Jordan stared at me like I'd betrayed him on a fundamental level.
"What the fuck happened to you?"
I jogged in place outside the simulation chamber, warming up my newly upgraded body. Each movement was a revelation. My muscles responded instantly, without the familiar, doughy resistance that used to fight me at every step.
"I've been training."
"Training." Jordan's eye twitched. "You've been training."
"Yeah, man. You know, exercise. Movement. Physical exertion."
"I know what training is!" He gestured at me wildly, his hoodie sliding off one shoulder. "Three weeks ago you couldn't run a mile without dying. Now you're doing thirty-one pull-ups and finishing obstacle courses faster than guild kids!"
I grinned. "What can I say? The grind pays off."
"The grind pays—" He cut himself off and turned to Belle. "Is he serious right now?"
