Morning came quietly.
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No storm.
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No chaos.
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Just wind.
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Cold.
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Steady.
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Thalren stood where they had stopped the day before.
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Wooden blade in hand.
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Body still sore.
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But not slowing him.
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Across from him—
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Kaizen.
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Already watching.
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"…You're slower today."
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Thalren adjusted his grip.
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"…No."
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A pause.
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"…You're noticing more."
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Kaizen stepped forward.
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Without warning—
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He attacked.
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Fast.
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Direct.
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Thalren reacted—
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Raised his blade—
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Too late.
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Crack.
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The strike hit his shoulder.
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Sharp.
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Controlled.
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Pain spread—
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But he didn't step back.
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"…Late," Kaizen said.
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Silence.
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"Again."
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Thalren moved first this time.
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Closed the distance.
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His blade cut forward—
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Direct.
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No hesitation.
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Kaizen shifted.
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Minimal.
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The strike passed.
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A small movement—
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Thalren's balance broke.
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Just slightly—
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Enough.
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Kaizen stepped in.
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Strike—
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Stopped at his throat.
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"…Dead."
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Reset.
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Again.
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Thalren attacked.
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Faster.
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More force.
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Trying to close the gap.
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Kaizen didn't move much.
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Didn't need to.
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Every strike—
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Read.
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Redirected.
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Broken.
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Openings created instantly.
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And every time—
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The same result.
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Blade at throat.
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"…Dead."
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Time passed.
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Strike.
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Break.
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Reset.
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Again.
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Again.
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Again.
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No progress.
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No change.
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Only repetition.
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Thalren stepped back.
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Breathing steady.
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But heavier now.
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Not from exhaustion.
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From something else.
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Frustration—
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No.
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Recognition.
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"…You're relying on speed," Kaizen said.
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A pause.
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"…and force."
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Silence.
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"…Both useless if I can see them."
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Thalren didn't respond.
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He stepped forward again.
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Slower this time.
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Watching.
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Kaizen's stance.
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His shoulders.
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His weight.
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Then—
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He moved.
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The strike came—
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Less force.
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More controlled.
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Kaizen's eyes shifted slightly.
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But—
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He still moved.
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Still minimal.
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Still enough.
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The strike passed.
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A twist—
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Thalren's balance broke again.
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Not fully.
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But enough.
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Strike—
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Stopped at his side.
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"…Still obvious."
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Silence.
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Wind passed between them.
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Cold.
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Unchanging.
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Kaizen stepped back.
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"…You don't understand what you're doing."
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Thalren looked at him.
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"…Then explain."
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A pause.
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Kaizen's gaze didn't change.
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"…No."
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Silence.
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"…You won't learn it that way."
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He lifted his blade slightly.
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"…You feel it."
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A pause.
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"…or you die without it."
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No exaggeration.
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Just truth.
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Thalren stepped forward again.
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Grip firm.
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Eyes sharper now.
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He moved—
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But this time—
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He didn't rush.
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Didn't force it.
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He watched.
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Kaizen moved first.
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A small shift.
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Barely visible.
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But there.
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Thalren reacted—
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Faster than before—
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His blade met Kaizen's—
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Clack.
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Contact.
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For a moment—
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They held.
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Then—
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Kaizen twisted.
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The pressure changed.
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Thalren's grip slipped—
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Not fully—
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But enough.
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His stance broke.
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Strike came—
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Stopped at his chest.
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"…Closer."
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Silence.
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Not praise.
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Not approval.
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Just observation.
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Thalren stepped back.
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Adjusted his stance again.
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Lower.
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More stable.
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His breathing slowed.
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His focus narrowed.
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He moved again.
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This time—
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He waited.
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Just slightly.
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Kaizen stepped—
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The same shift—
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Thalren reacted—
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Earlier.
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Cleaner.
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Their blades met—
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Held.
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Longer.
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A moment stretched.
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Then—
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Kaizen broke it again.
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But—
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Not instantly.
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Strike came—
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Thalren blocked—
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Not fully—
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But enough to stay standing.
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Silence.
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The difference was small.
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But real.
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Kaizen stepped back.
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Watching.
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"…You're starting to see it."
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A pause.
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"…barely."
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Thalren didn't respond.
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But his grip tightened slightly.
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Not in frustration.
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In focus.
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Kaizen turned slightly.
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Glanced toward the sea.
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Then back at him.
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"…This isn't enough."
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A pause.
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"…Not even close."
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The wind shifted.
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Stronger now.
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Colder.
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The sea in the distance moved differently.
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Less calm.
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More restless.
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Kaizen started walking.
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Past him.
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"…Come."
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Thalren turned.
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"…Where?"
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Kaizen didn't stop.
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"…Somewhere your balance won't save you."
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A pause.
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The wind picked up.
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Carrying the sound of distant waves.
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Heavier.
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Closer.
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Thalren followed.
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Without another word.
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Behind them—
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The calm ground remained.
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Stable.
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Predictable.
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Ahead—
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The sea waited.
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Unstable.
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Unforgiving.
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And within Thalren—
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Something shifted.
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Not power.
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Not yet.
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Awareness.
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Small.
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Incomplete.
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But forming.
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Slowly.
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Like something beginning to wake.