The Astral Bone Vanguard had less internal architecture to draw on.
It didn't move without permission — but it also wasn't pretending it didn't want to. Its hollow gaze tracked every bone within its immediate radius with the barely-contained energy of something waiting for a signal, its entire posture oriented toward Tommy in the specific way of a younger creature that has decided the senior's movement will constitute the starting gun.
It was another few minutes before Lukas pulled himself out of his own assessment long enough to notice what was happening beside him.
He looked at Tommy. Then at the Astral Bone Vanguard. Then at the expressions on both their faces — the barely-suppressed excitement, the waiting, the careful performance of patience stretched to its absolute functional limit.
He came very close to pressing his palm against his face.
