Taai grinned.
"The old-fashioned way."
He pointed toward the obstacle course.
"Run."
---
Kai ran.
Again.
Again.
And again.
Sprint.
Jump.
Roll.
Climb.
Vault.
By noon—
His lungs burned.
His muscles screamed.
Yet...
Something was different.
Before the surgery—
His exhaustion had come purely from his body.
Now—
There was another sensation.
Whenever he pushed himself—
A dull ache spread beneath his skin.
As though something inside him wanted to awaken...
But couldn't.
He ignored it.
Taai didn't.
"Hm."
Kai slowed to catch his breath.
"What?"
Taai folded his arms.
"You're forcing it."
"I'm forcing what?"
"Your Ki."
Kai frowned.
"I don't even know how to use Ki."
"Exactly."
Taai pointed toward Kai's chest.
"Your body knows."
"Your mind doesn't."
Kai looked down.
"..."
---
The afternoon became worse.
Much worse.
Taai insisted on hand-to-hand combat.
Kai blocked.
Dodged.