"I understand the necessity of a medical baseline," Alex said, standing in the center of the reinforced combat cube beneath the Magic Department. "But removing every artifact leaves me—"
Cassandra struck him in the chest with a padded training hammer before he finished the sentence.
The heavy mallet slammed into his ribs. Alex didn't stagger. Kinetic Resonance swallowed the forward force instantly, sending the absorbed force down through his legs and into the stone floor.
"It leaves you honest," Cassandra said, lowering the hammer. She stepped back, studying his stance.
Alex let out a slow breath. He wore only a thin gray training shirt and standard academy trousers. The Essence Spring was locked in a reinforced case near the door. His bandaged right hand throbbed with a steady, dull warning. When he blinked, the System interface hovered at the edge of his vision.
[Kinetic Saturation: 42%]
