Elysha sat in her chair and listened as Elder Merakia gave a lesson on theonum, using context from the textbook her pupil was looking at at the same time.
“‘Conceptual precognition?’” she repeated the word she had just heard, tilting her head in confusion. “What does that mean?”
“Conceptual precognition refers to a pre-sentimental feeling of anticipating future events or a vague premonition of danger,” she explained, holding an open book in her hands. “In the context of using theonum, it involves conceptualizing a scenario in our minds and manifesting it by bringing that vision into materialization—into our world. In simpler terms, it means imagining something so vividly in your mind that you guide the theonum energy to shape that vision into reality. It’s like painting a picture in your head, and the theonum becomes the brush that brings it to life.”
Elysha stared at the sample illustration in the page of her book, “Oh, I think I get it. So, it’s like what I did with my ball of light, right? I manifested it by creating a picture in my mind. Is that how it works?”
“Close enough,” Elder Merakia replied. “You are correct that you created your orb with your cognitive mind. However, conceptual precognition refers to scenarios where the user, in an act of clairvoyance, conceptualizes theonum as a means of self-defense and manifests it in a foreseen experience.”
Elysha furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of the explanation. The words felt heavy with meaning, yet slippery, and she felt overwhelmed by the amount of information she was unfamiliar with. Still, she wanted to learn more.
She imagined a person inside a ball of light, protecting themself from any foreseeable danger, just as she did when she would bury herself in her blanket on her bed late at night, frightened by the feeling of the unknown.
Elysha flipped to the next page, looking at all the details she couldn’t fully grasp, and it quickly frustrated her despite her recent progress in working with her theonum energy.
Frowning again, she looked up at her guardian and asked, “There is so much more, how long would it take me to learn it all?”
Elder Merakia closed the book in her hands and placed it on the table. “As I mentioned before, mastery of theonum, like all things worth pursuing, is a long journey. There is no end to learning, but every step you take brings you closer to understanding its essence—and yourself.”
Elysha sighed and leaned back in her chair. “I know, but it seems like it will take a long time for me to learn everything. I can feel that everything is going to be hard, and I just... I want to know and get better faster. I want to be strong like you.”
“Dear child, strength is not only what you can do with theonum, but also how you face challenges, how you grow through them, and how you remain steadfast in your spirit.”
Elysha pursed her lips flatly, not saying a word in response, to which she continued, “As long as you continue to practice, your abilities will improve. Growth depends on your progress. Everyone starts somewhere and builds on their abilities. Even now, as you sit here eager to learn, it shows me the strength of your will to grow.”
The little girl looked back up at her, gave a small smile at her guardian’s words, and said, “Thank you, Elder Mera.”
“I am carrying out my role to do what I can to help teach you,” she replied, then a brief moment of thought passed before she said, “Would you like a hug?”
Elysha nodded, and Elder Merakia opened her arms, and the little girl stepped into her embrace, feeling the warmth and reassurance of her guardian’s presence.
Feeling the comforting silence, Elysha glanced over and noticed a gray furball lounging nearby, sprawled comfortably on the grass with multiple butterflies standing on what appeared to be a flower crown he was wearing.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Micah? You’re here?”
He stretched his limbs and let out a fat yawn. His tail flicked from side to side before he opened his eyes and lifted his head lazily to look at her. “What?”
“I didn’t know that you would be here, too,” Elysha said, letting go of her guardians arms. “You’re kind of everywhere, you know that?”
“Micah thinks it’s about time for you to realize that Micah can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants,” he said, yawning again and looking at some fallen leaves scattered around him. The leaves began to levitate and float in the air, much to her amazement. They accumulated and all at once fell on him like a haystack in which he lay comfortably, as if back to sleep.
‘Wow, he can use his theonum so well, I want to become as good as him too.’ Elysha thought. Then she pursed her lips again and looked down at her hands, folded into a ball. She remembered the few, fleeting times she had successfully conjured an orb of light and processed the same sensation she had felt before.
‘But if I want to become like him, I have to improve, I have to become better,’ she spoke to herself in her mind. ‘It’s… it’s not enough.’
Shortly thereafter, Elysha continued her studies with Elder Merakia, learning how to write, reading further into her textbook, and discussing with her guardian the relevance and meaning of each term she had learned.
After completing the introductory section, Elder Merakia turned the page in the textbook. “The core concept of psychic powers,” she began, “is rooted in mental strength, perception, and the ability to communicate through spiritual means. It is not merely an extension of theonum but a refined discipline that allows one to visualize, sense, and even influence the energies around them.”
“So… it’s like being able to hear or see things without using your normal senses?” Elysha asked, leaning forward.
“Yes, that is one way to think of it,” Elder Merakia affirmed. “Psychic abilities manifest differently depending on the individual. Some may develop heightened perception, sensing emotions or energies that others cannot. Others may cultivate the ability to project their thoughts or receive impressions from their surroundings. And, in very rare cases, some individuals can even glimpse fragments of possible futures—though such a gift is unpredictable and difficult to control.”
“Who can do that?”
“Do what, my dear?”
“Seeing the future.”
“One example is the current forest priestess of the Deity Iröstos, Lady Caralampia,” Elder Merakia replied.
‘I think I heard that name before,’ Elysha thought. “What does a forest mistress do?”
“In the Forest of Iröstos, a forest priest or priestess serves as a representative of the deity. It is a cultural tradition that has been handed down since the beginning of the forest’s history. His or her role has been trained since childhood to represent the will of the deity, as they have been hand-picked by the previous representative to be the next priest or priestess. Another name for this position in the Iröstos language is a ‘Jvüejaiaji O’Naufenüvji.’”
“J-uhaia O—”
“You don’t need to struggle just to say the words, dear child,” she said. “There have been well-known priests and priestesses who have brought positive reforms and changes to the state of the forest.”
“Like who?”
Elder Merakia thought for a moment before answering, “Hm, like the former priest Soraju, he was the most famous example, except for the current priestess Caralampia.”
“What did he do?”
“That’s another conversation that we can talk about later. For now, I would like to continue and complete our study session firsthand.”
She cleared her throat and said, “Continuing off with the psychic abilities, before attempting to perceive what is hidden, one must first strengthen the mind. Just as one must train the body to wield a weapon, so too must the mind be conditioned for theonum perception.”
‘That sounds like it’ll take a long time…’ Elysha said in her mind. “Elder Mera?”
“Yes, my dear?”
“After this, we can do something like using magic, right?”
“We certainly will, Elysha. After we review the chapter overview questions, we can move on to practice and begin your first true lesson in mental perception.”
~ ❈❇❈ ~
Once they had covered the chapter overview, Elder Merakia led Elysha to an open area by the lake. Standing there, the little girl held a wooden staff as she gazed down at her reflection.
‘I wonder which element is connected to my theonum,’ she thought, staring at the wavering image of her appearance. ‘My passion too, but, what could it be? I don’t know.’
She touched the long, loose strands of her hair, then moved her fingers up to touch her cheeks before turning and looking at her guardian. “Elder Mera, do you think I have an element that resonates with my passion?”
“The answer lies within you, dear child. It is, after all, a process of self-discovery and awakening.”
“I know, but I was wondering if there was a deity connected to me.”
Elder Merakia regarded her before answering. “Each person’s theonum resonates with one of the eight elements, and through that, a deity’s essence may flow within them. But whether a deity is truly connected to you… as I said, that is something only time and self-discovery can reveal.”
Elysha nodded her head, tightening her grip on the wooden staff as she took in her guardian’s words.
“We shall proceed with the training.” She took a few steps back, straightened her posture, and then said, “Now then, Elysha, have you heard of a ‘trial’ before?”
The term sounded familiar in her mind as she replied, “Yes, I do. Micah made me go through his—um, his trial before. But Elder Mera, I heard that trials can only be done by the deity Iröstos himself, right?”
“Indeed you are correct. Trials are not as simple as words from a book,” she explained. “Trials are tests of knowledge passed down from generation to generation, administered only by the deities themselves. That would mean that in this forest, a true trial can only be initiated by the deity Iröstos.”
“When does one get a trial by the deity?”
“One can receive a trial during some special occasions in their lifetime, such as a coming of age. Let’s say a child is taking one of their last exams to graduate from their education, they may receive and pass a trial from Iröstos, which would mark their maturation from their homeland.”
“Did you received a trial from Iröstos before, Elder Mera?”
“I have only done it once before, but on that occasion, it was—ahem—uniquely special to me.”
“Uniquely special?”
“It was a long story, but to make it short for you, I am not a native of this forest. That is, I was not born as a child of this forest.”
“You were not?”
“Indeed, I was born in the city of Totheniui and grew up there for a good part of my life. I met a representative of the deity there and took a trial from that person as part of my final exam for my education. At some point it inspired me. It made me want to try every trial from every deity in the world, and so forth I went and did it.”
Elysha blinked her eyes. “And how did it went?”
“It went very well. In fact, it was a life-changing experience for me, for my self-discovery and for gaining insightful knowledge of the world through my very own eyes. That is what the thrill of an adventure is all about, my dear.”
Then, as Elysha reflected on these words, Elder Merakia said, “Now then, before we go any further off topic, let’s pick up where we left off. What was it… ah, I remembered. In this particular scenario, you will be using theonum to control your physical manifestation through visualization.”
Despite her eager anticipation, the thought of using her mind to channel theonum was a subtle reminder of the pain she had felt before. Elder Merakia noticed the slight change in her expression and said, “Elysha, let me ask you again, are you sure you are willing to try again and take on this task of contacting your theonum core?”
Elysha nodded, furrowing her brows as she gripped the wooden staff tightly in her hands. “Yes, I’m sure. I want to keep trying.”
Elder Merakia watched her determined eyes and exhaled in resignation at the child’s willful demeanor, then gave a nod of approval. “Very well. We shall begin.”
She gestured for Elysha to stand in a comfortable position, making sure her feet were steady. She then explained the process of concentration.
“In a sense, if you can create something that looks real, then your theonum levels will increase exponentially. However, if you are unable to do so, then the desired result will not be realized,” Elder Merakia explained, allowing the words to sink in before continuing, “For this reason, I will assist you in channeling your natural abilities to transform your imagination into reality.”
“You will help me, Elder Mera?”
“As a guiding figure, yes. Make sure you focus on the wooden staff you are holding, it will serve as a focal point for your theonum concentration, allowing you to channel your theonum energy.”
Taking in a slow breath, Elysha steadied herself and asked, “I’m ready. What do I do first?”
“Close your eyes,” Elder Merakia instructed gently. “Breathe. Feel the theonum inside you, like a current flowing through your body. Focus on it, and then visualize the magical fishs you saw earlier from your memory.”
Elysha obeyed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to clear her mind. A light breeze rustled through the leaves, the distant sound of the lake lapping against the shore filling her ears.
‘Visualize…’
She visualized the wooden staff in front of her, feeling its weight in her hands.
Her guardian’s words echoed in her ears, “If you can imagine fish swimming in the air around you, then imagine it as real. If not, do not worry; as long as you believe in yourself and your abilities, things may not turn out the way you expect, but that will not stop you from working hard at anything.”
She thought of something simple. Something small, swift, yet full of life. A glowing fish.
She pictured its wings, shimmering like the stars, moving through the air, just as Elder Merakia had suggested. She visualized the scene in her mind, trying to make it as vivid and real as possible.
It was peaceful, weightless.
But it remained elusive, refusing to materialize in her mind.
Elysha tightened her grip on the staff, trying to bring forth the image of the flying fishes—yet nothing helped but the mental strain of the chaotic ball of tangled thread.
She shook her head and tried to focus on her imaginary fishes again, but to no avail. All her mind could think of was how much she did not want to fail, to disappoint and fail at the task she had set out to accomplish. Her mind wandered. Her concentration wavered. Every thought and imagination shifts to her own fear.
‘I can’t—I can’t do it!’
“Concentrate, Elysha, on visualizing the image in your mind and focusing your attention on it,” Elder Merakia’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Imagine the fish swimming in the air around us and keep your visualization steady. Make sure your grip on your staff is comfortable and in place.”
Elysha frowned, feeling the firm grip of her staff in her hand. If magic could be conjured simply by following Elder Merakia’s words, then surely she could do it. She had to.
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She continued to focus on imagining what she needed to do; her breathing slowed as her concentration deepened. ‘Imagine the fish,’ she told herself. ‘See them, feel them.’
A faint smile formed on her lips. And so she tried again, and pictured the fish moving through her mind. ‘Imagine fish moving in the air. Like swimming in the lake.’
A gust of wind blew past her. The trees swayed but remained silent, replaced by the sound of moving water. The moment felt calm and serene. The little girl felt as if she was floating in the air. The fish circled around her as if dancing—
“Ah—!”
The same, familiar pain ran through Elysha’s mind.
Subconsciously, she knew that the pain would return. She also knew it would cause the same struggle and distress within her. She knew this, but despite the suffering, her inner desire to become a mage overcame it.
‘I can’t—I can not fail this!’
She clenched her teeth and a small voice echoed in her head, ‘Remember the words Elder Merakia said to you. Remember what they meant to you. Concentrate and visualize the image in your mind and let go of your worries and fears for the moment.’
‘What did Elder Mera say to me?’ she thought to herself, falling into deep thought as she remembered her conversation with her guardian.
‘Dear child…’ the words spoke. ‘The fact that you ask these questions means that you have the will and desire to understand yourself.’
Elysha’s mind flashed back to the moment she stood behind the window. She remembered the sight she had seen when she had pulled the curtain, and she began to recollect everything she had ever wanted to see beyond the window.
‘The light…’
‘Want more…’
She took a deep breath, her pulse quickening. She had to let go of the fear. She had to believe.
‘I want to understand... I want to see and learn theonum magic, I want to become a mage and make Elder Mera happy. I want to know myself and what I wanted to be…’
A breeze stirred, carrying her words into the open sky. The staff in her hands felt different now—lighter, warmer, as if it resonated with her resolve. As she slowly began to understand the identity of her soul, a warmth flickered in her chest.
‘Your journey—your story has just begun, and you are unique and individual in a way that makes you who you are—you are Elysha.’
‘That’s right,’ she said to her thoughts as she pieced together the fragments of her desires, ‘I am Elysha.’
At that moment, Elysha felt the anticipation and fear leave her. Her breathing became calmer and she focused steadily on her concentration. Her body felt lighter and more relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted. There was no more tension in her body.
Suddenly, a faint glow appeared at the tip of the staff. Elysha didn’t react but kept her focus. The light flickered, its shape uncertain, but it was there.
Elder Merakia watched with silent encouragement. “Good. Keep going.”
Elysha furrowed her brow and poured her concentration into the image. In her mind’s eye, she saw the fragments of memory she held over the palm of her hand connect and form an orb of light.
She spoke to the subtle glow, ‘Please… let me create a scene of my imagination.’
The glow grew stronger, taking on forms of delicate shapes—tiny bodies of fishes.
With persistent patience and concentration, Elysha conjured up a vivid scene of magical fishes swimming through the air, as if they had emerged from the lake and were flying freely around her. They were her own magical fishes that she had created for herself, one with her theonum.
In that moment, it was real.
And she watched the scene with her own eyes.
With a deep sigh, after a moment’s hesitation, she whispered in awe as her eyes fell upon the ethereal sight, “What a pretty landscape… I feel… happy.”
Elder Merakia clapped her hands together, and before she could speak, the magical fishes flickered—and vanished.
Elysha’s head ached, she clutched it with her hand, and her heart sank. “It—It hurts. I—I lost it.”
“Wow, you did it, Elysha!”
Startled, Elysha turned to see the fluffy creature approaching her enthusiastically. “Micah?”
“Yep, that’s my name!” he replied, puffing up his ego.
“How long have you been here?”
“What do you mean you didn’t know I was here! I was here with you the whole time!” Micah shouted, exaggerating his sobbing. “You were even talking to me earlier!”
“Oh, sorry, my head was just…”
Elder Merakia put a hand on her shoulder. “Do not be discouraged. You have made great improvements from what you showed me the other day. Theonum responds to the union of mind and heart. You were almost there.”
Elysha swallowed, her hands tightening around the staff. She wasn’t satisfied with ‘almost there.’
“I want to try again,” she said determinedly. “I don’t want to stop until I get there.”
Elder Merakia observed her behavior before saying neutrally, “Then let us continue.”
~ ❈❇❈ ~
“With my plans in mind, I thought you and Micah would have to team up and work together as part of the next task you will learn as you go through your session today.”
“With him?” Elysha stared at Micah, her expression sending a shiver down his spine.
“Hey, don’t underestimate me! You may not know it, but in all of the forest, Micah is one of the strongest and most intellectual Zhivopians around! You’ll see what Micah can do soon enough! Right, Elder Merakia?”
She chuckled at the look of pride and joy on his face and patted him on the head. “That is very true,” she agreed, looking over at Elysha, “and as long as he is with you on this trial, I believe you will do just well.”
“I will do well?”
“This trial is about gaining experience and training, and in order to do well, you as a pupil should be able to conjure any fabricated substance I suggest. Do you understand?”
Elysha nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Good. Now show me what you have learned so far,” Elder Mera instructed. “This will allow us to evaluate and measure your progress and identify areas for improvement.”
Elysha calmed her chest, her grip on the wooden staff tightening. Standing upright, she faced Elder Merakia with confidence, willing to prove that she had grown in the past few days.
“I am ready,” she declared. ‘I can do this. I can…’
The subtle pain in her head still lingers, reminding her of that moment. She put her hand to her temple, trying to calm it down.
Micah noticed and his ears and tail lowered, asking her, “Are you sure you got this?”
When Elysha turned back to look at Micah, his worried expression lessened as he saw the confident and determined look on her face. “It’s okay, I like it better than not trying at all,” she replied.
Then she turned back to her guardian and nodded, signaling her readiness for the next task.
“You will be using your other hand for this assignment,” Elder Merakia said. “Try to conjure up an orb of light in the palm of your hand.”
Elysha looked down at her left hand and took a steady breath. “Okay.”
The two watched as she spread her fingers and held her palm open. They could see the determination in her furrowed brows, the slight tension in her shoulders.
Elysha closed her eyes, pushing aside the lingering ache in her mind. ‘Focus…’ she told herself. ‘Clear your thoughts. Imagine it.’
She envisioned a sphere, translucent and glowing like a tiny star. Its surface shimmered with shifting colors—blue, violet, silver—like reflections on water. A gemstone, catching the light in its perfect clarity.
Her breathing grew deeper, controlled.
She remained silent and attentive, keeping her focus consistent.
Slowly, a faint glow flickered to life in her palm.
Micah’s tail bristled. “Woah…”
Elder Merakia remained still, observing. “You are doing well. Keep going.”
Elysha focused harder, drawing the image from her mind into reality. The glow intensified, condensing into a defined shape. A small, crystalline orb, radiating a soft, pulsating light, emerged and hovered over her hand.
The moment it fully formed, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. Elysha opened her eyes to see the result of her efforts, and tried to keep it still. “Elder Mera, I…”
Her guardian looked pleased and said, “Very good, Elysha. You just need to keep practicing and improving, and now you have succeeded in conjuring the orb—that in itself is progress.”
The little girl smiled, pleased to hear her guardian’s words. “Thank you, Elder Mera—”
But then—a sharp, stinging sensation ran through her mind, and her concentration faltered. The orb flickered—its radiant glow destabilizing.
‘No, I have to hold on…!’
But the pain swelled, clouding her focus. The orb shattered as quickly as it had appeared, disintegrating into scattered fragments of light.
Elysha staggered slightly, clutching her temple. “Why… I almost had it…”
Micah stepped closer, ears flattened and his tail bristling with concern. “Elysha, are you okay?”
Elder Merakia placed a calming hand on her back. “Breathe, dear child, it’s all right. Do not push yourself beyond your limits.”
“But I tried so hard,” she murmured, tears welling in her eyes. “Why can’t I get it right?”
Elder Merakia knelt beside Elysha and placed a hand on her back, rubbing in slow, soothing circles. She said softly to her, “You did do a good job, sweetie.”
“But I didn’t…” Elysha whispered, her voice trembling. She wiped at her eyes, frustrated at herself. “I had it. I could feel it. But then it just… disappeared.”
Elder Merakia chuckled lightly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you know what I saw, dear child?”
Elysha sniffed and shook her head.
“I saw a girl who faced her fears and overcame her doubts. A girl who took what she had learned and turned it into something real, something beautiful. You conjured an orb of light, Elysha. That is no small feat.”
Elysha looked down at her hands, still tingling from the lingering energy of the spell. “But it wasn’t perfect…”
“Perfection is not the goal,” Elder Merakia reassured her. “Growth is. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. And today, you took a big step.”
Micah’s tail flicked as he grinned at her. “That was pretty cool, actually,” he said. “Micah seen you do it once before, and now Micah has seen it twice.”
Elysha let out a small breath of relief, her fingers still tingling from the energy she had summoned. “Thanks, Micah.”
After a moment of rest, she flexed her fingers, the tingling sensation of magic still lingering in her palm. She took a deep breath, the frustration slowly dissipating.
“Feeling better now?”
Elysha turned to Micah, who was circling around her, his tail swishing behind him.
She nodded slowly. “Yeah… a little.”
“Well that’s good, because Micah thinks you’re starting to get the hang of it! Well… mostly.”
“Mostly?”
“Yep, what else can Micah say without being dishonest? You were able to summon the orb twice now!”
“Three times,” Elysha corrected.
“What? Since when have you summoned the orb three times?”
“One was when we came back from the forest where we saw the strange man and his bird friend, and Elder Mera spoke to us after that. That was when I showed her the orb of light, right after the first orb I created.”
“What? How come Micah doesn’t remember that?”
“Um, I think you weren’t awake at the time.”
“Well, now Micah was disappointed not to have seen that.” He scratched his head with his claws, then his ears perked up. “Hey, so now that you can do orbs and fishes, what else can you do with your theonum besides making orbs and fishes?”
Elysha blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What else…?”
‘What else can I do with my theonum?’
She thought about it, then turned to her guardian. “Elder Mera, what’s next after this?”
Elder Merakia looked up at the sky. “There’s still the full day up ahead. Do you still want to continue practicing your theonum or take a rest?”
Elysha heard the question and recalled the sight of her orb, shimmering and pulsating with light. She could remembered seeing the iridescent ring of color around its edges, like a crown.
She thought about how far she had come and then finally turned back to her guardian and replied, “I want to keep doing more.”
Elder Merakia could see the visible sweat and strain on her face, along with her weakening physical frame. Still, she could see the strong will to continue.
‘You looked tired, yet you still insist on trying to control your own theonum core. You have already impressed me, and yet you have shown me no concern for your own well-being,’ Elder Merakia said in her mind. ‘This reminds me of the times when I was a child, dreaming of exploring the world, hoping to master the magic of theonum… I could see that aspect of myself inside of her.’
She exhaled and motioned with her hand, saying, “You two, come with me.”
Elysha and Micah followed her to the pergola, where she conjured a flowerpot into the air. It floated before landing on a table. Micah jumped beside it and tapped it with his paw, asking, “What are you planning to do with this plant?”
“This is a blue iris plant,” she said, turning her eyes to Elysha. “Your next task is to go one step further. You must conjure an orb and manipulate its shape to become one of the plant’s flowers.”
Elysha’s eyes widened slightly. “Conjure an orb… and change it into a flower?”
She looked at the flowerpot, taking in its appearance once more. The blue color of the plant’s petals seemed calming, relaxing, but she had never recreated it with her own mind until now.
Elysha slowly stepped forward and reached out, running her fingers over the soft petals, stems and leaves. They felt cool and delicate to the touch. She wanted to feel their texture, to immerse herself in the details of the flower, the way the edges curled slightly inward, the way the light danced on them in subtle gradients of blue.
“Yes, you must summon an orb and use your mind to shape it into a flower,” Elder Merakia repeated once more. “Use the process you have learned by deforming the orb and shaping it into the desired form. Let me show you an example.”
Closing her eyes, she materialized an orb of light and began the transformation. “By using your imagination, you can transform the orb into any object you desire. Visualize the sequence of events that transforms the original object into something else. It could be a butterfly or a seashell, to give you some ideas.”
As she spoke, the orb began to shift and change shape, eventually taking the form of a butterfly. The summoned insect fluttered and flew with its blue wings before landing on the elder mage’s finger.
Elysha watched with awe. “Elder Mera?”
“Yes, dear child?”
“Do you think I will… I will be able to do that one day? Creating a butterfly…”
“If you give time with dedicated perseverance in study, practice and effort, that time will reward you with your desired result. You have already learned how to create an orb of light, which is a first step and an opening to the possibilities of conjuring countless shapes that can be seen all over the world.”
“She’s right! every time I lose my hat to the stupid wind, I use my theonum to get me a new hat as a replacement,” Micah nodded.
“How many times does that happened to you?” Elysha asked.
“A lot!”
Elysha then took in her guardian’s words into her mind once more. ‘I now know how to make an orb of light. I want to learn other shapes, right? I tried the fish, and the next one will be the flowers.’
She looked up and said, “I understand, Elder Mera. I will try.”
“That is all I ask of you for this task.”
Elysha nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, concentrating on the task at hand.
First, she focused on summoning an orb in her mind. She recalled the steps she had taken before—the visualization, the focus, the steady breathing.
‘An orb of light. I’ve done it before. I can do it again.’
Slowly, she spread her fingers, feeling the warmth build in her palm. A faint glow flickered to life, soft and wavering, like a candle in the wind. She concentrated harder, willing the energy to stabilize, to take shape.
The orb formed, shimmering and colorless, pulsing and hovering over the palm of her hand.
Micah’s ears twitched. “There it is! You got the first part down.”
“Shh,” Elder Merakia silenced him with a finger held to her lips.
Elysha opened her eyes slightly, watching the orb hover just above her skin. She felt its warmth, its delicate presence.
‘It looks like I’m holding a tiny star…’ she thought to herself.
Then she swallowed her throat, nerves creeping in. ‘Next is the blue flower. The harder part… ’
She glanced at the blue iris in the flowerpot, studying its petals again. ‘How do I turn the orb into that?’
A flash of Elder Merakia’s demonstration crossed her mind, and Elysha closed her eyes again. She pictured the iris in her mind, tracing its petals with her thoughts as she painted the image of the blue flowers. With all her willpower, she tried to shape the orb into the desired form.
‘A flower… I need to turn it into a flower…’
‘I want to see the blue flowers in front of my eyes…’
A faint glow emerged in her palm as an orb of light began to take form, shimmering softly. She held it steady, willing it to shift.
Micah leaned in eagerly, his tail swishing. “It’s forming! You’re doing it, Elysha!”
Elder Merakia remained silent, watching closely.
Elysha’s eyebrows furrowed. ‘Come on… just a little more…’
However, despite her efforts, the orb stubbornly maintained its spherical shape, refusing to take on the form of a flower. She could feel her energy draining, her concentration slipping away.
Frustration gnawed at her. She strained, pushing herself to the limit, willing the orb to change. Then—
A sharp, searing pain shot through her head.
Elysha gasped, the orb flickering and dissolving in her grasp. She stumbled back, clutching her temple.
“Ah!”
“Elysha!” Micah yelped, jumping down from the table to her side.
Elder Merakia stepped forward, placing a firm yet gentle hand on Elysha’s shoulder. “Enough, dear child. I told you that you must not push yourself beyond your—”
“I understand, I understand,” she stammered, her lips trembling as she clutched her clothes, her body shaking with frustration. “But Elder Mera, I have tried, and tried. I felt it… I was so close! I give my best effort, but it seems that it is never enough. I—”
“I understand, dear child, I understand.”
Elysha’s face stiffened, her hands trembling as she tried to hold back the frustration that was welling up inside her. But then Elder Merakia pulled her into a tight embrace and held her close.
That was all it took.
The little girl squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the warmth of her guardian’s arms. She fought the lump in her throat, trying to suppress the emotions that threatened to overflow. But the soft, reassuring voice of Elder Merakia broke through her defenses.
“It is okay, dear child,” Elder Merakia murmured, stroking her hair. “Allow yourself to feel these emotions. They are yours, and you have every right to express them. It is okay. Remember how hard you have worked. You have come a long way in such a short amount of time. You deserve every success you have worked so hard for.”
The moment the words reached her, Elysha’s restraint shattered.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, her body shaking with each sob. She clung to Elder Merakia, her breathing coming in quick, uneven gasps as she buried her face in her guardian’s shoulder.
Micah’s ears flattened, his tail curling around his feet as he watched as she struggled to control her cries.
“… It hurts. Why does it hurt so much?” Elysha sobbed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Every time I use theonum, it’s painful. I just wanted to learn magic. I wanted to become like you.”
Elder Merakia tightened her hold, her expression shadowed with something unreadable—sadness, frustration, and deep concern. “I’m not going to pressure you anymore. Never again. I don’t want you to suffer any more.”
Then she slowly pulled away, just enough to cradle the little girl’s tear-stained face in her hands. Her thumbs gently wiped away the glistening marks on the child’s cheeks.
“As for the cause of your troubles… I will explain it to you, dear Elysha.”