The afternoon brought her first physical challenge: Liora's private training regimen. Martial arts, weapons handling, and tactical exercises awaited. Lila's initial attempts were clumsy, every movement awkward compared to Liora's practiced precision. Sweat ran down her face, muscles burned, and doubt crept in.
But as the hours passed, something shifted. Muscle memory, instinct, and determination combined. Lila began to move with more confidence, her reflexes sharpening. By the end of the session, she wasn't just imitating Liora Cade—she was starting to embody her.
Exhausted but exhilarated, Lila realized the truth she had long ignored: heroism was learned, honed, and earned. Admiration alone wasn't enough. To survive—and thrive—in this world, she had to become the woman she once idolized in every sense, and the journey had only just begun.