Chapter 39: [39] Boop
Xavier squared his stance in the small living room, hands raised in a loose guard. The coffee table had been pushed against the wall, creating a modest open space on the carpet. It wasn’t ideal for sparring, but it would work for some basic drills.
"Okay, let’s start with something simple," he said, gesturing for Calypso to mirror his position. "Just throw some basic punches at me. Nothing fancy."
Calypso positioned herself across from him. She raised her fists in what looked like an approximation of a boxing stance, though her elbows stuck out at odd angles.
"Like this?" she asked, looking down at her own form.
Xavier shook his head. "Your stance is all wrong. Bring your elbows in closer to your body. And don’t lock your knees."
Calypso adjusted, but somehow made it worse, her posture now resembling a cartoon character’s idea of a martial arts pose.
"Have you ever actually been in a fight before?" Xavier asked, lowering his hands.
"I’m thousands of years old." Calypso said, her pink eyes narrowing.
"That doesn’t answer my question."
She hesitated. "Well, not physically. Divine beings typically battle through metaphysical manifestations of will and—"
"So that’s a no," Xavier interrupted. He stepped forward and manually adjusted her stance, positioning her feet shoulder-width apart and tucking her elbows closer to her ribs. "Keep your weight centered. You want to be able to move in any direction."