{"id":605,"date":"2026-08-17T16:59:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=605"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:17","slug":"strong-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=605","title":{"rendered":"Strong Enough"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If power genuinely protects you from being harmed, when does becoming harder to hurt stop being preparation\u2014and become an inability to live anywhere that does not require strength?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first dose made Sera strong enough to lift the wagon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was all she needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her brother was underneath it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The axle had snapped on the north road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wagon rolled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin pushed Sera away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then disappeared beneath the wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the dust settled, he was alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His chest was pinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three travelers tried lifting the wagon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera screamed for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was nobody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the merchant opened his case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera looked at the tiny red bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStrength.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt means drink it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The world became light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was how Sera remembered it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not that she became strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything else became light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wagon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her own body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She grabbed the frame and lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The travelers pulled Davin free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera held the wagon alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone shouted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPut it down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She almost laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It weighed nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The strength lasted six hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera slept for fourteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The physician said another minute beneath the wagon might have killed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera found the merchant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bottles were expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She bought three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor emergencies,\u201d she told Davin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was still wrapped in bandages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne saved you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo keeping some makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither saw a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There wasn&#8217;t one yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera worked as a courier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most routes were safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some weren&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bandits occasionally stopped travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Usually Sera handed over a few coins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was cheaper than being stabbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then one evening, three men blocked the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBag.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera reached inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her fingers touched the red bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Emergency.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She drank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first man flew into a ditch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera had not meant to throw him that far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second drew a knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She broke his wrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The third ran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera could have let him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She chased him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That part bothered her later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She caught him easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Held him against a tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was terrified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera liked that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That part bothered her more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Afterward, she sat beside the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first bandit groaned in the ditch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera looked at her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She had been robbed six times in her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Threatened more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once beaten badly enough that she lost two teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time, the road felt like it belonged to her too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She bought six more bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her work improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She took dangerous routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Night deliveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mountain passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Places other couriers avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She made more money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People called her brave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera knew the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bravery had become much easier once she could throw people into ditches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she started taking a dose before trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not during.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A dangerous road?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bad neighborhood?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traveling alone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone at the tavern staring too long?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera looked down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her shoulders had widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arms thicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The merchant had said nothing about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She found him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoes it change you permanently?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA little?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRepeated use accumulates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou didn&#8217;t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou didn&#8217;t ask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera hated that answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow much does it accumulate?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The merchant smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDepends how strong you need to become.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For twelve days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then a dog charged her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Probably frightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possibly dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera reached for the bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dog barked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She drank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Later she realized there had been a fence between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She stopped again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then someone followed her home at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then a bar fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she heard something outside her window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was Davin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had brought bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou need to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, you say that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am stopping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re holding a bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera looked at her hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She hadn&#8217;t noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin reached for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera pulled away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His face changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Almost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera put the bottle down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI would never hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen why did you look at me like that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin was quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause you don&#8217;t know how strong you are anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera smashed the bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Except one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three months later, she was attacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She ran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera had forgotten running was allowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She escaped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hid beneath a bridge until sunrise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She shook for hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When she reached Davin&#8217;s house, she was furious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI hate this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBeing afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin made tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI could have beaten them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI could have broken both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI felt weak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin handed her the cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat doesn&#8217;t feel strong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMaybe that&#8217;s not the same question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She began training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not with the bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Climbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">De-escalation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She learned which roads were dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which taverns had reliable owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to notice someone following her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to leave before trouble became a contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was slower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Less impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also much more useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The permanent strength remained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera was stronger than she had been before the wagon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She couldn&#8217;t undo that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She didn&#8217;t particularly want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Power itself had not betrayed her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had saved Davin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had saved her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem was subtler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every time strength solved a problem, Sera became slightly less willing to solve problems any other way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, she became a trainer for couriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New recruits loved hearing the stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIs it true you threw a bandit twenty feet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProbably fifteen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCould you do it now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWould you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recruit grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera held up a finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat word will ruin you if you don&#8217;t examine it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She taught them fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No romantic nonsense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where to strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to escape a grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to use terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to hurt someone badly if survival required it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she spent twice as long teaching everything that came before the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Calling attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travel planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recognizing pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One student complained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen do we learn the powerful stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe started with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Near the end of her career, Sera still had the final bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She kept it in a locked wooden box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin discovered this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou said you smashed them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI said I smashed the bottles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou kept one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera looked at the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davin raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause once in my life there was a wagon on your chest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He became quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWill you ever use it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf there&#8217;s another wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat counts as a wagon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat took me thirty years to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Sera retired, she gave the bottle to the courier guild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beneath it was a small plaque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It did not say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>POWER CORRUPTS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sera thought that was too easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It did not say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She knew that wasn&#8217;t true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>THIS SAVED A LIFE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Underneath:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>THAT IS WHY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO LEARN WHEN NOT TO USE IT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And beneath that, in smaller letters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>BECOME STRONG.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>THEN LEARN WHAT DOESN&#8217;T REQUIRE YOUR STRENGTH.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If power genuinely protects you from being harmed, when does becoming harder to hurt stop being preparation\u2014and become an inability to live anywhere that does not require strength? The first dose made Sera strong enough to lift the wagon. That was all she needed. Her brother was underneath it. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Strong Enough - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=605\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Strong Enough - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If power genuinely protects you from being harmed, when does becoming harder to hurt stop being preparation\u2014and become an inability to live anywhere that does not require strength? The first dose made Sera strong enough to lift the wagon. That was all she needed. Her brother was underneath it. 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