"You see?"
But Kael wasn't replying. He was just staring at her—completely still.
Yue blinked. "...What?"
A faint flush rose to her cheeks as his silence dragged.
Kael snapped back to reality, waving a hand.
"Yeah, yeah—you're awesome."
Kael took a breath and stepped forward, the mist parting reluctantly around him.
"Alright," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "How hard can it be?"
He raised his sword, mimicking the starting stance he'd just seen Yue perform—feet angled, blade poised, arms loose.
For a moment, he felt ready.
The image of Yue's flawless dance was still vivid in his mind.
Then he moved.
The first step was too stiff. The second too wide. His blade wobbled in the air like a drunk trying to walk a tightrope.
Yue stood to the side, silent.
Observing.
Kael spun—badly.
His foot caught in the mist, his sword overextended, and he barely stopped himself from tumbling face-first.
"Okay… that looked cooler in my head," he muttered.
He tried again.
And again.
