Jae felt her presence before he saw it. The warmth of her body pressed subtly against his back, the faint movement of her hands adjusting his stance, the soft, deliberate cadence of her voice guiding his breathing, it unsettled him more than the technique itself ever had.
Every word she spoke, every breath, seemed to press into him, drawing his focus outward even as he tried to center himself. When he shifted slightly, tilting his head in the slightest, their faces came fully into view of each other.
They froze.
Mrs. Liara's eyes widened faintly, a shimmer of surprise crossing her calm, practiced expression. Her lips parted for a moment, just enough that he caught the tiniest flash of movement, a whisper of hesitation.
