The room didn't reset overnight.
Lucas knew that before he even reached the training hall. The way people walked was different again. Not hesitant like before, not drifting back into comfort either. There was a kind of quiet alertness to it, like everyone had accepted that whatever came next wouldn't look familiar long enough to rely on.
That didn't make it easier.
It just made it clearer.
He stepped into the hall and slowed slightly, scanning without making it obvious. Groups were already forming, but not in clean lines. People weren't clustering by rank or past habits anymore. It looked messy from the outside.
From the inside, it was something else.
Intentional.
Tomas spotted him first and walked over, not rushing, not hesitating.
"You good?" Tomas asked.
Lucas shrugged. "Define good."
Tomas smirked. "You didn't sleep much, did you?"
"Enough."
"That's not a real answer."
Lucas gave him a look. "You're starting to sound like me."
