I woke to a paw in my face.

  Not a gentle tap.

  A full, deliberate, you?are?late?for?my?breakfast smack.

  Tae?in stood on my chest, tail flicking like a metronome of judgment. She meowed once, sharp and accusing, then leaned down and booped my nose with her forehead.

  "I know," I groaned. "I am up."

  She meowed again, louder this time, then hopped off the bed with the grace of a creature who believed she owned the apartment. Which, to be fair, she did.

  I sat up slowly. My body protested, a dull ache settling into my muscles from yesterday’s trial. Not pain. More like the soreness after a good workout. A reminder that I had pushed myself. A reminder that something inside me had changed.

  My reservoir hummed quietly, warm and steady.

  I fed Tae?in first, because she would absolutely riot if I did not. She ate with the enthusiasm of a creature who had never once missed a meal in her life.

  "Big day," I said as I poured her water. "Training starts today."

  She looked up at me, blinked once, then went back to eating.

  Supportive as always.

  I showered, dressed, and grabbed a quick breakfast. The gloves and shin guards pulsed faintly under my skin, like they were waiting. Not intrusive. Just present. A quiet awareness.

  When I stepped outside, the air was cool and crisp. The sun had barely risen, painting the sky in soft pinks and golds. The city was quiet at this hour, the streets mostly empty except for the occasional jogger or early commuter.

  I walked toward the tea shop, the familiar route grounding me. The closer I got, the more my nerves settled. The more my excitement grew.

  Lysandra’s shop came into view, warm light glowing through the windows. The sign above the door swayed gently in the morning breeze.

  Kaida was already outside, slumped against the wall with a cup of tea in her hands. She looked half awake, hair messy, eyes squinting at the rising sun like it had personally offended her.

  She lifted the cup in greeting. "Morning. I hate everything."

  "Good to see you too," I said.

  She pointed at me. "You look too awake. Stop that."

  Before I could respond, the door swung open.

  Thyra stepped out, fully alert, fully dressed, and fully terrifying at dawn. She wore a sleeveless shirt, heavy boots, and an expression that said she had been awake for hours.

  "Good. You are both here," she said. "Time to start."

  Kaida groaned. "Can we start with stretching. Or tea. Or a nap."

  Thyra ignored her. "Lysandra is in the courtyard. She wants to see how the lad moves with his weapon before we break him in proper."

  Kaida muttered, "Break him in. She says that like it is normal."

  Thyra grinned. "It is."

  I followed them through the shop and out the back door into the courtyard. The morning light spilled across the stone tiles, illuminating the training space. The air smelled faintly of tea leaves and dew.

  Lysandra stood in the center, calm and composed, her posture perfect as always. She turned when she heard us, her eyes warm.

  "Good morning, Jae."

  "Morning."

  "Summon your weapon."

  I inhaled.

  Focused.

  Exhaled.

  The gloves appeared around my hands.

  The shin guards wrapped around my legs.

  Lysandra nodded. "Good. Today we begin learning how to use them properly."

  Thyra cracked her knuckles. "And how not to knock yourself out with your own shockwaves."

  Kaida sipped her tea. "This is going to be fun."

  I stepped forward, the weight of the gloves settling into my hands, the shin guards grounding my stance.

  The day had barely begun.

  And I was ready.

  The gloves and shin guards settled around my limbs with a soft pulse of warmth. They felt natural, like they belonged there. Not heavy. Not restrictive. More like an extension of my own body.

  Lysandra circled me slowly, her eyes sharp. "How do they feel."

  "Right," I said. "Like they fit in a way nothing else ever has."

  Thyra grinned. "Good. That means the bond took proper. Now comes the part where you learn not to embarrass yourself with them."

  Kaida sipped her tea loudly. "He is already doing better than I did on my first day."

  Thyra shot her a look. "You set yourself on fire."

  "It was a small fire," Kaida muttered.

  "It was on your head," Thyra said.

  Kaida glared into her cup.

  I flexed my fingers, feeling the gloves hum faintly. The shin guards pulsed in time with my breath.

  Lysandra stopped in front of me. "Jae. Have you thought about naming your weapon?"

  I blinked. "Naming it."

  Kaida nodded. "Of course. It is part of your soul. You should name it. It deepens the bond."

  Thyra crossed her arms. "Aye. A soul weapon without a name is like a blade without an edge. It will work, but it will never reach its full potential."

  I looked down at my hands. "I did not know that was a thing."

  "It is," Lysandra said. "And it matters."

  I took a breath. The gloves warmed, almost expectant. The shin guards hummed faintly, like they were listening.

  A name rose in my mind.

  Simple.

  Direct.

  Honest.

  "Resonance," I said quietly. "That is what I want to call them. Together. As one weapon."

  Thyra’s eyes softened. "A fine name, lad."

  Kaida smiled. "It fits you."

  Lysandra nodded. "Then let it be so. From this moment forward, your weapon is Resonance."

  The gloves pulsed once.

  The shin guards answered.

  A warm wave rolled through my chest, settling deep in my reservoir.

  The bond deepened.

  Lysandra stepped back. "Now that Resonance has a name, we begin with defense. A Manari must learn to protect their body with mana before they learn to strike with it."

  Thyra cracked her knuckles. "This part hurts. Try not to cry."

  Kaida raised her hand. "I cried."

  "You wailed," Thyra corrected.

  Kaida glared. "It was emotional."

  Lysandra ignored them both. "Jae. Aura is the first layer of defense. It is the ability to project your mana outward to shield your body. Some Manari coat only their arms or legs. Others shield their entire body. You will learn both."

  I nodded. "How do I start."

  "With breath," Lysandra said. "Always breath."

  She stepped behind me, placing her hands lightly on my shoulders. Her touch was steady,

  grounding. "Inhale. Draw mana up from your reservoir. Let it rise through your spine. Hold it. Then exhale and let it spread across your skin."

  I followed her instructions.

  Inhale.

  Mana rose like warm water.

  Hold.

  Exhale.

  A faint shimmer flickered across my forearms.

  Kaida leaned forward. "He got it on the first try. That is annoying."

  Thyra smirked. "Natural talent. Rare. Dangerous. Fun."

  Lysandra nodded. "Again. Stronger this time."

  I repeated the cycle.

  The shimmer grew.

  Thickened.

  Spread across my arms and chest.

  Thyra stepped forward and poked my shoulder. Her finger bounced off the aura with a soft crackle.

  "Good. Now hold it."

  She poked harder.

  The aura held.

  Kaida winced. "I remember that test. She poked me so hard I fell over."

  "You were weak," Thyra said.

  "I was twelve," Kaida snapped.

  "Still weak," Thyra replied.

  Lysandra stepped back. "Now full body."

  I inhaled again.

  Mana rose.

  Spread.

  Wrapped around me like a second skin.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  A faint glow surrounded my entire body.

  Thyra grinned. "Now we test it."

  Kaida backed up instantly. "Nope. I am not getting hit again."

  Thyra ignored her and swung a padded staff at my ribs.

  The aura flared.

  The impact softened.

  I barely felt it.

  Thyra nodded. "Good. Again."

  She struck my shoulder.

  My thigh.

  My back.

  Each time, the aura absorbed the blow, though the strain grew with each hit.

  Lysandra raised a hand. "Enough. He understands the basics."

  I exhaled, letting the aura fade. Sweat beaded on my forehead.

  "That was harder than it looked," I said.

  "It always is," Lysandra replied. "But you did well."

  Thyra tossed the padded staff aside and grabbed a heavier one. "Basics are done. Now we build endurance."

  Kaida groaned. "This is where it gets bad."

  Thyra pointed at me. "Aura up."

  I inhaled and summoned the aura again. It wrapped around me, thicker this time, more stable.

  Thyra swung the heavier staff at my side.

  The aura held, but the impact rattled my bones.

  I gritted my teeth.

  "Good," Thyra said. "Again."

  She struck faster. Harder. Each blow sent a shock through my aura, forcing me to reinforce it with breath and focus.

  Lysandra circled me slowly. "Do not let the aura sit passively. Shape it. Direct it. Strengthen the areas being struck."

  I tried.

  The next hit landed on my shoulder. I pushed mana there instinctively. The aura thickened just in time.

  Thyra nodded. "Better. Again."

  She struck my thigh.

  I reinforced it.

  She struck my ribs.

  I shifted the aura.

  She struck my back.

  I braced.

  Sweat dripped down my spine. My breath grew ragged. My reservoir pulsed with effort.

  Kaida watched with wide eyes. "He is lasting longer than I did."

  "You lasted three hits," Thyra said.

  "It was a long day," Kaida muttered.

  Lysandra stepped closer. "Jae. One more round. Then rest."

  Thyra swung again, faster this time, testing my reactions. I moved with the blows, reinforcing each point of contact. The aura flickered but held.

  Finally, Lysandra raised her hand. "Enough."

  Thyra lowered the staff. "Good work, lad. You are tougher than you look."

  I let the aura fade, breathing hard. "That was… intense."

  Kaida handed me a water bottle. "Welcome to being Manari."

  After a short break, Lysandra gestured for me to stand again.

  "Now we refine your control. Aura is not only for blocking. It can be shaped."

  "Shaped how," I asked.

  She extended her hand. A thin layer of mana formed around her palm, then sharpened into a flat, translucent plate.

  "A shield," she said. "Small. Precise. Efficient."

  Thyra formed a thicker aura around her forearm. "Or you can reinforce a single limb for striking or blocking."

  Kaida summoned her Tekko Kagi. Her aura wrapped around the claws, sharpening them. "Or you can enhance your weapon."

  I swallowed. "I can do all that."

  "Eventually," Lysandra said. "For now, start small."

  She held out her hand. "Form a shield over your palm."

  I inhaled.

  Focused.

  Exhaled.

  A thin shimmer appeared over my hand.

  "Thicker," she said.

  I pushed more mana.

  The shield grew.

  "Now stabilize it."

  The shield wavered.

  "Focus," Lysandra said softly. "Mana follows intent."

  I steadied my breath.

  The shield solidified.

  Thyra nodded. "Good. Now block this."

  She flicked a pebble at me with surprising speed.

  I raised my hand.

  The pebble hit the shield and bounced off.

  Kaida clapped. "Nice."

  Lysandra smiled. "Again."

  We repeated the exercise with larger objects.

  Then faster ones.

  Then multiple at once.

  My shield flickered, cracked, strengthened, and finally held.

  By midday, my arms shook with fatigue, but my aura responded faster, smoother, more naturally.

  Lysandra finally lowered her hand. "Good. You have enough control to defend yourself now."

  Thyra grinned. "Which means we can move on to the fun part."

  Kaida groaned. "Movement techniques."

  Lysandra stepped back. "Every Manari develops a movement technique that resonates with their mana. Some meld into shadows. Some move with extreme speed. Some fly. Some appear to teleport."

  Thyra pointed at me. "We need to find yours."

  Kaida smirked. "This is where people fall on their face."

  "Run," Lysandra said.

  I blinked. "Run."

  "Run," she repeated. "As fast as you can. Do not think. Just move."

  I took off across the courtyard.

  My steps quickened.

  My breath synced with my reservoir.

  The gloves and shin guards pulsed in rhythm.

  "Faster," Thyra called.

  I pushed harder.

  My legs burned.

  My lungs tightened.

  Mana surged.

  "Faster," Lysandra said.

  I pushed again.

  The world blurred.

  My vision sharpened.

  My reservoir roared.

  Then something shifted.

  My next step did not land where I expected.

  Instead, I felt my body slip sideways, like the air itself bent around me. The courtyard stretched, then snapped back into place.

  I stumbled to a stop.

  Kaida’s jaw dropped. "What was that."

  Thyra’s eyes widened. "Saints above. He slipped."

  Lysandra stepped forward, her voice calm but her eyes bright. "Jae. Do it again."

  I swallowed. "What did I do."

  "You bent space," Lysandra said. "Only slightly. Only for a moment. But you slipped between where you were and where you intended to be."

  Kaida stared at me. "He has a spatial slip. That is rare. That is stupid rare."

  Thyra grinned like a proud parent. "Aye. And dangerous. And beautiful. And we are going to teach you how to use it without breakin your legs."

  I took a breath, heart pounding.

  A spatial slip.

  My movement technique.

  Unique.

  Mine.

  Lysandra placed a hand on my shoulder. "This is only the beginning."

  Thyra cracked her knuckles. "Now the real training starts."

  Kaida stared at the spot where I had slipped, eyes wide, pupils dilated like she had just seen her birthday, Christmas, and a new sparring partner all at once.

  She stepped forward, pointing at me with her tea cup. "Okay. That is insane. And unfair. And I love it."

  Thyra raised an eyebrow. "Love it, do you."

  Kaida nodded vigorously. "Do you know how rare it is to train against someone with a spatial technique. This is perfect. I am going to get so much better fighting him."

  I blinked. "You want to fight me."

  Kaida grinned. "Obviously. You move weird now. I want to figure it out."

  Thyra laughed. "There it is. The predator instinct."

  Lysandra’s eyes softened with approval. "Good. A partner who challenges you is invaluable."

  Kaida jabbed a thumb at me. "Do not get cocky. I am still faster. Probably."

  I smiled.

  I was ready.

  Lysandra stepped back, her eyes bright with interest. "Again, Jae. Slip."

  I swallowed, nodded, and took off running across the courtyard. My legs pumped, my breath synced with my reservoir, and the world blurred at the edges.

  I pushed harder.

  Mana surged.

  The ground tilted.

  And then I slipped.

  Not sideways this time.

  Forward.

  Down.

  Through.

  The courtyard stretched like taffy, the stone tiles bending away from me. My foot landed on nothing. My stomach lurched. The world flickered.

  "Oh no," I said.

  Kaida shouted, "He is phasing. Someone grab him."

  Thyra yelled, "Do not let him fall through the floor."

  I tried to stop, but my body kept sliding into a space that should not exist. My vision warped. The wall ahead of me rippled like water.

  I was about to fall through it.

  Then a hand grabbed the back of my shirt.

  A strong hand.

  A young hand.

  I was yanked backward with enough force to snap the slip like a rubber band. The courtyard snapped back into place. My feet hit solid ground. I stumbled, gasping.

  I turned.

  And froze.

  Lysandra stood behind me.

  But not the Lysandra I knew.

  Not the gentle, silver?haired tea shop owner with soft eyes and a warm smile.

  This Lysandra was tall, radiant, and breathtaking in a way that made the air feel thinner. Her hair, normally a soft silver, now cascaded down her back in long, golden waves that shimmered with mana. Her skin glowed faintly, smooth and unlined, like sunlight caught in motion. Her posture was straight and powerful, every inch of her body honed and balanced.

  Her eyes burned with golden light, sharp and commanding, the eyes of someone who had once stood at the peak of her strength and never forgotten how it felt.

  Kaida’s jaw dropped. "Oh. She is in battle form. We are so dead."

  Thyra grinned. "About time she showed the lad what she really looks like."

  I stared, breath caught in my throat. "Lysandra. You look… different."

  Her voice was the same, but deeper, steadier, carrying a resonance that vibrated in my bones.

  "This is my true form when I call upon my mana. My body remembers what it was at its peak. Age is a surface. Mana is truth."

  She released my shirt gently. "And you, Jae, are not allowed to fall through walls yet."

  Kaida pointed at me. "You almost phased into the neighbor’s kitchen. Do you know how awkward that would have been?"

  Thyra barked a laugh. "Imagine explainin that. Hello, sorry for the intrusion. I slipped through reality."

  I rubbed my face. "I did not mean to. It just happened."

  Lysandra stepped in front of me, her presence overwhelming in the best way. "That is why we train. Spatial techniques are rare and dangerous. You must learn control before instinct takes over."

  Kaida nodded. "Yeah. Otherwise, you will slip into traffic, a sewer, or a wall. Or worse."

  I swallowed. "Worse."

  Thyra clapped her hands. "Aye. Worse. You could slip into the ground and get stuck upside down like a carrot."

  Kaida snorted tea out of her nose. "Thyra. Stop."

  Thyra shrugged. "It happened once."

  I blinked. "To whom?"

  "Me," Kaida muttered. "I was twelve. It was a bad year."

  Lysandra stepped back, her battle form shimmering with controlled power. "Watch closely, Jae."

  She inhaled.

  Mana flared around her like a golden halo.

  Then she moved.

  Not fast.

  Not teleporting.

  Not slipping.

  She flowed.

  Her body blurred, not from speed but from precision. Every step landed exactly where it needed to. Every shift of weight was perfect. She moved like she was dancing with the world instead of against it.

  Kaida whispered, "That is her movement technique. Flowstep. She glides through momentum like water."

  Thyra nodded. "Took her twenty years to master it."

  Lysandra stopped in front of me, her eyes softening. "Your technique will not be like mine. Or Kaida’s. Or anyone’s. It is yours alone. But you must learn to guide it."

  I nodded. "How do I do that."

  "By falling," she said. "And learning how to catch yourself."

  Kaida groaned. "Oh no. He is going to fall a lot."

  Thyra grinned. "Aye. And we will laugh every time."

  Lysandra gestured. "Again. But this time, do not run. Walk. Slowly. Let the mana rise naturally."

  I took a breath and stepped forward.

  The world wavered.

  My foot sank half an inch into the air.

  Kaida shouted, "He is doing it again."

  Thyra yelled, "Brace."

  I slipped.

  But this time, I felt it coming.

  The air thickened.

  The ground softened.

  Space bent.

  I reached out instinctively.

  Lysandra caught my wrist.

  Her grip was firm, warm, and impossibly steady. She pulled me back into reality with a smooth motion that felt effortless.

  "Good," she said. "You felt the shift this time."

  I nodded, breath shaky. "Yeah. It was like stepping into warm water."

  "Exactly," she said. "Spatial mana behaves like a fluid. You must learn to swim in it."

  Kaida clapped. "This is going to be so much fun."

  Thyra smirked. "For us."

  I exhaled, steadying myself.

  "Again," Lysandra said.

  And I stepped forward.

  Ready to fall.

  Ready to learn.

  Ready to slip.

  Lysandra gestured. "Walk again. Slowly. Let the mana rise naturally."

  I inhaled.

  Mana rose.

  The world softened.

  I took a step.

  The air thickened around my ankle.

  A tug pulled at my hip.

  My vision tilted.

  I felt it.

  The slip.

  Before it took me, I shifted my weight backward, grounding myself. The tug weakened. The world steadied.

  Kaida gasped. "He stopped it. He actually stopped it."

  Thyra grinned. "Good lad. Now do it again."

  I took another step.

  The slip tugged at my knee.

  I braced.

  Shifted.

  Redirected.

  The tug faded.

  Lysandra nodded. "Excellent. You are learning to read the current."

  Kaida bounced on her toes. "This is so cool. Do it again."

  I took a third step.

  This time the slip pulled upward, like the air wanted to lift me off the ground. I bent my knees, lowered my center of gravity, and the pull dissolved.

  Thyra clapped. "He is a natural. Saints above, this is going to be fun.

  Lysandra stepped forward. "Now we increase difficulty. I will create a mana current. You must resist it."

  She raised her hand.

  Golden mana flowed from her palm, swirling around me like a gentle breeze. Except it was not gentle. It tugged at my limbs, nudged my balance, tried to pull me sideways.

  I braced.

  The slip tugged at my shoulder.

  I shifted.

  It tugged at my ankle.

  I grounded.

  It tugged at my chest.

  I leaned into it.

  Kaida watched with bright eyes. "He is actually doing it. He is fighting her current."

  Thyra nodded. "He has good instincts. And a stubborn streak. That helps."

  Lysandra intensified the current.

  The air thickened.

  The ground rippled.

  The world tilted.

  I felt myself slipping.

  I pushed back with my mana, reinforcing my stance, anchoring myself to the courtyard.

  The slip broke.

  Lysandra lowered her hand, her golden eyes warm. "Very good, Jae. You are adapting quickly."

  I exhaled, sweat dripping down my temple. "That was intense."

  Kaida grinned. "You have no idea. She did that to me once, and I ended up in a tree."

  Thyra snorted. "You screamed."

  "It was a tall tree," Kaida muttered.

  Lysandra stepped closer. "Now that you can resist the slip, you must learn to use it. Controlled slipping is the foundation of your movement technique."

  I swallowed. "How do I control it."

  "By choosing where you want to go," she said. "Not where the mana wants to take you."

  Kaida leaned forward. "This is the fun part."

  Thyra grinned. "Or the painful part."

  Lysandra gestured. "Slip to me."

  I blinked. "Slip to you."

  "Yes. Focus on me. Let the mana pull you, but guide it."

  I inhaled.

  Mana rose.

  The world softened.

  I focused on Lysandra.

  The slip tugged at my chest.

  I leaned into it.

  The courtyard blurred.

  Then I appeared two feet in front of her.

  Kaida shouted, "He did it. He actually did it."

  Thyra laughed. "Saints above, the lad is gifted."

  Lysandra smiled, her battle form glowing softly. "Well done, Jae. You have taken your first true step into spatial movement."

  I exhaled, heart pounding.

  Kaida pointed at me. "You and I are sparring later. I need to figure out how to hit someone who moves like that."

  Thyra smirked. "Good luck, girl."

  I smiled.

  I was ready for whatever came next.

  Lysandra stepped back, her golden aura dimming just enough to let the courtyard breathe again.

  "Now that you can slip on purpose, we refine your control. Move around the courtyard. Small slips. Short distances. No running yet."

  Kaida grinned. "Translation. Do not fall into the koi pond."

  Thyra snorted. "Or the wall. Or the ground. Or the sky."

  I swallowed. "The sky."

  "It has happened," Kaida said.

  "To who."

  Kaida looked away. "I do not want to talk about it."

  Lysandra lifted her hand. "Begin."

  I inhaled.

  Mana rose.

  The world softened.

  I took a step.

  A small slip tugged at my hip.

  I leaned into it.

  The courtyard blurred.

  I reappeared three feet to the left.

  Kaida clapped. "Nice. Clean. Controlled. Do it again."

  I slipped forward this time.

  Then sideways.

  Then diagonally.

  Each slip felt like stepping into warm water and stepping out again. The world stretched and snapped back, like reality was elastic.

  Thyra nodded. "Good. Now try a longer one."

  I focused on a point across the courtyard.

  Mana surged.

  The slip pulled.

  I leaned into it—

  And overshot.

  Way overshot.

  The courtyard blurred into streaks of color.

  The world tilted.

  My stomach dropped.

  "Oh no," I said.

  Kaida shouted, "He is going behind the shed."

  Thyra yelled, "Brace."

  I reappeared behind Kaida.

  Upside down.

  Falling.

  "Kaida," I said, "catch me."

  She turned just in time to see me drop from above like a confused meteor.

  She screamed.

  I screamed.

  We both screamed.

  She dove out of the way.

  I hit the ground with a thud.

  Kaida popped up, hair wild, eyes wide. "Why were you above me. Why were you upside down. Why were you falling from the sky."

  I groaned. "I do not know. I think I slipped too hard."

  Thyra laughed so hard she had to lean on her staff. "Saints above, lad, you nearly flattened the girl."

  Kaida pointed at me, cheeks flushed. "Warn me next time. Or at least shout something cool before you drop out of the sky."

  "I did shout," I said. "I said oh no."

  "That is not cool," Kaida snapped. "Say something like incoming or brace yourself or Kaida, I choose you."

  I blinked. "Why would I say that."

  Kaida crossed her arms. "Because it would be funny."

  Lysandra stepped forward, her battle form still glowing faintly. "Jae. Again. But this time, do not overshoot. Feel the mana before you commit."

  I pushed myself up. "Yes, ma’am."

  Kaida muttered, "If he lands on me again, I am biting him."

  Thyra raised an eyebrow. "You bite people now."

  "Only when provoked," Kaida said.

  I inhaled.

  Mana rose.

  The world softened.

  I focused on a point ten feet away.

  Not twenty.

  Not thirty.

  Just ten.

  The slip tugged.

  I leaned into it.

  The courtyard blurred—

  And I reappeared exactly where I intended.

  Kaida’s eyes widened. "He did it. He actually did it. That was perfect."

  Thyra nodded. "Good lad. Now chain it."

  "Chain it," I repeated.

  "Aye," Thyra said. "Slip twice in a row. Then three times. Then four. Build momentum."

  Kaida grinned. "This is where it gets fun."

  I took a breath.

  Slip.

  Reappear.

  Slip again.

  Reappear.

  The courtyard flickered around me like a broken film reel. Each slip felt smoother, cleaner, more natural.

  Kaida watched with bright, hungry eyes. "He is going to be impossible to hit. I love this."

  Thyra smirked. "You say that now. Wait until he slips behind you in a spar."

  Kaida froze. "He better not."

  I slipped again.

  And reappeared directly behind her.

  Kaida shrieked. "Stop doing that."

  I raised my hands. "I did not mean to. It just happened."

  Kaida spun around, cheeks red, eyes blazing. "You cannot just appear behind people. It is rude. And terrifying. And rude."

  Thyra laughed. "Girl, you are flustered."

  "I am not flustered," Kaida snapped. "I am alert."

  Lysandra stepped between us, her presence instantly calming. "Enough. Jae is progressing quickly. But he must learn precision before speed."

  Kaida pointed at me again. "And he must stop appearing behind me."

  I smiled. "I will try."

  "Try harder," she said.

  Lysandra gestured to the courtyard tiles. "Slip to the center of each tile. No more. No less."

  I nodded.

  Slip.

  Reappear.

  Slip.

  Reappear.

  Each time, I landed closer to the center.

  Each time, the pull felt easier to guide.

  Kaida watched with her arms crossed, but her eyes were bright with excitement. "He is going to be so much fun to fight."

  Thyra nodded. "Aye. And dangerous. And unpredictable. A good combination."

  Lysandra’s golden eyes softened. "He is learning quickly. Faster than expected."

  I exhaled, feeling the mana settle in my chest.

  Kaida stepped closer, smirking. "Just do not slip behind me again. I swear I will throw something."

  I grinned. "No promises."

  She groaned. "I hate this."

  Thyra laughed. "You love it."

  Kaida muttered, "Shut up."

  I took another breath.

  Ready for the next phase.

  By late afternoon, the courtyard felt like a second home and a battlefield at the same time. My legs trembled from overuse. My arms felt like they were made of wet sand. Even my reservoir pulsed with a tired ache, like it had been stretched and wrung out.

  Lysandra finally lowered her hand, the last traces of her golden battle form fading as her hair shifted back to silver and her posture softened. "That is enough for today. Your body needs rest. Your mana needs time to settle."

  Thyra nodded. "Aye. If we push him any harder, he will slip into next week."

  Kaida snorted. "Or into the koi pond."

  I groaned. "Please no more slipping today."

  Kaida grinned. "You say that now. Tomorrow I am making you spar me."

  Thyra raised an eyebrow. "If he does not flatten you by accident."

  Kaida pointed at her. "I will not be flattened. I am nimble."

  "You are loud," Thyra said.

  Kaida gasped. "That is rude."

  "It is accurate," Thyra replied.

  Lysandra stepped between them, her presence instantly calming. "Enough. Jae needs to go home. He has done well today."

  I exhaled, feeling the weight of the day settle into my bones. "Thank you. All of you."

  Kaida waved a hand. "Do not thank me yet. Tomorrow is going to be worse."

  Thyra grinned. "Aye. Much worse."

  Lysandra placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Go home, Jae. Eat. Rest. Feed your cat. We begin again at dawn."

  I nodded. "I will be here."

  he walk back to my apartment felt longer than usual. Every step reminded me of the slips, the falls, the near disasters, and the small victories. My muscles ached, but in a good way. A way that told me I had grown.

  The city was warm with late afternoon light. People moved around me, unaware that I had spent the day learning how not to fall through reality.

  When I reached my building, the familiar creak of the third step greeted me like an old friend. I unlocked the door.

  Tae?in was waiting.

  She sat in the middle of the living room, tail curled neatly around her paws, eyes narrowed in judgment. The moment she saw me, she let out a sharp, offended meow.

  "I know," I said. "I am late again."

  She trotted over and head?butted my shin with the force of a creature who believed she was much larger than she was. Her purr rumbled like a tiny engine.

  I crouched and scratched behind her ears. "I missed you too."

  She sniffed my hands, then my sleeves, then my pant leg, her nose twitching rapidly.

  "Yeah," I said. "I smell like sweat and mana and fear. It was a long day."

  She sneezed dramatically, then strutted toward the kitchen, tail high.

  I followed. "I know. Dinner first."

  I fed her, watched her eat with the enthusiasm of a creature who had never once doubted her place in the world, then collapsed onto my bed without bothering to change.

  Tae?in hopped up beside me, circled twice, then curled against my ribs, warm and soft and grounding.

  My reservoir pulsed faintly.

  Resonance hummed quietly under my skin.

  My body ached in every possible way.

  But I felt good.

  Stronger.

  More aware.

  More myself.

  Tomorrow would be harder.

  Tomorrow would be important.

  But for now, with Tae?in purring against my side and the city humming softly outside my window, I let my eyes close.

  Sleep took me before I could think of another thought.