Towan extended his hand, letting the soft, silvery glow of his Natural Essentia form in his palm. It pulsed gently, pure and unaligned, like a steady heartbeat. Across from him, Sylra conjured her Wind Essentia, the air around her fingers swirling in delicate spirals, playful yet controlled.

At first, the two energies seemed to resist each other, like oil meeting water. Towan frowned, feeling the subtle tension between them. The Wind Essentia brushed against his, only to scatter as though repelled.

“This… isn’t working,” Towan muttered, his voice tight with frustration.

“Not yet,” Sylra said, her tone calm but firm. She stepped closer, her emerald eyes locking with his. “The problem isn’t the Essentia. It’s you. You’re treating mine like it’s something to guard against.”

Towan raised an eyebrow. “I’m not doing that—”

“Yes, you are,” Sylra interrupted gently, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re trying to control it instead of meeting it halfway. Natural Essentia doesn’t need to dominate; it needs to adapt.”

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fine. How do I ‘meet it halfway,’ then?”

Sylra’s smile softened. “Let your energy breathe. Stop focusing so hard on containing it and let it flow naturally. Trust that it will find a rhythm with mine.”

She extended her hand, her Wind Essentia forming a small, spiraling current. Towan hesitated before slowly pushing his own energy forward. The two forces met again, and again they repelled each other, the Wind scattering against the edges of the pure energy.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Sylra didn’t waver. “Breathe,” she instructed. “Match my rhythm. Watch.”

She closed her eyes and guided her Wind Essentia into a steady, graceful pattern, its currents moving in slow, deliberate arcs. Towan focused on her energy, letting its movements guide him. He released the tension in his shoulders and eased his grip on his own Essentia, allowing it to flow freely.

The change was immediate. As his Natural Essentia expanded, it stopped resisting Sylra’s Wind. The two forces began to overlap, the Wind weaving through the pure energy like threads in a tapestry.

“Good,” Sylra said softly, her voice carrying a note of approval. “Now focus on balance. Let your energy support mine, and I’ll do the same for yours.”

Towan nodded, concentrating on keeping his Essentia steady but pliant. He adjusted its flow, letting the Wind dance around it without interruption. Sylra mirrored his efforts, her Wind growing gentler as it blended with the Natural Essentia.

Slowly, the energies began to stabilize, forming a glowing sphere that hovered between them. The orb shimmered with a unique brilliance, the silvery glow of Towan’s energy interwoven with the soft, translucent currents of Sylra’s Wind.

“See?” Sylra murmured, a satisfied smile on her face. “Harmony.”

Towan stared at the orb, his earlier frustration replaced by awe. “I didn’t think it would work. I mean, your Wind… it’s so unpredictable.”

“It’s not about the nature of the element,” Sylra replied. “It’s about trust. Wind can be chaotic, but it can also be gentle. Your Natural Essentia didn’t force mine into submission—it supported it. That’s why this works.”

Professor Velaryn approached, her expression thoughtful as she studied the orb. “Remarkable. You’ve not only created harmony but also demonstrated a deep understanding of what makes Essentia balance possible. Well done, both of you.”

Towan glanced at Sylra, who gave him a wink, her confidence shining through. “Looks like you’re not so bad after all,” she teased.

He chuckled, the tension finally easing from his posture. “I could say the same about you.”

Around the room, other students watched in quiet amazement. Elliot and Alira, paired together nearby, exchanged knowing looks.

“Did you see that?” Alira whispered, nudging Elliot.

“Oh, I saw it,” Elliot replied, a smirk playing on his lips. “She’s totally got him wrapped around her finger.”