Observing from the Dreamscape Layers
The Star Academy Library was a place that never failed to impress. Shaped like a five-pointed star, it rose seven levels high, each floor lined with shelves that seemed to stretch infinitely. The ceiling, also a perfect star, shone perpetually with a clear blue sky, sunlight streaming down as if it were a permanent morning. Hazel found comfort in the constant light; it was grounding, a steady anchor amidst the swirl of her ever-shifting duties. Marcel and Evervine were already waiting at the base of the central staircase, the familiar warmth of the library around them, the scent of parchment and polished wood mingling with a faint undercurrent of herbs and dried flowers.
"Finally," Marcel said, brushing a hand through his hair. His eyes sparkled with barely-contained excitement. "I've been itching to do this for weeks. I hope you're ready for a proper potion examination."
Evervine gave him a stern look. "You're here to observe, not start experimenting before we even begin."
Hazel just smiled faintly and shrugged. "He will be okay. Let's meet in the middle."
They moved to the center of the library, the main floor forming a vast pentagonal space with a circular balcony at each corner. Hazel traced her fingers along the banister, already weaving subtle threads of magic to ensure their observation would remain undetected.
A few moments later, when they were safely in their favorite alcove, the library seemed to bend around them, the edges of reality softening as they shifted into the dreamscape.
Their forms became ghostly, translucent. Light refracted oddly through their outlines, shimmering and wavering like heat over a summer road. Sounds from the library dulled, replaced by the soft, almost musical resonance of the dreamscape itself. Hazel could feel the hum of distant magic underfoot, and she anchored herself to the dreamscape carefully, making sure she remained tethered to her actual body in the library. Marcel and Evervine mirrored her, their outlines brightening slightly as they adjusted to the magic and resonance of the dreamscape over this area.
Their spirit bodies now tangible in an intangible space.
Old Starcrest unfolded before them like a living memory. Once a mining town, it had fallen into disrepair when the mithril veins ran dry, leaving crooked buildings, narrow alleys, and streets overgrown with weeds. Hazel's heart clenched slightly at the sight—it was eerie but strangely beautiful, the kind of place that seemed to hide secrets in every shadow. At the edge of the main square, a small, open-air market was set up, dusty wooden stalls and crates stacked with herbs, powders, and curious magical implements.
They waited and observed. Hazel set the first observation enchantment, letting them listen to the entire market from their hidden vantage point. "We need to see everything," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I want to know what they're buying, how they're acting, if there's anything unusual."
Marcel's eyes darted from one stall to another. "I've waited for something like this my entire life," he murmured, almost to himself. He leaned in toward Hazel and Evervine, gesturing subtly. "Look at that root. Bandroot, rare and dangerous. If they're buying that, I want to know why."
Evervine shot him a warning glare. "Focus, Marcel. You're here to observe, not to start critiquing the market."
Hazel gave a faint smile and reinforced the magical barrier surrounding them, keeping Marcel's excitement from attracting attention. Sable Fenwick arrived shortly afterward, her appearance as deliberate and composed as ever. Hazel's gaze sharpened. Sable was slender, with sharp features that made her seem almost hawkish, dressed in dark fabrics embroidered with muted silver patterns. Her presence carried authority, and yet, she moved through the market with a casual grace, as if she owned the very air she breathed.
The three friends repositioned themselves to see her shop clearly, the dreamscape warbling to open spaces where they needed, tugging at the layers to keep up with the three's moves.
Rosa, Temperance, and Timothy approached the designated meeting point. Each carried small satchels, worn and practical, suited for collecting and transporting ingredients. Hazel noted the subtle shift in Rosa's expression when she saw Sable—it was not just recognition, but a faint tension. Sable greeted them with a small nod and a delicate shrug, as though to acknowledge the importance of their visit without drawing undue attention.
Temperance began moving through the market, selecting ingredients, she moved like a practiced potions maker as she browsed through the vast selection. Hazel focused on Marcel's reactions, noting the subtle twitches of excitement as his eyes caught something unusual.
"There," he whispered. "Midnight Lotus. Not illegal per se, but highly regulated. Its petals only bloom under a moonless night, extremely difficult to cultivate. If they've got six bundles…" His words trailed off, awe and curiosity threading his voice.
Evervine's look reminded him to restrain himself. Hazel, watching carefully, subtly enhanced the barrier around them again. Marcel seemed momentarily startled, realizing he had been observed reacting too openly, but Sable, positioned a few steps away, didn't notice. She had grown accustomed to the casual chaos of magical markets.
Rosa and Timothy watched as Temperance made her selctions. Her choices all seemed precise and planned. She walked through the stall with practiced ease.
Marcel's eyes widened slightly at a dark, coiled root she selected.
"That's Shadowvine," he whispered, pointing discreetly. "Highly toxic if handled incorrectly. Normally you'd need gloves enchanted against absorption. If they're taking six bundles each…" He trailed off again, captivated by the sheer complexity of what they were preparing.
Hazel's lips pressed together. She could sense Marcel's curiosity teetering dangerously close to interference. "Keep observing," she murmured. "Do not—" She hesitated, then added more firmly, "—do anything yet."
Evervine, still looming near Marcel, gave him a sharp glance, reinforcing Hazel's instruction. Marcel exhaled softly and nodded, following Hazel's lead.
Temperance continued her methodical gathering. One by one, she chose six large bundles of ingredients: a soft green herb, sparkling blue root, Midnight Lotus, Shadowvine, a handful of silver moss that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, a powder of crushed starseed petals, and finally a rare crimson bark that smelled faintly of smoke. Marcel's eyes flicked from one item to the next, his mind cataloging and analyzing the magical properties, potential interactions, and subtle dangers.
Sable oversaw the transaction with her usual composed demeanor, examining each selection briefly and nodding with approval. "Careful with the Midnight Lotus," she said softly, almost as an aside. "Even skilled hands can make mistakes if they're distracted." Her gaze drifted to Marcel's position for the briefest of moments before she turned back to Rosa and the twins.
Hazel felt the tension in the dreamscape spike slightly. Marcel's enthusiasm was palpable, and Sable seemed to sense something, though she didn't act on it. Hazel not only reinforced the observation barrier again she added a second layer to it, ensuring their forms remained undetectable and adding a type of screen that subtly repelled magic, it would make the area seem inert but not devoid of magic. She did all this1 even as she noted every small gesture, every subtle interaction.
The transaction concluded, the bundles securely packed, and Rosa's group began moving toward the outskirts of Old Starcrest. Hazel, Marcel, and Evervine followed at a careful distance, continuing to observe while remaining in the dreamscape layer. Marcel whispered occasional notes, pointing out the rare or unusual ingredients, while Evervine kept a vigilant eye on the surroundings, ready to intervene if anyone approached too closely. Hazel maintained the focus, anchoring them all to the dreamscape and ensuring that their presence remained undetectable.
As they walked, Hazel allowed herself a small moment of satisfaction. The observation had been successful. They knew the ingredients, the interactions, and the potential for whatever potion the students were preparing. Marcel's excitement was tempered by Evervine's steady hand, and Hazel's watchful eyes kept them all safe from detection. For the first time in weeks, Hazel felt that sense of control she craved, the knowledge that they were prepared, aware, and ready for whatever came next.
The market receded behind them as Old Starcrest's crooked buildings passed, the sunlight dimming as clouds began to gather. Hazel anchored them back to the library, feeling the dreamscape loosen its grip, allowing them to return to their physical forms. Marcel exhaled in a rush of exhilaration, still buzzing with the details he had absorbed. Evervine gave him one final glare, but there was a trace of amusement beneath it. Hazel smiled faintly, already planning the next steps.
They had the knowledge. They had the insight. And now, they would see how it played out.
Perhaps it was time to bring in the professors.