_Diana led Mia to a dimly lit chamber below the house, the air thick with the scent of sage and old stone. The walls were etched with crescent moon symbols, softly glowing with a silver light._
"Tonight, we work with intention," Diana said, handing Mia the tide-stone. "Your power's tied to the moon's cycle. Focus on clarity, not force."
Mia gripped the crystal, its pulse matching her heartbeat. Diana guided her through breathing—slow, deep draws of air—as the room grew quieter.
"Visualize a thread," Diana said. "A silver cord connecting you to the moon. Feel its pull, but don't let it control you."
Mia closed her eyes. Shadows danced in her mind, but she pictured a thin, shimmering line stretching to the night sky. The tide-stone warmed in her hand. A soft glow emanated from her fingers, gentle and contained.
"Good," Diana said. "Now, aim it. Move that candle."
Mia nodded, focusing on a white candle across the room. The light from her hand flowed like water, and the candle's flame rose—steady, not wild. No crackle, no snap.
Diana smiled. "You're grounding it. But beware… the darkness is a shadow of fear. If you let anger lead, it'll twist."
Mia thought of Leah, the mill's pain. The light wivered. Diana caught her shoulder.
"Grief's part of it, but don't let it fuel the cost. Channel it. Use it to sharpen, not consume."
A sudden flicker in the shadows. A low whisper: _Alden, join us._ Mia's focus broke. The light surged, erratic.
Diana's grip tightened. "Breathe, Mia. Pull it back. You decide the path."
Mia inhaled, visualizing the thread again. The glow steadied. The whisper fadedThe tide-stone warmed in her hand. A soft glow emanated from her fingers, gentle and contained.
"Good," Diana said. "Now, aim it. Move that candle."
Mia nodded, focusing on a white candle across the room. The light from her hand flowed like water, and the candle's flame rose—steady, not wild. No crackle, no snap.
Diana smiled. "You're grounding it. But beware… the darkness is a shadow of fear. If you let anger lead, it'll twist."
Mia thought of Leah, the mill's pain. The light wivered. Diana caught her shoulder.
"Grief's part of it, but don't let it fuel the cost. Channel it. Use it to sharpen, not consume."
A sudden flicker in the shadows. A low whisper: _Alden, join us._ Mia's focus broke. The light surged, erratic.
Diana's grip tightened. "Breathe, Mia. Pull it back. You decide the path."
Mia inhaled, visualizing the thread again. The glow steadied. The whisper faded.