_Mia stood by the window, the night outside like a living shadow. Diana's words lingered: _control, avenge, survive._ A mix of grief and determination burned in her chest. She needed a plan._
Diana entered the room, a soft smile on her face. "Feeling steadier, Mia? We'll start your training tonight. The tide-stone's ready."
Just as Diana reached for the crystal orb, the door creaked open. Mr. Elian stepped in, eyes flicking between them.
"Ah, Diana. I see you've taken care of her."
Diana's expression turned subtle, a hint of tension. "Elian. I thought you were watching from afar."
Elian approached, his usual teacher-mask slipping into something sharper. "I was. But Mia's awakening changes things. I've brought something."
He pulled out a small, leather-bound notebook from his coat—Mia's own sketchbook. "You've been tapping into this, Mia. Patterns of the Old North witches. I think you're ready to see how it works."
Mia's eyes narrowed. "Avenge my friends. That's what I want."
Diana leaned against a bookshelf. "Control comes first, Mia. The power's wild. We'll target the hunters, but safely."
Elian disagreed. "No, Diana. She needs the truth first. The hunters seek the _reset_—to erase modern witches, return to old rules. Your bloodline's the key."
Mia's grip on the tide-stone tightened. "How do I stop them?"
A low hum filled the room, the crystal orb glowing brighter. Diana and Elian exchanged a charged look.
"We start tonight," Diana said. "Lessons in harnessing the lunar thread. But Elian's right—you need the why. Are you ready to see what you're up against?"