Dreyden noticed it before anyone said it out loud.
The delay.
Not in movement. Not in reaction.
In decision.
It showed up in small ways at first. A half-second pause before stepping in. A glance toward someone else before committing. People were still performing well, but something underneath had shifted.
They were checking.
Confirming.
Waiting just long enough to be sure.
That hesitation didn't break the formation.
Not yet.
Lucas felt it too.
He didn't like it.
"You see it?" he asked, keeping his voice low as they stood near the edge of the training hall.
Dreyden didn't look at him.
"Yes."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"They're second-guessing everything now."
"Not everything," Dreyden said. "Just each other."
Lucas exhaled.
"That's worse."
Dreyden didn't disagree.
The next rotation started.
Lucas stepped into position, already knowing what was going to happen.
The projection shifted.
The center moved correctly.
No one followed immediately.
They waited.
