Lucen rolled his eyes. 'Arrogance faint?' Then he smiled faintly: "I like that better."
Gen leaned forward. "Just… don't lump it into your stats, yeah?"
Lucen replied: "Not everything is measurable."
Gen nodded. Walked back.
Lucen's system overlay stayed quiet. No alerts. Just logs. Experience, unchanged.
He leaned back, tapping his knuckles on the desk lightly. Thought of the shove, its weight. The way his arm moved faster than logic.
'Is that part of the martial training? Did I just use it?'
Varik appeared quietly at doorway, just polished boots outside workspace, coat over one arm. No comment.
Lucen waved once.
Varik stepped in.
"Situation clear?"
Lucen shrugged. "Guy got knocked through planet. No casualties."
Varik offered a water bottle.
Lucen accepted.
Varik watched him sip, then nodded at his screen.
"You handle it how?"
"I handled it."
Varik considered.
Then said: "Strength isn't measured by skill interface. It's measured by structure."
