By the next day, the room didn't feel tense anymore. That was the first thing Lucas noticed, and it bothered him more than anything they'd been through so far. Tension made sense. It meant people were still reacting, still uncertain, still trying to figure things out. What replaced it now wasn't confidence either. It was quieter than that. People walked in like they understood the rules had changed, even if they couldn't explain how. Conversations were shorter. Movements were smaller. No one wasted energy pretending things were simple.
Lucas stepped into the hall and slowed just enough to take it in. The way people grouped had changed again. They weren't picking partners based on comfort or strength anymore. It looked almost random from the outside, but it wasn't. Every choice had weight now. Every combination meant something, even if they didn't say it out loud. Tomas fell into step beside him, glancing around with a slight frown.
"This one feels off," Tomas said.
