For the first time in years, Aeris felt something spark within her. The days following her breakthrough with Bramble were filled with a newfound obsession. She spent every free moment fixated on the energies around her, staring at the smallest movements of objects, losing herself in the vibrations of life. It wasn't just the clock anymore—anything that moved became her focus. The flicker of candle flames, the ripple of water in a fountain, even the rustling of leaves in the wind. She would stop and let herself become immersed in the invisible threads that connected everything.For so long, she had been nothing more than a machine, performing her daily duties, going through the motions without emotion or purpose. But now, for the first time in years, she could feel. The sensation of magic stirring around her brought something back to life inside her. It wasn't just magic; it was the world itself speaking through every little movement.Her favorite moments were watching the practicing witches and wizards. Their spellcasting had always seemed so effortless to them—just a flick of a staff or a whispered word, and the magic would flow from them like water from a spring. But now, as she observed from afar, she felt the incredible energy surging through them, the way it twisted and coiled before launching into the world. It was mesmerizing... and terrifying.Something about spellcasting seemed wild, dangerous even. The raw force that these students, many younger than her, could command with just a gesture left her in awe. She could feel it—the energy swirling in their hands, the subtle disturbances in the air as they manipulated it. For the first time, she understood the complexity of magic, how it wasn't just about the words or the staff but about the control of energy, the delicate balance between success and disaster. And every time someone failed, she could sense the moment it slipped away from them—the disturbance before the spell fizzled or backfired.It scared her.So, in class, she stopped trying. Flux magic, Lifebloom magic... none of it mattered. The fear of failure, the fear of losing control and causing more destruction, loomed over her like a shadow. She could see the patterns in others' spells, understand the reason behind their success or failure, but she couldn't bring herself to attempt any magic again. What if it happened again? What if, instead of a crackling flame or a flicker of light, she set the whole room on fire?So she watched and felt and listened, but never participated.Her nights, however, were spent in secret practice, not with spells but with energy. She found a quiet corner of the academy, far from the bustling halls and curious eyes. There, she would sit in silence, closing her eyes and reaching out into the invisible world around her. It was like discovering an entirely new dimension—every object, every being pulsed with a unique energy, and she could feel it all. The weight of the earth beneath her, the hum of distant life, even the faint stirrings of magical artifacts in nearby rooms.At night, she would stretch her senses farther than she had before, testing the limits of her awareness. And that was when she first felt it.A presence. Large, powerful, and ancient.It wasn't like the energies she had sensed before. This was something... deeper, something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. It wasn't in the room with her, but she could feel it, far away yet close enough to send shivers down her spine. It pulsed with intensity, so vast that it was almost suffocating. Every time she brushed against it, her heart would pound, her breath would catch, and a chill would crawl up her skin.The first time it happened, she pulled away immediately, overwhelmed by its magnitude. But as the days passed, her curiosity grew. She began searching for it deliberately, drawn to it like a moth to a flame, even though every instinct told her to stay away.The presence didn't move, didn't shift like other energies—it was steady, constant, as though it had been there for centuries, waiting.At first, she thought she was imagining it. No one else seemed to notice. But every time she felt it, the more real it became, and with it, an undeniable truth: this presence was something powerful, something dangerous.And she had to find out what it was.Her obsession with this energy grew, and with it, her sense of isolation. While the other students mingled, laughed, and practiced their spells, Aeris withdrew further. She began to feel more disconnected from them, as though she were living in a different world entirely. Even Quinlan, who had been one of the few who still spoke to her from time to time, seemed more distant. Conversations became brief, polite exchanges rather than the friendly banter they once had. The gap between her and her peers widened, and she no longer knew how to bridge it.Every day, she felt more like an outsider. She could feel the energy of the world around her, but she couldn't touch it the way others did. It was as if a wall stood between her and the magic everyone else so effortlessly wielded.But none of that mattered anymore. She had to know what the presence was, even if it meant pushing herself further into the unknown.The more she focused on it, the more vivid it became, like a beacon in the darkness, calling to her.And Aeris, for better or worse, was ready to follow.Aeris had been searching for Bramble for days. Every corner of the academy she checked—classrooms, the library, even the quiet spaces where he often disappeared to. But he was nowhere to be found. The anticipation gnawed at her; she needed to talk to him, to share everything she had felt and learned. She didn't know who else could understand, who else could help her make sense of it all.Then, on a particularly quiet afternoon, she finally found him. Bramble was in one of the smaller classrooms, flipping through a set of scrolls. He looked up the moment she entered, and his eyes immediately widened, his face breaking into a smile."There you are!" he exclaimed, standing from his chair. "I've been wondering when I'd see you again."Aeris felt a surge of relief. She hadn't realized how much she missed talking to him. "I've been looking for you everywhere," she said, her voice filled with excitement.Bramble raised an eyebrow, studying her for a moment. "There's something different about you." His tone was curious but lighthearted. "I can feel it. What's been happening?"Aeris couldn't contain herself. The words poured out of her as they both sat down, her hands gesturing wildly as she described the past few weeks. She told him about the moving objects, the energy she had felt in the world around her, how for the first time in so long, she didn't feel empty anymore. She even told him about her fascination with watching others cast spells, how she could sense the shift in energy when they succeeded or failed.Bramble listened intently, his eyes sparkling with interest and a proud smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I knew you would feel it," he said, almost to himself. "You're seeing the world in a way most don't. This is good—very good."Aeris beamed, feeling a warmth rise in her chest. For the first time in years, she felt as though she was on the right path. But as the excitement began to fade, her thoughts returned to the presence she had felt in the depths of the night. The presence that was unlike anything else.The smile on her face faltered. She leaned back in her chair, her tone more serious now. "There's... there's something else."Bramble immediately picked up on the shift in her demeanor, his expression becoming more focused. "What is it?"Aeris took a breath, unsure of how to explain the enormity of what she had been feeling. "It's this presence. It's powerful, so powerful. But it's... still. Like, completely still. It doesn't change or fluctuate like other energies. I've been feeling it for days, and I don't know what it is. It's not like the energy of moving objects, or people, or anything else."Bramble's face tensed. His smile disappeared, replaced by a look of quiet concern. He leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping the edge of the desk as though considering how to respond.After a long moment, he sighed. "Aeris, what you're describing... it's not something most people feel so early in their training. And it's definitely not something to take lightly."Her heart sank a little at his tone, and a wave of anxiety washed over her. "What do you mean? Is it dangerous?"He hesitated, glancing at the floor for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "There are two types of energy in the world, as you've likely begun to notice—stable and unstable. Unstable energy is what most of us work with. It's all around us, in the air, in objects, in people. When we cast spells or use magic, we're drawing from that unstable energy and converting it into something stable. It's like... turning chaos into order."Aeris nodded, her mind processing his words. "So... unstable energy isn't bad, right?""Not at all," Bramble replied. "Unstable energy is simply in motion, like the ticking hands of a clock or the flowing of water. That's why I had you focus on moving objects first—because it's easier to sense. You're feeling the constant fluctuations, the changes in the energy. And through practice, you learn to harness and stabilize it."He paused, his gaze growing more intense. "But what you're describing—this stillness—it's unusual. Stable energy is much harder to sense because it doesn't move, it doesn't change. It just is. Most people take years to be able to feel stable energy in objects, let alone something so powerful."Aeris swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. "So... what I'm feeling, it's stable energy?"Bramble nodded slowly. "Yes. And the fact that you can sense it, especially so strongly, is... remarkable. But also concerning.""Why concerning?" Aeris's voice was barely a whisper now."Because," he said, his voice lowering, "stable energy usually doesn't present itself so overtly. It's rare to feel it in such a large amount unless something—or someone—is controlling it."Aeris's mind raced. Her thoughts swirled back to the ancient presence she had been sensing. It had been so still, so strong, and so constant. She had thought it was just her imagination, but now... now it seemed much more real. "What do I do?"Bramble studied her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers. "We'll need to investigate further," he said finally. "But for now, be cautious. Don't try to engage with it. Just... observe."Aeris nodded, but a chill ran through her. This presence wasn't something she could ignore. And now, it seemed, Bramble couldn't ignore it either.