Evan followed the direction and moved toward the group. The space they occupied was marked by simple lines on the floor, each person working through the same sequence at their own pace. A woman with short brown hair and a steady posture glanced up as he approached. "New?" she asked.
Evan nodded. "Just started."
She shifted slightly to make room. "Then follow the pattern," she said, gesturing to the others. "Watch once. Then do it." Her tone was even, focused more on the movement than on him. Evan stepped into position, his attention focusing on the sequence as it unfolded in front of him.
The sequence began with a simple shift. The trainee in front of him stepped forward, heel touching lightly before the rest of the foot settled, knees bending just enough to absorb the movement. The weight transferred smoothly, hips turning a fraction to keep the body aligned. Then a pivot. The back foot rotated, not lifting, just turning along the ball. The motion carried through the hips and shoulders together, stopping cleanly without sway. A breath followed, slow and controlled, before the pattern reset.
Evan stepped in and mirrored it. His first attempt landed heavier, the heel striking with more force than intended. His balance followed a fraction late, forcing him to correct mid-motion. He adjusted on the next step, placing his foot more carefully, letting the weight settle before moving again. The pivot came slower this time, his foot dragging slightly before finding the angle. He repeated the sequence, each motion deliberate, his focus narrowing to how each part connected to the next.
The pattern extended. After the pivot came a controlled drop in stance, knees bending deeper while the spine stayed upright. One hand rose slightly as if guarding, the other held close to the body. Then a shift backward without lifting the front foot fully, the weight drawing in before pushing out again into the next step. The movement looped, forward, turn, lower, return. The rhythm stayed steady across the group, each person moving through it at their own pace while holding the same structure.
Evan followed, his muscles beginning to register the repetition. His thighs tightened as he held the lowered stance longer than he was used to. His breathing grew heavier, then steadied as he matched it to the motion. One step slipped, his foot landing a fraction off line. He corrected it on the next repetition, adjusting the angle and slowing the transition. The sequence repeated again and again, the small corrections building on each other, the movement settling into something more consistent with every cycle.
The instructor moved through the line, stopping briefly beside Evan. Two fingers pressed lightly against his shoulder, guiding it down a fraction. A tap at his hip followed, bringing it back into alignment. "Keep it over your center," she said, voice quiet, already moving on. The adjustment shifted the entire movement. Evan felt it, the strain redistributing through his legs instead of pulling unevenly through his back.
He repeated the sequence again, slower this time, holding each position just long enough to feel where the weight settled. The step landed cleaner. The pivot followed without dragging. The lowered stance held with less sway. Sweat gathered along his brow, the effort steady and constant. The movement no longer felt like separate actions. It began to connect, each part feeding into the next with fewer interruptions.
A voice came from a few steps over, light with a hint of humor. "You'll feel that tomorrow."
Evan glanced sideways. The broad-shouldered man from earlier had shifted closer, working through the same pattern with steady ease. His movements carried less strain, each transition smooth, almost effortless. "First time is always harder," he added, eyes returning to his own steps.
Evan nodded once and returned his focus to the sequence. His legs had begun to burn, the effort pressing deep rather than sharp. He stepped, turned, lowered, and reset again. The pattern continued, each repetition pressing the same points, forcing his body to hold alignment instead of drifting. The strain remained, steady and controlled, building with each cycle.
Rik drifted closer on his next pass, falling into the same pattern beside Evan. "You're holding your breath on the turn," he said, not breaking his own sequence. "Let it out as you pivot. Keeps the tension from stacking." He demonstrated it in the next cycle, exhale lining up with the rotation, his shoulders settling as the movement finished.
Evan adjusted on the next repetition. He drew a breath as he stepped, then released it through the turn. The change smoothed the motion, the stiffness easing from his shoulders as the sequence continued. He repeated it again, keeping the timing steady. The pattern held longer this time, the transitions linking together with fewer interruptions.
The sequence continued without pause. Time settled into repetition. Step. Turn. Lower. Return. The floor beneath his feet held a steady grip as his movements grew more consistent. His legs carried a constant burn now, not sharp, but persistent. His breathing found a rhythm that matched the motion, each inhale and exhale aligning with the shifts in weight.
Valor's presence passed near once, then again. No interruption, no correction this time. His gaze moved across the line and lingered for a moment before continuing. Evan noticed it only at the edge of his awareness. He stayed with the pattern, holding the structure he had been shown, letting the repetition shape the movement instead of forcing it.
A call came from the far side of the hall, short and clear. "Reset."