I see what you mean now! Here's the revision with just the added whispered moment during the first spar between Rain and Zeke, without changing everything else:
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The training grounds stretched out behind Rain's mansion, a large, open space perfect for the one-on-one sparring sessions Rain had planned. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the scene. Zeke, Luca, and Eliza stood ready, each prepared to face Rain in combat. They knew this would be a unique challenge. Rain had told them he wouldn't use his powers during these spars, though he didn't specify whether that meant he'd hold back in other ways.
First up was Zeke.
Zeke unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming in the sunlight as he narrowed his eyes at Rain, who stood at the opposite end of the field, hands casually tucked into his pockets. There was a calmness to Rain's demeanor that unsettled Zeke. Rain wasn't even taking a fighting stance. His posture was almost lazy, like he had all the time in the world.
"Ready when you are," Rain said with a smirk, his voice completely at ease.
Zeke, fueled by frustration from earlier, charged forward. His sword cut through the air, aimed for Rain's chest. But Rain dodged with ease, stepping to the side as if he'd known where Zeke's strike would land before Zeke even moved. Zeke swung again, but Rain was already behind him, effortlessly sidestepping every move Zeke made.
It wasn't long before Zeke was panting, sweat dripping down his face. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how fast or precise he thought he was, he couldn't touch Rain. The gap between them felt insurmountable, like Zeke was fighting someone who could predict every one of his moves before they happened.
Luca watched, arms crossed, with a smirk on his face. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge, and he was itching to get his turn next. "Come on, Zeke, don't go easy on him," he called out.
Zeke didn't respond, frustration written all over his face. He tried again, pushing himself harder, his movements becoming faster and more erratic. But still, Rain dodged every attack with fluid grace, almost as if he weren't even trying.
At one point, Rain slipped behind Zeke, moving with such speed and ease that Zeke didn't even see it coming. Rain whispered from behind him, his voice quiet but clear, "You should use your powers, Zeke."
Zeke's eyes widened. He wasn't expecting it—had he really been holding back that much? But before he could react, Rain had already moved to the side.
Finally, Zeke dropped his sword, panting. "I can't… I can't hit you."
Rain finally stopped moving, his calm eyes watching Zeke closely. "You're not ready yet," he said simply.
Zeke felt the weight of those words sink in. He knew he had room to grow, but it still stung to hear it so plainly.
"Next," Rain said, stepping aside.
Luca cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face as he drew a sleek dagger from his belt, the steel catching the light. "Alright, let's see what you've got," he said, his voice dripping with confidence.
Luca's mastery over shadows was well known, and Zeke couldn't help but watch with anticipation as his friend disappeared into the shadows. Within moments, Luca reappeared, the dagger gleaming in his hand as he rushed toward Rain. His movements were fast, fluid, and nearly impossible to predict, as he used the darkness around him to shift positions with deadly precision.
But Rain wasn't fazed. His body moved with the same effortless grace, dodging each of Luca's strikes as though he had anticipated them. Despite Luca's mastery over shadows, Rain was always one step ahead, his calm demeanor never wavering.
Luca slashed again, his dagger cutting through the air, but Rain simply tilted his head, allowing the blade to miss by mere inches. Luca's frustration grew with every failed attempt. He moved faster, blending into the shadows once more, but this time, Rain didn't follow his movements. Instead, he waited.
Suddenly, Luca lunged from the shadows, aiming to land a lethal blow. But Rain's hand shot out like lightning, catching the wrist holding the dagger with ease. With a smooth twist, he disarmed Luca, sending the dagger clattering to the ground.
Luca took a step back, a mix of disbelief and irritation crossing his face. "You're really not trying, are you?" he muttered, his breath ragged.
Rain didn't respond immediately. He merely shrugged. "I'm giving you a chance," he said calmly, his voice unaffected.
"Next," Rain called again.
Eliza stepped forward, her fiery determination in her eyes. The smallest of the three, but her confidence burned brightly. As a mage, she was a force to be reckoned with, especially with her mastery of fire. She gathered the flames around her fingers, and the air around her seemed to shimmer with heat.
Without warning, she charged at Rain, launching a stream of fire from her hands. Rain, as always, sidestepped the flames with ease, his body moving like water as he avoided each of her strikes. But Eliza wasn't done. She flung more fireballs, her movements precise, and her attacks came faster, each one more forceful than the last.
Rain remained calm, gliding effortlessly to avoid the flames, but Eliza's eyes were sharp. She adjusted her aim, shooting a fireball higher to force him to jump, and in that instant, she closed the gap. Her hand ignited with fire as she aimed for Rain, desperate to land a hit.
But in that moment, Rain was already there, his hand snapping out to catch her wrist before the fiery punch could land. The fire sizzled against his skin, but he didn't flinch.
"You're quick," Rain said, his voice still as calm as ever. He extinguished the flame with a gentle motion, letting her go.
Eliza blinked, her breath catching for a moment. "I actually—" She cut herself off, realizing she'd actually managed to land a hit, even if it was only briefly.
Rain smirked slightly. "But that won't be enough," he said, stepping back. He didn't seem phased by the hit at all.
As Eliza gathered herself, her heart still racing from the fight, she barely noticed Winter standing on the sidelines, watching intently.
Suddenly, Winter broke the silence with a loud, teasing shout that made the entire training ground freeze. "Why are you taking it easy on your love?!"
Laughter erupted from Luca and Zeke, their voices echoing through the air. It was clear that Winter's teasing had caught everyone off guard.
Eliza stood frozen, her mind instantly spinning with confusion. Love? Was Rain… taking it easy on zeke because he liked him? She glanced quickly between Rain and Zeke, her thoughts racing. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to make sense of it.
Rain, however, didn't laugh. He knew Eliza too well. The second Winter's words left her mouth, he knew exactly how Eliza would react. He opened his mouth to say something.
"Winter," Rain said firmly, his voice a little sharper than usual. "Enough."
Winter didn't argue. She simply grinned and fell silent, her eyes glinting with amusement. But Winter's words had already planted the seed in Eliza's mind.
Rain turned to Eliza, trying to clear things up. "It's just Winter being Winter. Don't overthink it," he said, offering her a small, reassuring smile.
He looked at her seriously while slightly blushing "Don't listen to her," he said, giving her a small, almost apologetic smile. "She's just messing around."
But despite Rain's attempt to deflect the teasing, Eliza couldn't shake the nagging thought in her mind. Was Rain really taking it easy on zeke because of… something more? She couldn't help but feel there was something deeper to it.
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Later, during Zeke and Rain's spar...
Zeke and Rain stood facing each other, both aware that this match would be different. Zeke had already realized the ease with which Rain had dodged him earlier. He wasn't about to let his frustration show again. He gripped his sword tightly, his determination burning in his eyes.
The fight began in earnest, and Zeke moved quickly, attacking with precision. But Rain—true to form—moved effortlessly, dodging Zeke's strikes with uncanny ease. It was almost as if Rain knew exactly what Zeke would do before he even moved.
Suddenly, Zeke paused, narrowing his eyes. Rain was close now, his presence almost a whisper against his skin. Before Zeke could react, Rain leaned in and whispered into his ear, his voice soft but urgent: "Use your powers, Zeke. I'm giving you an opening."
Zeke's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he quickly masked it. He nodded subtly, his body still tense with the weight of the fight.
As he gathered his energy, Eliza, standing just beyond the sparring ring, saw what was happening and immediately misunderstood.
Her face turned crimson as her thoughts ran wild. Had Rain been taking it easy on Zeke because he was… interested in him?
Eliza's confusion grew as she tried to process everything, the words she had heard spinning in her mind. She wasn't sure what to believe, but one thing was clear: She had no idea what to think anymore.