Clay's POV
Claire and I stood shoulder to shoulder in the training hollow, our feet planted wide on the glowing moss.
We were practicing the hardest technique our teacher Roselyn had ever taught us: the [Instant Power Spike].
Where you channel every scrap of magic into your fist at the exact moment of impact, so the strike lands with the full force of your entire body plus the burst of energy.
With one wrong timing and you shatter your own wrist; but one perfect timing and you can punch through solid boulders.
We took turns striking the padded log target. Claire went first, with her violet bob swaying as she exhaled, her fist glowing violet-white, then BAM!
The log cracked down the middle, with splinters flying. Then she grinned proudly.
It was my turn. I breathed in, felt the magic coil in my core like a spring, then released it all at the last heartbeat.
My knuckles connected, in a violet flash, and the log broke cleanly in half.
We were getting good. Really good.
