Talara stood between them, her presence commanding yet calm, like the eye of a storm. 

Her short suit of armor reflected her tactical nature, stripped down for mobility yet purposeful in every detail. Her toned midsection betrayed her strength, every muscle controlled and relaxed even under immense pressure.

Her flowing coat billowed behind her, caught in the lingering breeze of their clash, giving her an aura of authority and experience. She was a warrior who had weathered countless battles, a figure of silent but undeniable power. Her face, partially shadowed by the flickering lights overhead, remained unreadable; a mask of steady command. 

Talara’s piercing eyes cut through the haze, locking onto Blaze and Nyx in turn, as if she were weighing their resolve and fury against her own unyielding calm.

The confrontation was over. The room knew it, even if Blaze and Nyx hadn’t fully accepted it yet.

But Talara’s expression wasn’t angry. It wasn’t disappointment. No, her lips curved faintly; not quite a smile, but something dangerously close to amusement.

Talara looked... entertained.

The energy Blaze had borrowed from Nyx fizzled out, the shadowy glow around his fist dissipating like smoke caught in a breeze. The sudden absence of power left him exposed, his breath hitching; not from exhaustion, but from the sheer weight of Talara’s presence.

No matter how hard he tried, Blaze couldn’t wrench his arm free from her iron grip.

Nyx, too, faltered. Her Zyrillian strength; a force that had shattered countless enemies—was rendered useless. Her glowing violet eyes flickered with a rare hint of shock, her pride stinging at the realization that she was utterly immobilized.

For a moment, the room was suspended in silence, save for the faint hum of Talara’s mechanical arm. The sound was subtle yet potent, a quiet reminder of the unyielding force she commanded with ease.

Talara’s coat settled against her back as the air stilled completely. She stood tall, her posture unshakable, radiating an authority that demanded both respect and silence.

"Really?" Talara asked, her tone light, almost playful, as she raised a single eyebrow. 

Her sharp gaze flicked between Blaze and Nyx, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"You’re throwing punches this hard over what? Who has the bigger...?"

She let the sentence hang deliberately, her smirk growing with mischievous intent.

"Locker!" Liora blurted out, her voice a touch too loud as she rushed to interject. "She meant who has the bigger locker."

Talara turned her head slightly, her expression one of bemused innocence, as though she hadn’t just implied something far more suggestive.

"Sure," she said, her grin widening slightly. "Locker."

Liora’s face flushed a deep crimson as she struggled to maintain her composure, nervously rubbing her temples. Her frustration was palpable, her psychic aura flickering faintly around her like an unspoken protest. She glanced at Blaze and Nyx, who exchanged confused glances, clearly not catching the innuendo.

"What locker?" they asked in unison, their voices tinged with genuine confusion.

Liora groaned softly, covering her face with her hands.

"Can we please focus on what’s actually happening?" she muttered, her tone a mix of exasperation and resignation.

Talara chuckled, stepping back with her arms crossed, her amusement evident as she watched the scene unfold. Her demeanor was relaxed, as though the entire confrontation had been nothing more than an entertaining diversion.

"Okay, fun’s over," she said with a grin, her hands settling on her hips.

"Any more, and Liora’s going to start hyperventilating; which will be a headache I’d rather avoid, figuratively speaking."

Liora’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, her mouth opening in disbelief before quickly shutting again. She clenched her fists, inhaling sharply as she fought to compose herself. Her psychic aura flickered once more, reflecting the storm of emotions she was barely keeping in check.

Talara’s sharp eyes flicked back to Blaze and Nyx, her expression softening slightly but still carrying the weight of her authority. 

The message was clear: the fight was over, and she was in control.

Blaze groaned from his spot on the floor, gingerly rubbing the back of his head. 

The residual ache was a stark reminder of how close Nyx had come to wiping the smirk off his face entirely.

"You could’ve done that before she nearly broke my ribs," he muttered, his tone carrying a mixture of annoyance and begrudging respect.

Talara didn’t miss a beat, her reply cutting through the room with playful ease.

"Ribs heal," she said with a slight shrug. "Egos, not so much. You’ll thank me later."

Nyx stood, her movements precise as always, brushing herself off without so much as a glance at Blaze. Her cool detachment was unshakable, though a faint flicker of irritation crossed her face; just enough for Talara to catch it.

"He’s lucky I didn’t finish it," she muttered, her words barely audible but laced with quiet venom.

Talara’s grin widened, her voice carrying a sly amusement. "And you’re lucky I didn’t let you."

She turned to Liora, who still stood nearby, visibly trying to rein in her frustration. Talara’s tone softened slightly, though it was impossible to tell if she was genuinely sincere or teasing.

"Good job not overreacting, healer. Very professional."

Liora’s composure crumbled as she threw her hands up in exasperation, her voice rising in disbelief. "Overreacting?! You let them! You encouraged this! What is wrong with you?"

Talara clapped her hands together, her gesture breezy and casual, as though the chaos that had unfolded moments ago was nothing but a minor inconvenience.

"Great fight, everyone!" She announced cheerfully. "That’s what I call team bonding."

Her tone shifted, carrying a command that was lighter but no less firm.

"Now, go clean up. We start actual training next; and you’re going to need what little energy you have left."

Liora’s lips pressed into a thin line, the exasperation in her expression barely concealing the smile threatening to break through. As much as Talara’s antics annoyed her, there was an undeniable charm in the leader’s unorthodox methods.

Her psychic aura flickered faintly around her; a silent reflection of her struggle to balance irritation and reluctant amusement. It wasn’t the first time Talara’s chaotic leadership style had left her teetering between snapping back and laughing along.

Blaze and Nyx exchanged brief glances, neither fully certain how they’d gone from near catastrophe to dismissive camaraderie under Talara’s watchful eye. 

The tension had dulled, but the sparks between them hadn’t completely faded; this clash wouldn’t be their last. Talara, satisfied with the outcome, crossed her arms and leaned slightly against the wall, her grin still tugging at her lips. 

This was her way, after all; pushing buttons, breaking tension, and leaving everyone unsure if they were ready or if they’d simply been outmaneuvered.