[Gale's POV]
I stopped walking, my boots scuffing against the cobblestones as I stared at the sealed elemental mana crystal resting in my palm. The stone was cool against my skin, but I could feel the power thrumming beneath its surface—a dormant storm waiting to be unleashed.
Here we go.
I gathered a focused thread of my mana into my palm, preparing to brush it against the stone's seals and unravel them. But just as the energy began to coalesce, a cold, sharp warning shot through my mind.
If I unseal it here, the sudden, violent release of raw elemental mana would be like lighting a beacon in the dark. It would attract every werewolf with a hint of magical sensitivity and every witch within a half-mile radius.
We were surrounded by potential enemies. Any number of opportunistic magic-users who would kill for a stone like this.
This is frustrating!
I clenched my fist around the stone, the temptation warring with prudence.
