Ian looked down at his hand, still half-expecting the orb to spark back to life again. His fingers twitched nervously as if they were carrying leftover static. He cleared his throat and asked, "So… is anyone going to explain what just happened, or are you both just going to keep staring at me?"
Chloe finally blinked and let out a delighted laugh, her voice carrying a note of pure wonder. "My lord, This is extraordinary. People spend their entire lives dreaming of one strong affinity. And you..." she gestured at the orb, still faintly shimmering, "....you awakened every single element at once. It is miraculous."
Piper, however, wasn't smiling. Her sharp eyes darted from Ian to the orb and back again. Her jaw was tight, her hand curled into a fist. "Miraculous or not, it is not normal. Not in the slightest. This is beyond anything we were prepared for." She turned abruptly and called toward the house. "Lyra! Fetch the Queen immediately. Go now."
