Chiron Academy

Chapter 17.2 Amy vs. Ryan

Ryan bounced a little on his feet as he almost immediately began circling the open space on the blue wrestling mat.

His face bore the wide grin of someone who was greatly enjoying himself. His white SR t-shirt hugged his thick arms as he made a show of throwing a couple of punches, grinning to the crowd of kids around him. His dark-brown hair was pulled back into a loose man-bun at the back of his head. The usual jeans he wore with his 'uniform' were replaced today with some gym shorts. The well-known brand logo showed prominently on the side.

Wyatt had once asked his mother to buy him something of that brand once; she glanced at the price tag and had immediately refused.

Ryan moved slowly around Amy. Quickly, Amy matched him, rotating to keep her watching him. Her hands were up in a guard position, in what Wyatt guessed must have been a kickboxers style, higher than a regular boxing guard. Her fists were held up high towards her head, seemingly touching her head. Wyatt could read the reticence in her face but it seemed that she was at least invested in the fight enough that she didn't want to get punched.

The crowd watched silently as Ryan pursued Amy around the mat, the only noise the breath of the fighters and the scuffle of their shoes as they stepped across the plastic surface of the mats. Ryan continued his determined pursuit but Amy refused to engage, matching each forward step of his with a step back of her own.

Wyatt could see the expression on Ryan's face shift to a perplexed look as the moment stretched on. Ryan scanned the crowd, his eyes seeing the expectant eyes of his peers. He seemed to become aware of the fact that every eye in the whole room was locked on him.

He glanced back at Achilles, his face looking for assurance. He shrugged, his face non-plussed.

Achilles met Ryan's gaze and merely pointed his metallic hand expectantly back at Amy.

Ryan glanced back over at Amy and sighed. Squaring back up, he advanced towards Amy, quickly this time, decisively closing the gap between them.

He threw a punch at her shoulder, the first punch of the whole skirmish. It must have been pretty weak, she barely reacted at all.

Emboldened by his last effort, he punched again, catching her on the chest, just below the collar bone. This one was harder than the last, but it was hard to tell by exactly how much. It definitely pushed Amy back, but she didn't seem to react in pain at all. Given her and Ryan's gifts, that left a lot of leeway. It could have been a super strong hit but with Amy's resistant skin, she was going to be far more resilient than most.

He seemed more confident now, throwing two more punches to her ribs.

The first caught her in the ribs but she pulled her arms down into a low guard over her ribs just in time to catch the second. Her face remained calm.

Ryan didn't let up; he drove his fists, again and again, striking her guarded arms.

The space was not too large, the square of the squishy blue mats were only about twenty feet by twenty feet. Wyatt knew that if you weren't careful, it would be easy to be pushed back into the crowd.

Amy, to her credit, gave very little ground. She held her position, only moving to block the incoming blows.

Wyatt could see the frustration growing in Amy's face as Ryan never let up on his tirade.

Without warning Amy retaliated, throwing a wild punch, catching him square in the chest.

Stepping outwards, she swung her leg into Ryan's gut.