“We'll do it here,” Lazare announced, approaching a small pond behind one of the larger trees.

The water was still and undisturbed, devoid of any visible creatures. At the center of the pond was a small wooden platform, just large enough to hold one person. With a fluid motion, Lazare pulled out a scroll from her book. The scroll bore a complex, intricately drawn magic circle, which she carefully laid out on the platform.

“Sit here,” Lazare instructed, gesturing to the platform.

“All right,” Shalyn replied. She carefully crossed the pond and settled herself on the scroll. “What now?”

“Focus. Do you know the feeling when chills run down your spine?” Lazare asked in a calm, measured tone as she flipped through the pages of her book.

“I think so…” Shalyn responded hesitantly. “...But how will that help me awaken my power?”

“You've already done it,” Lazare exclaimed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Now you need to learn to control it.”

“I did? When? I've never trained before,” the girl said, her voice filled with surprise.

Lazare chuckled softly, and in a way Shalyn couldn’t quite understand, the pond seemed to ripple slightly in response.

“Magical skills aren't acquired solely through training,” Lazare said, closing her book and tucking it under her arm. “They can be gained in many other ways: various curses, blessings, or, as in your case, intense emotions.” She started walking slowly toward her house. “With this knowledge, you should manage by evening. I'll work on your friend's curse.”

“How am I supposed to manage on my own?!” Shalyn's gaze followed Lazare's silhouette as she disappeared behind the bushes.

"Stay calm… I’ll figure this out and find a way to help Sylleth…" She sank to her knees and rested her hands on her lap, trying to steady her breathing.

She sat there, immersed in intense concentration, but no results emerged immediately.

"...She mentioned something about inducing chills, didn’t she?" Shalyn drew a deep breath and then slowly nodded, focusing all her attention on her neck, attempting to conjure the shivers. Is this how it’s done?

Gradually, a tingling sensation began to spread from her neck, rapidly coursing down her back, traveling across her shoulders and forearms, and finally reaching her elbows.

"I don’t feel anything…" the girl sighed in frustration. "Am I even doing this correctly? Could it have been just a metaphor?" As she opened her eyes, she was startled to see hundreds, if not thousands, of jellyfish that had previously been invisible. They were no bigger than a palm, and most of them were a shimmering blue, but scattered among them were a few glowing purple ones. "How did they appear here?!"

Shalyn tried once more to induce the shivers, this time keeping her eyes open. Again, she felt a pleasant sensation at the nape of her neck, which this time spread all the way to the tips of her fingers. The water around her began to ripple gently at first, then more noticeably.

"I did it?" A broad, proud smile lit up Shalyn’s face as she marveled at her success.

As a wave of joy surged through Shalyn, the water around her erupted in a powerful explosion, emptying the pond and sending a cascade of droplets splashing in every direction. Shalyn’s vision blurred as a wave of heat washed over her face, making her body feel heavy and sluggish.

"What just happened…-" Before she could finish the thought, her legs gave out, and she collapsed, falling straight into the mud.

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As her consciousness slowly returned, the intense heat lingered, searing her from deep within. From time to time, the heat was replaced by a chill, providing the girl with fleeting relief that didn’t last long. Shalyn tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids remained still. In the distance, she could hear a whisper, as if someone was sitting beside her, trying to wake her up. She opened her mouth, or at least she thought she did, but she couldn’t produce any sound.

Suddenly, she felt a familiar touch on her hand.

"Sylleth?" she thought, trying her best to open her eyes as the darkness clung stubbornly.

Finally, Shalyn’s eyes fluttered open, revealing a wooden ceiling above her. Though she felt too weak to move, she managed to turn her head slightly to the side. Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow on a wooden table and a chair positioned near the bed.

“Is it night already?” Shalyn wondered aloud, her gaze drifting back to the ceiling as she tried to piece together what had happened after she lost consciousness. “I feel awful.”

After a short moment, Shalyn turned onto her side, trying to rest a bit.

“It’s unbearably hot in here,” she murmured, tossing the blanket aside. “Have I come down with a fever?”

She closed her eyes, trying to rest, but sleep eluded her. Using all her strength, she managed to sit up and leaned against the wall, glancing around. The lingering effects of the fever kept her from fully gathering her thoughts.

The girl lay back down, unable to find her place, when suddenly the door to the room swung open and Shalyn’s eyes shot toward it in an instant.

"Syleth?!" Shalyn thought with a pleading urgency.

But it was Lazare who entered the room, holding a bucket of water in one hand and her book tucked under her arm.

“Finally awake, are we?” Lazare set the bucket down on the table and took a seat in the chair.

Without moving from the bed, Shalyn replied, “I guess… What happened?”

“You overheated.” Lazare placed her book on the table next to the bucket. “It happens often when you can’t control your power.”

“I did? Is that what caused the fever?” Shalyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper, still feeling drained.

“Yes… Honestly, I didn’t anticipate this level of reaction. I had quite a mess to clean up afterward.” Lazare chuckled softly, though her laughter was somewhat forced. “Rest for now. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.” She said, her voice softening as she took a cloth from a nearby shelf and dipped it in water.

“…But what about Sylleth? Has he woken up yet?” Shalyn asked, her voice laced with hope and concern.

“Sadly, not yet. The rot is spreading, so we have to act fast.” Lazare replied, gently pressing the cool, damp cloth against Shalyn’s forehead.

“Can I see him?” Shalyn’s voice was barely a whisper, her exhaustion evident as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

“You will.” Lazare assured her, her tone gentle but firm. “In the morning, you’ll have a chance to see him.” She walked over to the table, carefully setting down her book. “For now, you need to rest. It’s important to be well-rested for what’s ahead.”

Shalyn closed her eyes, and as if sinking into a dreamless abyss, she was enveloped by the soothing embrace of sleep. What felt like mere moments later, her eyes fluttered open, though hours had actually passed.

“Already morning…?” she murmured, blinking as she slowly came to her senses. As she pushed herself out of bed, she leaned against the wall for support. Through the window, the cheerful chirping of birds reached her ears, a gentle reminder that the world outside had stirred to life long before she had.

The girl moved toward the window, revealing a familiar landscape teeming with vibrant plants and singing birds. But Lazare was nowhere in sight.

“Maybe she’s with Sylleth?” Shalyn wondered, her thoughts racing as she took a deep breath and slowly made her way out of the room, her footsteps echoing softly in the quiet house.

Passing by numerous bookshelves, after what seemed like an eternity, she finally reached the room where Sylleth was supposed to be resting. She opened the door, her eyes immediately falling on the bed where Sylleth lay. His condition appeared worse than before; bandages wrapped around him up to his shoulders, some parts of it were covered with glowing magical circles, each one pulsing faintly, working tirelessly to halt the spread of the rot. The sight made her heart ache, and she rushed quickly to his side.

“Sylleth?” She asked quietly, taking his right hand in hers. “When will you wake up…?” she repeated, her voice tinged with desperation, hoping for him to respond.

The silence stretched, broken only by the soft, labored rhythm of Sylleth’s breathing. Shalyn’s heart ached with the quiet, the uncertainty weighing heavily on her. She squeezed his hand gently, hoping for any sign, any flicker of consciousness. The room felt colder, the weight of the situation pressing down on her, making each breath feel a bit harder to take.

“I promise… I’ll help you, all right?” Shalyn took a deep breath and released his hand. “You will get through this.”

Stepping out into the hallway, she spotted Lazare standing by one of the bookshelves, her fingers lightly tracing the spines of the books. Lazare looked up, her eyes meeting Shalyn’s with an encouraging smile.

“Are you ready?” Lazare asked, her smile widening.

“Yes.” Shalyn replied, her voice firm and filled with resolve.