First Balance

My joints settled into alignment under the quiet indoor light. I lowered my center of mass across the wooden surface, bracing against the smooth grain beneath my feet. Across from me, another figure remained frozen in a low crouch. I loosened my right grip slightly, rotated the small blade in my hand, and gently tapped its blunt edge against the desk. The quiet click verified my own movement. I held my stance, balanced and observing.