---

Eljara:
“That him?”

Sean:
“Yeah.”

They stand at the edge of the gym. The boy lifts. Smooth. Controlled. Too clean.

Eljara:
“He’s not breathing right.”

Sean:
“He should be struggling.”

Eljara:
“He isn’t.”

Sean:
“No.”

The bar moves up and down. Perfect rhythm. No hesitation.

Eljara:
“Watch his face.”

Sean:
“I am.”

Eljara:
“Anything change?”

Sean:
“…No.”

Eljara:
“That’s the problem.”

Another repetition. Same expression. Same movement.

Sean:
“He used to be louder.”

Eljara:
“More chaotic.”

Sean:
“More human.”

Eljara:
“Yeah.”

The boy sets the weight down carefully. No release. No relief.

Sean:
“He’s not tired.”

Eljara:
“He should be.”

Sean:
“He’s not even… relieved.”

Eljara:
“No.”

The boy turns his head slightly. Not looking. Measuring.

Sean:
“That look.”

Eljara:
“I know.”

Sean:
“He’s not seeing people.”

Eljara:
“He’s assessing them.”

Silence.

Sean:
“You heard what they said?”

Eljara:
“Supplements.”

Sean:
“Performance enhancement.”

Eljara:
“Nothing illegal.”

Sean:
“They always say that.”

The boy lifts again. Heavier weight. Same control.

Eljara:
“That’s too clean.”

Sean:
“Bodies don’t work like that.”

Eljara:
“They resist.”

Sean:
“They struggle.”

Eljara:
“They adapt.”

Sean:
“But this…”

He watches another perfect lift.

“…this skips something.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

Sean:
“You know what’s missing?”

Eljara:
“Say it.”

Sean:
“The cost.”

The boy pauses. Looks at his hands. Flexes once. Moves on.

Eljara:
“That’s not normal.”

Sean:
“No.”

Eljara:
“That’s optimized.”

Sean:
“And optimization removes things.”

Eljara:
“Like what?”

Sean:
“Anything that slows you down.”

Eljara:
“Pain.”

Sean:
“Fear.”

Eljara:
“Hesitation.”

Sean:
“Emotion.”

Silence.

Eljara:
“You think he notices?”

Sean:
“No.”

Eljara:
“You think anyone else does?”

Sean:
“They see the strength.”

Eljara:
“They don’t see what’s gone.”

Sean:
“No.”

The boy moves again. Perfect. Efficient. Empty.

Eljara:
“Do you think it’s worth it?”

Sean:
“For him?”

Eljara:
“For anyone.”

Sean watches one last repetition.

Long pause.

Then quietly:

Sean:
“It works.”

---

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