a-new-name-for-a-new-life
Lilian doesn’t actually feel pain, anymore, but she can still feel pressure, and so her instincts for pulling back from things like elbow-strikes are fully functional. She flinches in a way entirely normal for humans without any combat experience. The abnormal thing is where she, quick as instinct, catalogues the inefficiencies and counterproductiveness of her instincts and resolves to do better. Lilian will not realize this is odd until later.
For now, at least, Lightning’s attempt to unbalance Lilian works perfectly. Lilian is agile enough not to completely fall over, though, and recovers quickly. Still, it gives Lightning time and control of the fight.
Lightning can pull Lilian's molded energy, the ability noticeable far before it’s having enough effect for Lilian to be aware of it.
Lilian cheerfully shouts, “It is cool, isn’t it!” and then uses precisely that whoosh thing to launch herself at Lightning again, this time planning to hold back much less.