The Djinn hovered silently above the reflective pool, its molten-gold eyes fixed on Lira. The air shimmered with heat and thought, as if every molecule carried memory and expectation. Lira's companions stayed close, but they were told to remain observers. The Djinn's tests were hers alone.
"Your first trial," the Djinn's voice echoed, "is to confront desire without possession. Many come to seek power, wisdom, or vengeance. Tell me, Lira of two roots—what drives you?"
Lira's mind drifted. She thought of the Academy, her Grove, the multielement students, the lands she had yet to explore. She thought of her past battles, the demons she had faced, and the lives she had touched. And yet, she could not lie even to herself.
"I want understanding," she said finally. "Not for myself, not to gain power… but to guide those who cannot yet see their own strength. To teach balance, to protect life, to heal what has been broken."
