The morning air was cool and clean. Dew still clung to the grass along the edge of the fighting arena. Stone tiles still held the night's chill after the sun had already started rising.
"Before we begin," Ali said, voice steady, "how is your magic layering? Any progress since last time?"
Logan stopped a few steps away. "No. I didn't get time. I focused on other training."
Ali gave a single nod. "Alright. No problem."
He drew a short line on the stone with the toe of his boot. "We start fresh. Today you will rotate your affinities in pairs. Fire with water first. As you had already been practicing that. Then after that, lightning with fire, followed by water with air, fire with air, and so on. He already knew about all of Logan's affinities after talking with Noah and Emily.
"Understood," Logan said.
"Good. But remember," Ali added. "Do not force a layering. It should be natural, rhythmic. Exactly like when you use a single affinity."
