Gareth hadn’t been lying about putting me through hell. After a grueling six-hour practice session, I felt like I might vomit my guts out. And yet, despite the exhaustion gnawing at my body, I was exhilarated. This strange transformation within me had made me stronger than I could have ever imagined. I found myself faster, sharper, and more attuned to my surroundings than ever before. Even Icarus, who watched me spar with Gareth, stood slack-jawed in awe. He wasn’t the only one astonished by my newfound abilities—I surprised myself time and time again, instinctively dodging, blocking, and countering every move Gareth threw at me.
For the first time, I executed every combat technique Oberon had taught me with precision—something I had never been able to do before. It was as if my body had
