Page 657 of End Game

“No.”

His face falls theatrically.

“You are not advanced riggers,” the instructor continues. “You're competent with what I've taught you. Those aren't the same thing.”

Nobody argues.

That's probably evidence we've learned something.

“You've gotten better at reading your partners, recognizing when something changes under load, and correcting problems without waiting for me to point at them.”

His attention moves toward Ronan and me. “And you two finally stopped trying to approach rope the same way.”

Ronan folds his arms. “I wasn't trying to.”

I look at him.

He looks back.

Drake sighs. “I know.”

Carter laughs.

The instructor gestures toward us. “That's the point. You don't need the same brain. Ronan catches sequence and risk early. Micah sees balance and shape faster. Stop treating that like a disagreement, and it becomes useful.”

I glance at Ronan.

He gives me a small nod.

We already figured that out somewhere around lesson five, but hearing someone else name it makes something settle in my chest anyway.

“If you want to keep going,” the instructor says, “the next block starts introducing more suspension work.”

Cami lights up so visibly I don't even have to turn to know it.

I hear Alexis laugh.

The instructor points toward them both. “That expression is why I'm saying this now. Nobody goes home and hangs anybody from a ceiling because partial load went well tonight.”

Cami presses a hand dramatically to her chest. “I am offended you think so little of us.”

Ronan looks at her.

She lasts maybe two seconds. “Fine. Fair.”

“Full suspension changes the risk considerably,” the instructor says. “If that's where you want to go, come back for level two.”

Carter looks around. “We've been doing this for eight classes, and that was level one?”

“I've been calling it fundamentals.”

“That feels insulting.”

“It should.”

Alexis laughs while Jeremiah immediately starts asking about schedules.

Ronan joins him within seconds.