"What kind of controlled stress are we talking about?"
"Several methods exist," Lola replied, counting on her fingers. "Extreme temperature exposure, sustained physical exertion beyond normal limits, controlled magical energy circulation through your meridians, and certain activities that naturally stress the cardiovascular system."
I'm not going to ask about that last one.
"The magical energy circulation sounds most appealing," Noah said quickly. "How does that work?"
Lola's laugh carried genuine amusement rather than her usual seductive undertones. "Practical choice. Magical tempering involves channelling your mana through pathways that normally wouldn't handle such energy flow. It's safer than the physical methods but requires precise control."
