Sibyl moved first.
Not fast—that was what caught Jelo off guard. He had been prepared for speed, had built his initial approach around the expectation that a fighter with elevated reflexes and strength enhancement would open with aggression. Instead Sibyl walked forward at an ordinary pace, silver eyes fully active, the Sovereign Eye processing everything about Jelo's stance and weight distribution and the micro-adjustments his body made just standing still.
He's studying me, Jelo thought. Not attacking. Building the picture. He wants my defaults before he commits to anything.
Jelo shifted his stance—changed the weight distribution, moved his lead foot three inches inward. Altered whatever baseline was being constructed.
Sibyl's smile returned briefly.
"Smart," he said. His voice was calm and carried easily across the distance. "Adjusting the stance. Trying to confuse the read." He tilted his head slightly. "It won't help."
