I spent the next three days training harder than I ever had before. Every moment I could spare, I was in the in-between space with Gia, pushing myself to the edge of what my consciousness could handle.
"Again," Gia commanded as I completed another fragment stabilization drill.
I focused my power, forming the connection to an imaginary fragment, cutting the binding threads with precise movements. Faster this time. Cleaner.
"Better. You're shaving seconds off each attempt." She circled around me, observing. "But you need to be faster still. The Harvester's minions won't give you time to think, they’ll attack the instant you touch a fragment.
"Then teach me to fight while I work."
We shifted exercises. Gia manifested shadow copies of the manifestations I'd fought in the Wastes—blank-face
