"Calm waters may hide the strongest currents."*
Morning broke over Elyndra in hues of soft gold and pale blue. The air was cool and heavy with the scent of wet grass. Lior woke to the sound of the stream rippling just beyond his window. For a brief moment, he forgot where he was. The ceiling above him was made of wood, not plaster. The sounds of birds filled the silence where city traffic should have been.
He sat up slowly. His muscles ached from the sparring with Kael, but it was a pleasant ache, one that told him he was alive. He stepped outside, letting the morning sun warm his face.
Elder Thane stood by the stream, leaning on his staff. The blue crystal at its tip shimmered softly as if it breathed with the rhythm of the water.
"Good, you are awake," Thane said. "We begin your training now. Sit by the water."
Lior obeyed, sitting cross-legged on the soft grass. The stream murmured beside him, its surface glittering like liquid glass.
"Listen," Thane said quietly. "The world speaks in many ways. Most never hear it because they are too loud within themselves. Quiet your thoughts and let the world speak to you."
Lior closed his eyes. The whisper of the wind brushed against his ears. The steady rhythm of the water filled his mind. Slowly, his heartbeat matched its tempo.
At first, there was only silence. Then a faint pulse beneath the ground, deep and steady. He could feel it as if the earth itself had a heartbeat.
"That is mana," Thane said softly. "It flows through everything. The soil, the water, the sky, even you. Magic is not a gift of power but of harmony. When you learn to move with it, you can shape it."
Lior nodded slowly. The mark on his hand tingled faintly, and for a moment he saw the faint shimmer of energy moving through the air. He gasped and opened his eyes.
"Good," Thane said with a smile. "You are sensitive to it already. That will make your path both easier and harder."
"Harder?" Lior asked.
Thane's expression darkened. "The more the world listens to you, the more it notices you. And not all things that notice you are kind."
Before Lior could ask what he meant, a loud splash echoed from farther down the stream.
A young woman was standing knee-deep in the water, trying to pull something from the current. Her long auburn hair clung to her back as she struggled against the flow.
Lior ran to her side. "Do you need help?"
She looked up, startled, her eyes a brilliant shade of green. "The water spirit took my charm! I cannot let it drift away. It is my family's blessing."
Without thinking, Lior waded in beside her. The water was cold and fast, tugging at his legs. He reached for the charm that glimmered beneath the surface, but it seemed to move on its own, carried by a force deeper than the stream.
"Hold still," he said, though his heart pounded. The mark on his hand began to glow faintly, spreading warmth up his arm. The current slowed around him, the water swirling gently as if it recognized him.
The woman stared in astonishment. "You are controlling it!"
Lior reached down and grasped the charm. As soon as his fingers touched it, the glow faded, and the current returned to normal. He stumbled back to the bank, dripping and breathless.
Thane was watching with calm eyes. "Interesting. The water obeyed your intent. It seems your connection to mana runs deep."
The young woman bowed slightly. "Thank you, stranger. My name is Nyra. You have my gratitude."
"Lior," he said simply. "I am glad I could help."
She smiled, though her eyes lingered curiously on his left hand. "That mark of yours… it is rare to see one that shines so brightly. You should hide it better. Some might mistake you for something divine, and that kind of attention can be dangerous."
Her words reminded him of Thane's warning. "I will keep that in mind."
Nyra nodded, tying the charm around her neck again. "If you ever visit the northern woods, look for me. I am often there gathering herbs." With that, she turned and disappeared into the trees, her figure vanishing like mist.
Lior stood in silence for a while, staring at the water. "She seemed kind."
Thane smiled faintly. "She is spirited. And clever. Do not let her eyes fool you though. The northern woods are not safe for anyone."
They walked back toward the village as the sun climbed higher. The air buzzed with the hum of insects and distant laughter. For a brief moment, Lior felt peace.
That night, as he sat by the stream alone, the moonlight danced across the water. He thought of Nyra's words, of Thane's warning, and of the strange warmth that had answered his will.
The world was whispering again, faint but clear.
*The current bends to the heart that listens.*
Lior touched the mark on his hand, feeling it pulse in quiet agreement. He smiled. "Then I will learn to listen."
Above him, the stars burned bright and cold. And far away, beyond the northern woods, unseen eyes turned toward Elyndra.