The backyard of the inn had enough space.
Not much, but enough for three people to train without knocking over anything that belonged to someone else.
Kai arrived first.
Serah arrived second.
Lira arrived third with Aldric's coffee that someone had left at her room door that morning.
The three looked at each other.
"Rules," Kai said.
The two looked at him.
"Lira teaches Qi. Serah does sparring. Neither tells the other how to do her thing."
Lira took the coffee.
Serah looked at Kai.
Neither said yes.
In the distance, Aldric sighed sadly.
"My coffee."
Neither said no.
Kai interpreted that as enough.
"We start."
---
Lira left the coffee on the edge of the yard.
She stood in front of Kai — one meter away, arms slightly out.
"The Qi you use in combat and the one that emanates from you at rest are the same energy," she said. "But they work differently."
Kai listened.
