The door closed behind Marianne.
Softly.
But the sound stayed.
Mia didn't turn.
She knew what it meant.
You're on your own now.
The space felt bigger suddenly.
Too open.
Too exposed.
The dojo stretched around her, filled with quiet movement. Breath. Footsteps. The low rhythm of bodies in control.
No music.
No lights.
No script.
Mia stood still for a second too long.
Ludwig noticed.
Of course he did.
"Join us."
His voice was calm.
Not inviting.
Not harsh.
Just… inevitable.
Mia nodded once.
Her body moved before she had time to think.
Step forward.
Keep posture.
Control breathing.
The floor felt different under her feet.
Real.
Not a stage.
Not designed.
Unforgiving.
She walked toward the group.
They didn't move to greet her.
They watched.
Not hostile.
Not welcoming.
Present.
Too present.
Mia stopped a few steps away.
Her heart rate ticked up.
This is nothing.
Her mind reached for something familiar.
A crowd.
A stage.
Lights.
But nothing came.
There was no energy to catch.
No rhythm to follow.
No role to step into.
Only silence.
And eyes.
"Warm-up," Ludwig said.
The others moved immediately.
No hesitation.
Ishtar dropped to the floor first.
Push-ups.
Controlled.
Efficient.
Aglaë followed more slowly.
Careful placement of her hands.
Measured breathing.
Octave didn't rush.
But he moved.
Precise.
Minimal.
Mia hesitated.
Just a fraction too long.
Then—
she dropped.
Hands on the wood.
Arms shaking slightly.
Body lagging behind intention.
Breathe.
In.
Out.
Her first push-up was uneven.
Too fast.
Too controlled.
Wrong.
Ludwig stepped closer.
"Relax."
Mia froze mid-movement.
That word didn't make sense.
Relax?
Her muscles tightened instinctively.
Control is safety.
"Again," Ludwig said.
She lowered herself.
Slower this time.
Her arms trembled.
Her breath hitched.
Inhale—
too shallow.
Exhale—
too forced.
Ludwig crouched beside her.
"Not like that."
His voice stayed low.
Close.
"Stop trying to look stable."
Mia's jaw tightened.
"I am stable."
"No."
He shook his head slightly.
"You're performing stability."
The words hit.
Sharp.
Accurate.
Mia pushed herself up.
Harder this time.
Too hard.
Her arms locked.
Her shoulders rose.
Her breath disappeared completely.
Inside—
movement.
Fast.
Too fast.
They're watching.
Of course they were.
Ishtar glanced sideways.
Octave didn't look.
But he saw.
Aglaë stopped for half a second.
Concern.
Mia felt it.
Every shift.
Every micro-expression.
The room was too loud without sound.
She pushed again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Wrong.
"Stop."
Ludwig's voice cut through everything.
Mia froze.
Mid-motion.
Her body locked in place.
Her breath gone.
"Stand up."
She did.
Immediately.
Too quickly.
Her vision flickered for a second.
The room tilted.
Just slightly.
Ludwig stood in front of her now.
Not close.
But close enough.
"You're not here to impress anyone."
Mia swallowed.
"I'm not trying to."
"Yes, you are."
A beat.
"You don't know how not to."
Silence.
That landed deeper.
Inside—
something stirred.
Not the shadow.
Not the child.
Something else.
Polished.
Cold.
Efficient.
Then let me handle this.
Mia's posture shifted.
Subtle.
But immediate.
Her shoulders dropped.
Her breathing smoothed.
Her gaze steadied.
The tension disappeared.
Replaced.
"Okay," she said calmly.
"Then tell me how you want it done."
The tone was perfect.
Controlled.
Professional.
Adaptable.
Ludwig watched her.
Longer this time.
He didn't answer immediately.
He had seen the switch.
Not fully.
But enough.
"Breathe," he said.
"Nothing else."
Mia nodded.
Of course.
Simple.
She inhaled.
Smooth.
Measured.
Too perfect.
Ludwig shook his head slightly.
"No."
A small pause.
"Wrong again."
For the first time—
something cracked.
Just a little.
Mia's control slipped.
"What do you want from me?" she asked.
Not aggressive.
Not calm.
Real.
Ludwig held her gaze.
"For you to stop trying to be someone."
A beat.
"And start being here."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Mia stood there.
Breathing.
Not perfectly.
Not correctly.
But… actually breathing.
And for the first time since she entered the room—
she didn't know what version of herself was supposed to answer.