Two and a half years had passed since I returned from beastkin territory.
A lot had changed since then.
Unfortunately, most of those changes had been personally offensive.
"Again."
I was lying face-first on the training ground.
Actually, lying might have been too generous.
Collapsed.
I had collapsed face-first on the training ground.
My arms refused to move.
My legs had apparently decided they were no longer part of my body.
My back hurt.
My shoulders hurt.
My fingers hurt.
Somehow, even my hair hurt.
I wasn't entirely sure that was physically possible, but Master Valerian had always possessed a remarkable talent for expanding the boundaries of suffering.
"Master."
"Get up."
"I can't."
"You can. I've checked."
I moved one finger.
Barely.
"No."
Valerian stood several meters away with his arms folded.
He hadn't even broken a sweat.
Naturally.
"You said you wanted to become stronger."
