The fire crackled softly, casting shifting shadows along the rough walls of the cave. Its soothing warmth contrasted with the biting cold that still ruled outside. Veil, leaning against the rock, watched the flames, his gaze lost in their hypnotic dance. His bandaged leg lay motionless before him as he tried to recover his strength.

Alynia, seated in silence near the fire, suddenly stood up. Her movements were fluid, almost feline, and her steps made no sound against the rocky ground. She approached the cave walls, her piercing blue eyes following the droplets of water that trickled gently down the stone. Veil briefly tore his eyes away from the fire, intrigued by her actions.

Veil (internal thought, curious): What is she doing?

Alynia raised her hand, palm open toward the rock face, and closed her eyes slightly. The droplets, which had been falling at regular intervals, began to tremble. As if drawn by an invisible force, they lifted from the stone’s surface, slowly gathering into a small floating sphere of water. The fire’s glow reflected off the sphere, creating shimmering patterns of light.

Veil stared, his mind struggling to grasp what he was seeing.

Veil (stunned, in a low voice): "That’s... impossible..."

His voice broke the silence, filled with a mixture of shock and fascination. He straightened slightly, ignoring the pain in his leg, his eyes locked onto the fluid, graceful movement of the water sphere.

Veil (louder, still in disbelief): "How did you do that?!"

Alynia tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk appearing on her lips. She slowly lowered her hand, keeping the sphere suspended between her fingers.

Alynia (smirking, calmly): "I have an affinity for water magic. I don’t fully master it, but I know how to use it."

Her voice was steady, but there was a quiet pride in her tone. She made the sphere spin slightly, her movements precise and controlled. Each motion carried an effortless elegance that captivated Veil.

Veil (internal thought, fascinated): Magic… so it’s real. She manipulates water as if it’s second nature.

With a precise motion, Alynia guided the sphere into a small leather flask attached to her belt. The liquid poured in without spilling a single drop. She sealed the flask with a smooth, practiced movement before shifting her gaze toward Veil.

She noticed the mixture of surprise and envy on his face. A flicker of amusement passed through her eyes, but she concealed it well.

Alynia (subtle smile, slightly provocative): "Do you want to try?"

Her words were both an invitation and a challenge, her tone suggesting mild skepticism about his abilities.

Silence settled between them. Veil remained motionless, staring at the puddle at his feet, then at Alynia. The wariness in his gaze slowly faded, replaced by a flicker of curiosity. Despite himself, a part of him wanted to believe it was possible.

Veil (hesitant, uncertain): "Try? Me? But I don’t even know if I can."

Alynia crossed her arms, a faintly amused smile tugging at her lips. She seemed to enjoy his hesitation, not out of cruelty, but as if she was simply waiting to see how far he would go.

Alynia (gently, with a hint of challenge): "You’ll never know unless you try. Come on, step closer."

Veil hesitated for another moment, his gaze flickering between the puddle and Alynia. The quiet confidence she exuded irritated him as much as it intrigued him. Finally, he let out a deep sigh and pushed himself up against the rocky wall to stand.

His legs were still stiff, and each movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his injury. He grimaced, clenching his teeth to avoid showing how much it hurt. But despite his body’s protest, he didn’t stop.

Alynia (internal thought, observant): He’s more stubborn than I expected. Not bad.

She watched him from the corner of her eye, her ears twitching slightly as she followed his movements. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze, as if she were evaluating each step he took.

Veil stopped near the puddle, leaning slightly forward and extending his hand above the surface. The droplets, illuminated by the flickering firelight, appeared motionless, frozen in their silent stillness.

Veil (internal thought, troubled): All of this… It’s too strange. A wolf-woman, magic… Am I still dreaming? None of this makes sense.

He swallowed hard, his mind struggling to piece together fragments of logic that seemed to slip through his grasp since waking up.

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Alynia (soft but steady voice): "Focus on the movement of the water. Feel it. It’s alive, always flowing, even when it looks still. Let it move beneath your skin, listen to it."

Her words were calm, almost melodic, yet carried a subtle authority. She spoke as someone who understood, her unwavering confidence making it difficult to doubt her.

The cave fell into near silence. Only the faint crackling of the fire broke the stillness, accompanied by Veil’s unsteady breaths.

He brought his fingers closer to the water, his hands trembling from exhaustion and tension.

Veil (internal thought, skeptical and nervous): Feel the water… How am I even supposed to do that? This is ridiculous. It doesn’t make any sense.

He shut his eyes, more to avoid Alynia’s gaze than to focus. His breathing, rapid and uneven at first, gradually began to steady.

Veil (internal thought, still doubtful): Maybe… maybe I should just try, see what happens. After all, she did it, didn’t she?

The muscles in his arm tensed slightly as he searched for something unseen, a sensation he had never attempted to grasp before. The atmosphere around him grew heavier, as if the cave itself was holding its breath.

Alynia remained still, her gaze unwavering as she observed him.

Alynia (internal thought, patient but watchful): This is where everything hinges. If he gives up now, he’ll never go any further.

Veil furrowed his brows, frustrated by his own thoughts looping endlessly. The idea that this could all be a dream, a hallucination—or worse—disturbed him even more. But he closed his eyes for a moment, slowly releasing the tension in his hand. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm the turmoil in his mind.

Veil (internal thought, resolute): Stop. Focus. If this is a dream, then act like it’s real.

The silence in his mind mirrored the stillness of the cave. His hand remained outstretched, motionless above the water, while his breathing gradually synchronized with the ambient calm. The fire behind him continued to crackle softly, its warmth soothing his tense nerves.

Veil (internal thought, repeating): Feel it… feel it…

His breathing slowed further, each inhale becoming deeper and more controlled. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was looking for, but he tried to empty his mind, focusing solely on the water below him.

Then, the surface of the water began to tremble. Tiny ripples formed, radiating gently from the center as if responding to his presence.

A faint vibration ran through his fingers, a strange sensation—subtle, yet unmistakable. He frowned slightly, surprised by the unexpected contact. It was something unfamiliar, yet it didn’t feel unpleasant.

His fingers twitched slightly, almost involuntarily, and the ripples in the water seemed to respond to his movement, following a rhythm he wasn’t consciously controlling.

Alynia (slightly surprised, low voice): “Not bad… You have potential.”

Her voice, though soothing, carried a hint of contained surprise, revealing that she hadn’t expected such a quick reaction.

Veil cracked an eye open, drawn by her tone. What he saw left him speechless—the water beneath his hand was truly moving, faintly undulating in sync with his fingers.

Veil (whispering, incredulous): "I… I made it move?"

His voice was weak, barely audible, as if he was afraid to break the moment. His wide eyes remained fixed on the water, which continued to respond to his movements.

Veil (internal thought, amazed): This is… incredible. This isn’t a dream… it’s really working.

Alynia watched him with renewed interest, her ears slightly tilted forward. Her smirk returned subtly, but she said nothing more for now, allowing Veil to explore this discovery on his own.

Veil abruptly pulled his hand back, as if he had been burned. His breathing quickened as he stared at the now-still surface of the water. His fingers trembled slightly, still tingling from the strange sensation he had just experienced.

Veil (internal thought, unsettled): That was real… It actually moved. I felt it.

His wide eyes reflected a mixture of confusion and awe, emotions he struggled to put into words.

Alynia (firm but calm voice): "That wasn’t a coincidence. Your body responded. You felt the flow of mana. It’s inside you, whether you know it or not."

Her voice carried a steady confidence, an absolute certainty that left no room for doubt. She approached him calmly, her footsteps soundless on the rocky ground. Lowering herself into a crouch beside him, her figure was sharply outlined against the flickering firelight.

Her expression was focused but not harsh. There was no judgment or impatience in her gaze, only an intensity that seemed to pierce through Veil’s lingering doubts.

She rested one knee on the ground and extended her hand, pointing at the puddle of water with a single finger.

Alynia (intense gaze): "You felt it, didn’t you? That sensation beneath your skin? That subtle shiver inside? That was mana. Everyone has it, but few can access it naturally without training."

Veil remained frozen, his mind racing. The words she had just spoken—mana, flow—looped endlessly in his head like an echo. It all seemed so foreign, so far from everything he had ever known.

Veil (internal thought, disoriented): Mana… is that what I felt? Has it been inside me all along?

He closed his eyes briefly, trying to collect his scattered thoughts. But that fleeting connection he had experienced with the water lingered in his mind. It was as if a door had been left slightly ajar, revealing a world he had never even imagined.

Alynia, still crouched, tilted her head slightly, her ears twitching almost imperceptibly.

Alynia (softer voice, slightly intrigued): "See? It’s not about knowing—it’s about feeling. And you… you’ve already taken the first step."

Veil slowly lifted his gaze to meet Alynia’s, still shaken by what he had just experienced. The sheer strangeness of the situation struck him repeatedly: manipulating water with an invisible force? Feeling something as intangible as "mana"? Yet, beyond his confusion, a spark of wonder flickered in his eyes.

Veil (internal thought, intrigued): If I could do that… then what else is possible? What am I truly capable of in this world?

That thought lodged itself deep inside him, breaking through the doubts that had paralyzed him until now. A door had opened, and he found himself wanting—no, needing—to step through, even if he didn’t yet understand where it would lead.

Alynia stood with her usual fluid grace, absentmindedly dusting off her clothes. Her movements, though calm, carried a precision that betrayed her habitual control. She gave a small shake of her head, a fleeting ghost of a smile barely touching her lips before she turned away.

Alynia (without turning back, in a quiet voice): "Get some rest, human. This was only the first step."

Though simple, her words resonated deeply within him. He heard both encouragement and warning in her tone.

Veil (short breath, incredulous): "A first step, huh? That’s… insane. I never thought… I mean, I never believed it was possible."

Alynia paused for a moment, casting a glance over her shoulder, her piercing blue eyes locking onto Veil with calculated intensity.

Alynia (calm but direct): "Possible? It’s not a matter of possibility, but of will. Anything can be done, as long as you’re ready to see it through to the end."

She turned back toward the fire, her steps remaining as silent as ever, and sat down again near the flames. Her silhouette stood out against their flickering glow, giving her an almost mystical presence.

The fire crackled softly, its dancing light casting shifting shadows along the rough walls of the cave. The puddle of water had returned to stillness, its ripples gone as if nothing had happened.

Yet, Veil couldn’t look away. He kept staring at the smooth, silent surface, his thoughts churning. A newfound curiosity stirred within him, a fascination mingled with an unexpected determination.

Veil (internal thought, awed but resolute): I can do it. I can do it again. And if she’s right… then maybe, just maybe, I can do so much more.

Slowly, he clenched his fist, his fingers tightening as if to solidify his resolve.

Taking a deep breath, he let the warmth of the fire wrap around his weary body and soothe his restless mind. The crackling flames and the distant whisper of the wind formed a calming backdrop, a reminder that he was still here—alive and ready to move forward.

For the first time since arriving in this unfamiliar world, Veil felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. Fragile, but undeniable. And he held onto it, refusing to let it fade.