Kyrex awoke to a quiet dorm, spark still pulsing faintly at his fingertips.

  The surge from last night left him restless. He didn’t know how much of it he had truly controlled — only that the currents had noticed him.

  The shadow curled beside him, stretching forward, flicking almost impatiently.

  A whisper grazed his mind:

  “You cannot ignore the flow. Learn its rhythm… or be carried by it.”

  Kyrex frowned. “…Rhythm… carry me?”

  By mid-morning, he slipped into the training courtyard alone. Mist hovered over the stones, giving the place an ethereal glow.

  He lifted his hand. Spark hummed, tiny lines of light weaving upward. He remembered Vaelix’s words — awareness first, control later.

  The shadow pressed forward, guiding, almost breathing with him. Kyrex moved.

  The spark surged. This time, he directed it consciously. Ribbons of light danced along invisible threads, weaving patterns that bent around the courtyard like faint celestial maps.

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  Gasps echoed from the edges of the courtyard. A few upperclassmen had noticed.

  “Impressive,” a voice drawled from above. Kyrex looked up. A senior mage watched from a balcony, eyes narrowed. “…For someone so new.”

  Kyrex swallowed. “…I… I’m trying to control it.”

  The shadow flicked forward, nudging the ribbons of light toward balance. The spark pulsed stronger under its guidance, forming arcs of almost artistic precision.

  The senior’s lips twitched. “…Interesting. The board must be… pleased.”

  Kyrex froze. “…The board?”

  No answer, only the shadow tightening protectively around him.

  Hours passed. Sweat dripped down his temples. He adjusted, flowed, pushed, and pulled the spark. The shadow shifted constantly, like it could anticipate mistakes before they happened.

  He realized it was no longer just guiding him — it was training him. Teaching him to bend the currents safely.

  Then he felt it. A pull in the courtyard — subtle, distant, but perceptible. Jealousy, curiosity, and something darker. Eyes watching him from the shadows, waiting for misstep.

  A whisper:

  “Some currents resist. They seek to destabilize… even before your hand falters.”

  Kyrex’s chest tightened. “…They’re… testing me too?”

  Vaelix appeared silently beside him, calm as ever. Silver eyes glimmered.

  “Every ripple attracts attention,” Vaelix said quietly. “Not all who watch are kind. Some will follow curiosity with ill intent. Learn to anticipate. Awareness now can save you later.”

  Kyrex clenched his fists. “…So I can’t just practice. I have to watch them too.”

  Vaelix nodded faintly. “…The currents are never neutral. Not here. Not now.”

  Far beyond the academy, in the void untouched by stars, the two presences spoke:

  “One bends.”

  “One observes.”

  “And the boy has begun drawing attention beyond the currents he touches — the board and its pieces stir quietly now.”