Draven Rael did not like being useful by accident.
Draven had expected anger.
Liora denied satisfaction.
Not mercy. Discipline with teeth. She let him see the duel he wanted, then left it outside the civilians' fear like a sword refused at a sickroom door.
That became clear ten minutes after he held the beam.
The simulation had rewarded his contribution publicly.
[Auxiliary structural support: effective.]
[Combatant cooperation: noted.]
Not heroic.
Not glorious.
Not even violent.
Supportive.
The board had wounded him.
Naturally, he sought revenge on reality.
He found Liora near the broken courtyard, where she was escorting two low-rank projected civilians toward a medical rest point while Ren logged C1 evacuation statements through the channel. Draven stepped into the path with his sword still sheathed and the smile of a man who believed provocation was a language of intimacy.
"You are avoiding combat," he said.
Liora stopped.
The civilians flinched behind her.
