"You were away for a few days. Went on a little trip?" I asked Raye during breakfast, stabbing a piece of bread with my fork.
It had been two weeks since my training with Ares began, and though my body still ached in ways I hadn't thought possible, I couldn't deny the change.
My endurance had doubled—I could run laps around the training grounds and still breathe steadily after the first few turns, instead of collapsing in a wheezing heap.
My arms no longer shook after a dozen push-ups, and the bruises from my clumsy falls were fewer now. Balance had been the hardest lesson, but I'd finally stopped tripping over my own feet as often.
In fact, I'd only landed flat on my face once this week, which felt like a small miracle compared to my disastrous beginnings. Even Leika seemed sharper, her power flickering through my mind with more strength than before.
Raye giggled as she plucked a green grape from the bowl and tossed it into her mouth.
