The next morning, the chamber felt colder. The piles of bones were stacked neatly again, waiting like silent judges.
Fenric stood before them, hands behind his back. "Discipline drills. No combat. No flair. You will raise your skeletons and hold their stance—unmoving—for thirty minutes. Break formation even once, and we start over."
Aria nodded, calm as ever. Laxin groaned. "Thirty minutes? Standing still? That's torture!"
"Good," Fenric said flatly. "Perhaps you'll finally learn the meaning of control."
They began.
Aria's skeletons rose smoothly, planted their feet, and locked into soldier's stance. Her mana flow was steady, her breathing even. She stood tall, focused.
Laxin… not so much. His skeletons wobbled the instant they stood. One leaned forward like it was about to vomit, the other leaned back as if admiring the ceiling.
