_Mia followed Alex into the dimly lit antique bookstore, the air thick with the scent of old leather and dust. The sign above the counter read "Elian's Arcana," and Mia's curiosity sparked—Mr. Elian, her history teacher? The man himself emerged from a back room, his sharp eyes locking onto hers._
"Ah, Mia. You're quicker than I expected."
Mia's confusion mingled with relief. "You knew? About the… the witches?"
Elian nodded, gesturing them to a hidden alcove. "I've been preparing you, in my way. You carry the Alden bloodline—a legacy of witches tied to the old covens here. Your powers are awakening, earlier than most."
Alex leaned against a shelf. "Because of the coming-of-age threshold. Twenty-eight's the shift."
Elian pulled out a worn leather-bound book. "Your ancestors worked with the lunar tides. The crescent mark is a call—a warning. You need to learn control, now."
Mia felt a spark of defiance. "How? I don't even know what I can do."
Elian smiled faintly. "You've been doing it. The sketches, the objects moving? That's the echo of your power. Let's test it."
He led her to a small, candle-lit circle in the back. "Focus on something simple. The flame."
Mia hesitated, then reached out a hand. The candle wick flickered, and suddenly the flame danced higher, casting eerie shadows. She gasped—it responded to her.
"You're tapping into the lunar thread," Elian said. "But it's raw. We need to ground you before—"
A sudden crash echoed from the front of the shop. The door slammed open.
"The hunters," Alex whispered, eyes sharp. "They've found us