"As you wish," Gallus responded regarding his question. It was clear that Ri'vashi was done thinking about it. Gallus could respect that.

The uneasy paces to the training room had Gallus trying to think on how he wanted to try something different in his bouts with Ri'vashi. He went over to the weapon racks and was about to reach for a simple sword and small shield. He hesitated lifting the shield and snapped his attention to the sudden heavy thump behind him.

Gallus stood with mixed feelings of dread and sympathy as Ri'vashi threatened to knock the training dummy off its chains with her mighty strikes. It was easy to tell that Ri'vashi was simply releasing anger and frustration that she had no doubt been trying to release when she cried in the meeting room. It made Gallus feel rather guilty. With his blunder before, he had no doubt that his face was on that dummy as well. He let Ri'vashi release what energy she needed to as he practised his forms nearby.

When the time came for the two to spar. Gallus held one hand up and spoke solemnly but directly. "Before we begin, I am sorry for raising my voice before. That was inappropriate."

[hr]
Even though he was only half-looking for Ma'tanza, Tzirret spotted her easily enough and stopped dead in his tracks. Now all the conflict that he thought he would bypass by running across her here came rushing forth regardless and he hesitated.

He was hungry. He could just get some food now and escape. However, the other side of his mind clawed back influence and the tug-of-war continued. Outwardly, he simply glanced between the rations and Ma'tanza as his time was running out. He had rising levels of ear-pulling, face-tightening anxiety written on him.

Ma'tanza reached the entrance. Tzirret resolved to take initiative. He put his worries at the back on his mind for just long enough to get his feet moving. "Ma'tanza, wait!" He called out as he broke into a jog to catch up with her. Or, at least, as much of a jog as he could manage in the crowd. "Ma'tanza!"