There were still some small problems, with deep roots…
"They're still saying unpleasant things," said Larissa. "But don't focus on that."
"Larissa."
"Don't focus on that." This time it wasn't the pedagogical tone. "Liora and Selphira will manage it. We manage it so you focus on this. You don't need to be wearing the expression you're currently wearing when we're in the ceremony and someone slips in a stupid comment."
Ren looked at Larissa.
Larissa held his gaze with the calm of someone who had decided not to move from there.
"Step seven," she said.
Ren executed step seven.
Larissa watched him complete the full sequence. Then she set the document on the table and crossed her arms with the gesture of someone arriving at an assessment.
"When you do this perfectly on the day of the ceremony," she said, "they're both going to understand why I asked them to let me teach you alone. And no external noise is going to matter to them."
Ren looked at her.
