It’s been two weeks since Aria started her training with Nyssa and some new trainers.
She trained every morning. The laps that had nearly killed her on the first day became easier and her lungs had stopped burning. Her legs stopped trembling. She was still the slowest in the yard, but the gap was closing.
Nyssa ran beside her now instead of ahead of her. Sometimes they raced. Aria never won, but she made Nyssa work for it.
"Your stamina is solid," Nyssa said one morning, after Aria had finished her laps without gasping. "You're ready for the next phase."
"Which is?"
"Combat. Actual fighting, your stamina training is over. Nyssa grinned. "I'll tell Rowan."
The next morning Rowan was waiting in the training ground alone when Aria arrived.
He stood near the equipment rack, his arms cro
