In the dimly lit room, soft candlelight flickered along the walls, casting gentle shadows over the intricate engravings and elegant décor that adorned the space. Maya sat cross-legged on a plush mat in the center of her room, her posture serene and composed. Her eyes were closed, and her hands rested lightly on her knees, fingers curled inward in a meditative pose.
For most of the Awakened, meditation might not be a necessity, but for someone like Maya, a mage who cultivated her mind and needed balance over her abilities, it was crucial. The very act of centering her mind allowed her to control the natural energies around her and, more importantly, to keep her vampiric urges at bay.
As she inhaled deeply, drawing in the ambient mana around her, her body seemed to still further, her presence becoming attuned to the room's energies. The forest-like engravings on the walls almost shimmered in response, as if acknowledging her connection to the natural world.
