Training began at dawn, and I learned immediately that Lady Seraphine had no concept of mercy.

"Again," she barked as I collapsed face-first into mud for the sixth time in an hour. "Your cosmic power is useless if you cannot stand long enough to channel it."

"I am standing," I gasped, pushing myself upright on trembling arms.

"You are surviving. There is a difference." She moved with that liquid grace, circling me like a predator. "In your original timeline, you had months to build endurance ...