Will is a wounded animal. Hardly better than the students below beneath the surface, but too intelligent to die like one.

[ he speaks in measures of both sadness and disappointment, as though he had somehow himself failed someone who was never his student to begin with. ]

Mistwalking will be Akechi's final and most challenging test. It's also the one that happens to kill most of our candidates. I take it that's why you've taken on his mentorship?

[ fenris was to mistwalking as bruce was to shadowstepping: masters. though they likely excelled at both, it was no secret their preference for one over the other. ]