[ Though he's only recently begun to get to know Felix, Claude can't be surprised by that answer. Even before all this -- much of that house seemed intense and hyperfocused on training, and the frequency with which Felix could be found in the training grounds suggested it was particularly true for him.

It's a little funny, just how different they are in that regard (even if Claude isn't as noncommittal and lackadaisical toward his own improvement as his projected attitude might suggest). And a bit incredible Felix continues to put up with him. ]

Brace yourself, but not everything has to be about improvement.

[ A beat, glancing his way, before dropping his arms to wave his hand, dismissing his own remark. ]

Scratch that.

[ Because that won't appeal to Felix. Instead... ]

There are different types and stages of improvement, you know? You wouldn't lift weights everyday, because your muscles need time to recover. Taking time to relax follows the same principle. Sometimes, the journey is the destination.

[ True enough for Claude, anyway, whose mind works itself into frothy quagmires. Breaking off into nature -- these sunny plains, the air thinned by altitude but thickening as the path winds down, away from the peaks into which the monastery had been cut -- calms. Though he's usually alone. ]