He drags his toes through the water, ankles still bare as Marius would have them. His expression remains disinterested, disconnected, careful not to show too much pride. He's learned from so many masters that praise leads to a stifled talent.

"There are others we can practice on. Daniel, for one," Armand suggests. "Perhaps we'll see what you can do with my memory blocks. Perhaps you might even unravel them."