Aiden rested his chin on his hand, his eyes moving toward her.
"So," he said calmly, "what do you think of those students you fought?"
Vermis didn't answer immediately.
Her fingers brushed lightly against her arm, where the insects beneath her skin shifted faintly.
Then she smiled.
"They were good, my lord," she said. "Very good."
Her eyes gleamed slightly.
"Well trained. Disciplined. They didn't panic, even when they realized they couldn't win."
She paused for a second, as if recalling something.
"And they moved like one person," she added. "That was interesting."
Carrion let out a quiet breath.
"The inner students of Clear Water Sect are not ordinary fighters," he said. "They might be trained for situations like this."
Aiden nodded slightly.
"I see."
His gaze lowered for a moment, thoughtful.
Then Carrion stepped forward half a step.
"My lord," he said, "we should proceed as planned. We march and destroy the remaining towns before they can fully prepare."
