IC:

Alistair watched the group depart, the look of determined stoicism never leaving his face.

Until they all rounded the corner, at least, at which point he let out a sigh of relief, allowing his aura to fade back to its previous levels. While he intended to make good on his statement that he wouldn't lose, even a victory was nigh on certain to involve a significant amount of time spent being beaten on, so he was rather glad that the rematch wouldn't be so soon after his combat exams.

So wrapped up was he in his thoughts that he didn't notice the newest arrival until she was right next to him, head swiveling around suddenly to look at her in confusion.

"Wait, when did you get here? And did you see where Headphones Girl went, I didn't get to thank h-" It was, more or less, at that instant when the comments KK was making sank in.

"Wait, [i]what[/i]?"