I moved ahead. Caught up to Emi. She was maintaining a steady pace but looked worried. Her brow was furrowed in concentration.
"You're a healer," I told her. "You understand stamina better than anyone here. Your job is to keep others going. That starts with knowing how to manage your own resources. Pace yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint."
She nodded. A small smile formed on her lips. "Right. Thanks, Satori."
The smile she gave me was bright enough to power a small district. I could see a subtle change in her running form as she adjusted her approach. Good. She was learning.
I finished my own run. Watched as the racers crossed the finish line one by one.
Jaime burst across first. His arms raised in triumph. His entire massive frame glistened with sweat. "YEAH! FIRST PLACE! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" He pounded his chest like a gorilla. Pure joy radiated from him. "SAKURA WOULD BE PROUD!"
