By second bell the spar hall had stopped pretending to be solemn.
Kori stood on a beam like it had offered her a balcony. "Public practice" she called, wiggling her fingers for quiet. "Unarmed. No themes. No death. Compliments mandatory. If anyone bleeds, I will invoice your ancestors."
Raizen yawned so wide his soul nearly escaped. Hikari elbowed him in the ribs. "If you fall asleep mid-fight, I'm disowning you."
"Try" he said, and yawned again.
Arashi unbuttoned his cuffs like the room was a gala. Keahi tightened her wrap with small neat tugs. Lynea's braid looked like it had filed paperwork for the day's agenda. Esen rolled his shoulders with the air of a man stepping onto a stage he'd accidentally rented for a month.
"First up - Esen vs. Four Volunteers Who Won't Sue" Kori sang.
