirk formed on her lips as if she was happy that she got him. 

"I did warn you." 

Evryn coughed before rolling to his side, and pulling himself up, "Yeah, I heard you the first time."

Evryn dusted off his pants, jaw tight. Helaine didn't give him much breathing room.

"Ready?" she asked, though her fists were already rising again.

"Yeah," he muttered, cracking his knuckles.

Helaine shot forward without a word, closing the distance in a blink. She was faster this time—sharper. Her right fist cut through the air, aiming straight for his jaw.

Evryn flinched—but the punch never landed.

The moment it should've connected, space seemed to bend. A subtle distortion, like gravity had tugged the blow just an inch off course. Her fist veered slightly to the left, narrowly grazing past his cheek.

"What—?" Helaine's voice barely escaped her lips before she could register what happened.

Evryn didn't hesitate. He grabbed her extended arm, yanked her forward, and delivered a solid left hook to her stomach.

The impact hit hard. Helaine stumbled back, caught off guard.

She clutched her stomach and looked up, eyes narrowing. The brief confusion on her face hardened into a glare.

"You little—" she spat, wiping her mouth. "Alright then."

Before Evryn could brace himself, she was already on him again—faster, more aggressive this time. Her punches came in a flurry, sharp and precise. Evryn blocked what he could, ducked under others, but her strikes were relentless. A jab caught his shoulder, another grazed his ribs.

"Getting cocky, huh?" she growled, swinging a heavy right hook.

Evryn sidestepped, barely dodging. "You said not to hold back."

Helaine didn't answer. She leapt in with a knee aimed for his chest, but Evryn reacted on instinct. His hand raised slightly—not to block, but as if pushing against the air itself.

Suddenly, space warped again.

A ripple burst from his palm, invisible but powerful. Helaine's body jerked back as if pulled by an unseen force. Her momentum twisted against her, launching her straight across the room.

With a sharp thud, she slammed into the wall. Dust shook loose from the impact.

Evryn's eyes widened. He didn't understand what he just did. As if he used an unseen force to push her into the wall. 

Helaine groaned, slumping forward slightly as she pushed herself off the wall. Her hair fell in front of her face, but her eyes met his—wide with surprise, and just a hint of respect behind the glare.

"…What the hell was that?" she muttered, breathless.

Evryn lowered his hand slowly. "I… don't know."

But something inside him stirred again—like the space around him wasn't still anymore.

Evryn looked down at his hand, stunned. The air still felt distorted around his fingers.

Is this… the power I possess?

Helaine, brushing dust off her shoulder, straightened up with a grunt. "Whatever you just did… that's one hell of a force."

She paused, thinking back on the fight. "Actually… I think you used it earlier too. When I threw that punch at your face—it should've landed. I never miss. But somehow, it curved… like space itself shifted."

Evryn didn't respond. He kept staring at his hand, the weight of her words sinking in. His gaze shifted to a pile of crates stacked ahead.

"I wanna test something."

He raised his hand toward the crates.

Nothing.

He narrowed his eyes and started wiggling his fingers.

"…What are you doing?" Helaine said, crossing her arms. "You look like an idiot."

"Shut up," Evryn muttered, focusing. He imagined the crates pulling toward him—visualizing the space between collapsing, like the air obeyed his will.

Swoosh!

Three crates jolted forward violently.

Evryn's eyes shot open. Oh my Heavens—

BAM!

The crates slammed into his chest and sent him crashing back across the floor like a ragdoll.

"Ugh!" he groaned.

Helaine called out, alarmed. "Are you okay?!"

Evryn didn't answer right away—just lifted a trembling arm and gave her a slow thumbs-up before letting it flop back to the ground. His gaze stayed on the ceiling as he winced.

So I can push ans pull things… like I'm bending gravity outward or inward from my hand…

He let out a shaky breath, heart pounding, and sat up with a wince. His entire body ached, but pain was nothing new.

Slowly, he rose to his feet, coughing.

"Let's go again," he said.

Helaine blinked. "What?"

"I said," he smacked his chest once with a wince, "let's go again."

He stood tall, blood buzzing with adrenaline, his expression sharper now—focused.

Despite herself, Helaine grinned a little. "You really are insane."

Ignoring her reply, Evryn readied himself, raising his hands and forming fists, the sting in his muscles ignored—this time, he was focused.

Helaine stepped forward, mirroring him. Her stance was tighter now, more guarded, but there was a spark in her eyes. That punch earlier had annoyed her. She wasn't going to let it slide.

Without warning, she launched forward..