Theo moved through the corridors. When some of the knights spotted him and the mantis, they tried to stay in the same place, unsure whether to react. In the dim light, the mantis's presence felt even more ominous.
They kept moving forward until Theo had reached the training grounds.
There, he saw Lucien fighting as if his life were on the line, yet there was no opponent before him. Lucien kept stabbing through the air with strikes that were calm, each movement carrying an explosive strength.
As Theo stepped forward, he noticed, before even shifting his weight, that he was going to step on a wooden stick. He adjusted instantly, realizing just how much his spatial awareness had helped him in staying discreet.
Once inside, Theo moved to the side while silently observing the training.
For five full minutes, Lucien kept going with the same relentless pace, and only when he finally stopped and looked up in exhaustion did Theo begin to clap.
