Ryn awoke to silence.
Too much silence.
The streets outside were quiet, unnaturally quiet. Usually, Bramblewick hummed with life at this hour, vendors setting up, carts rattling, children laughing.
Now, only the faint hum of the map in his satchel broke the stillness.
Something's wrong.
By the time he reached the square, his stomach churned.
The anomaly was there. Waiting. Patient. Calculating.
No mistakes this time. No wild lunges. It moved with purpose, lines sharp, angles jagged. Ryn could almost feel it thinking.
He swallowed hard. Okay. I can do this. I've trained. I can…
But when he raised his quill, a sudden thought struck him: Kael wasn't here.
I'm alone.
Ryn's hands shook as he drew the first boundary line.
The anomaly surged.
He flinched. Ink lines snapped toward him, dark and sharp.
"Focus!" Ryn yelled, trying to remember Master Elara's words. Listen. Don't fight. Guide.
The line of his quill wavered, trembling like his heartbeat. The anomaly pressed forward, testing, learning.
Ryn closed his eyes. Took a deep breath.
Not my fear. Not my panic. You are not my enemy.
The lines moved under his fingers with sudden clarity. He drew not to stop it, not to erase,but to guide it.
It twisted. Flinched. Then followed.
Minutes passed. Or hours. Ryn had no idea. He barely felt his legs. Only the pulsing of the map, the tension in his hands, and the anomaly adjusting to his every move.
He could do this. He could.
Then a sharp twist of lines caught him off-guard. Pain shot behind his eyes. He nearly dropped the quill.
You're not ready.
I am. Ryn whispered back, voice trembling. I have to be.
The anomaly wavered, paused, then recoiled slightly.
Ryn noticed something: a flicker of awareness, almost like curiosity.
He drew again. Slower. Gentler. Careful.
The anomaly followed.
For the first time, it felt… willing.
By the time he collapsed to the stone, gasping for breath, sweat and ink streaked across his face, he realized he was laughing.
"I… I did it," he whispered to no one.
Then, from the side, a familiar voice:
"You actually did it," Kael said, stepping into the square. No smirk, no teasing, just… recognition.
Ryn looked up, chest heaving. "I… yeah. I did."
Kael tilted his head, as if seeing him clearly for the first time. "Alone. That's… impressive. And terrifying."
Ryn blinked. "Terrifying?"
Kael gave a faint smile. "Yeah. Because now I know you can do it. And if the rogue cartographer sees that…"
Ryn shivered. "They already have."
Master Elara appeared behind them, calm as always, but her eyes were sharp.
"You succeeded alone," she said. "But the maps test you. Always. And those who draw without restraint are watching. Your next lesson will not be this controlled. Be ready."
Ryn's stomach dropped.
Kael nudged him gently. "We'll get through it. Together, maybe next time."
Ryn nodded, chest tightening. Not just from relief, but from the weight of responsibility now firmly planted on his shoulders.
The anomaly had followed his guidance. But he knew, this was only the beginning.