Around the hall, the remaining active matches were reaching their conclusions. Arista moved between the platforms with the focused efficiency she had maintained throughout the session — watching, assessing, occasionally crouching to examine a footwork issue at ground level or positioning herself at a specific angle to see a technique more clearly. She said very little while matches were in progress. What she did say was precise and without excess.
The last platform cleared.
The hall settled into the quiet of a session concluding — weapons being returned, students catching their breath, the ambient noise dropping from active to passive.
Arista walked to the center of the space.
She clapped once sharp and clean, cutting through the residual noise without difficulty.
Attention came to her immediately.
