Only then did she move on to the fourth step—which was to finally make use of the absorbed energy to cultivate her body.
Lavayla adjusted her posture slightly, grounding herself. Her awareness shifted from passive acceptance to deliberate direction. She didn't imagine the energy as light or flame.
She treated it like it was a resource.
"Okay," she whispered, barely audible. "Let's put you to work."
She guided the energy inward first, and it went straight toward her abdomen. The warmth gathered just below her navel, steady and contained. From there, she directed it outward in controlled streams.
Muscles first.
The energy flowed into her shoulders and arms, sinking deep into the fibers. There was a faint pressure—like resistance without movement—followed by a slow, satisfying release. Her muscles tightened, then relaxed, subtly denser than before.
