After an enjoyable meal of rice and game meat soup, the duo of the Bloodsport and the Avatar were up and about once again. The next lesson was defense.
"You seem different," Perichan noticed as they prepared to begin. "What happened?"
Spheris did his best to pretend. "What do you mean?"
"Well, ever since lunch. You've been even more taciturn than usual. Why the doom and gloom?"
Spheris gritted his teeth. "Nothing. I'm fine."
Perichan didn't seem convinced. He kept peering at him, while the Bearer tried to avoid eye contact. "You've been thinking about it, haven't you? The fight?"
Still perturbed, Spheris unlocked his squeezed lips. "I was foolish, I was weak. Now my friends are paying the price for it."