Night settled quietly over Lyra's estate.
Only the faint glow of the moon leaked through the curtains, painting silver lines across the wooden floors.
But Lyra wasn't sleeping.
She sat alone in the living room, a single lantern flickering beside her. Documents lay scattered around, reports of the demons attacking the capital, eyewitness accounts, magical readings,
and one parchment that troubled her most:
A divine mana surge was detected near the northern district. Classification: Unknown.
Lyra exhaled shakily and leaned back in her chair.
"…Akari."
Earlier that day, she had held the girl as she trembled, assuring her everything was fine, even as Lyra herself felt the echo of that tremendous power.
She had fought dragons, liches, and calamity beasts.
But divine power was something else entirely.
"Uncontrolled divine energy…" Lyra murmured. "It could draw demons. It could destabilize a region. It could harm her."
Her fist tightened.
"I have to help her. Before that power destroys her from the inside."
Yet another worry clouded her expression:
I've never trained someone with divine power before.
She buried her face in her hands. "Zilyana… if you're listening, please don't leave us to figure this out alone."
Meanwhile, in her room…
Akari lay curled beneath the blankets, breathing softly as the events of the day replayed in her exhausted mind.
The demon.
The attack.
Lyra saving her.
Her power flaring uncontrollably
She wanted to help.
To be strong.
As the weight of everything grew too heavy, the glow of sleep finally washed over her,
And her dream shifted.
Light.
Warm, gentle, and shimmering like sunlight on water.
Akari blinked her eyes open and found herself standing on the familiar floating platform of marble and stardust.
"Welcome back, Akari!"
A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind.
"A-Aah!" Akari flailed. "Z-Zilyana?!"
The goddess of creation beamed, starlight fluttering behind her as she hugged Akari tightly.
"So sorry about today! I saw the whole thing!" she said, voice melodically apologetic. "You almost died again! Almost! Eeeh… my bad."
Akari's eye twitched.
"A-almost?! Goddess, that demon was three times my size! I thought I was done for!"
Zilyana puffed out her cheeks.
"Well, that wasn't my fault! Your power spiked, the demon sensed it, blah blah, honestly, it's a surprise Lyra didn't cut it in two earlier. She's terrifyingly efficient."
Akari sighed. "…She really is."
Then, more softly:
"Zilyana… what's wrong with my power?"
The goddess paused, then turned her around, placing both hands gently on Akari's cheeks.
"Nothing is wrong. You just don't know how to hold it yet."
"Huh?"
Zilyana stepped back and lifted her hand, forming a glowing orb of energy.
It pulsed like a heartbeat, raw, unshaped power.
"This is divine energy. It obeys will, emotion, and intention. And since you're new,"
She tossed the orb upward, where it ballooned into a chaotic burst of sparkles.
"Yours just goes BOOM whenever you panic."
Akari flinched. "That explains… a lot."
"But!" Zilyana clapped her hands happily. "I have tips!"
She formed a shape out of light, a sword first, then a shield, then a bracelet.
"When divine power is unstable, you can channel it into an object. A focal point! Something to hold, wear, or wield."
"An object…" Akari repeated.
"Yup! A sword, a staff, armor, jewelry, anything that feels like yours. That way, your power won't randomly explode the next time a squirrel jumps at you."
Akari puffed her cheeks. "I'm not that jumpy."
Zilyana raised an eyebrow.
"…Today's demon was drawn by your accidental mana spike from seeing the chaos from Lyra's yard."
Akari paled. "…Seriously…?"
Zilyana nodded, placing a comforting hand on her head.
really. It was your fear of being weak. Which is completely normal, considering your day."
Something gentle settled in Akari's chest.
Zilyana's voice lowered.
"You're stronger than you think, Akari. And you're learning fast. I chose you, or, well, I accidentally killed you, but then I chose you, because I knew you could grow."
Akari bit her lip, but she smiled softly.
"…Thank you."
The goddess grinned brightly and hugged her again.
"Just remember:
Find a focus. Channel the power. Don't suppress it, shape it.
You'll be fine."
"…Do you really think so?"
"I made this world," Zilyana said proudly, "so I think I know a thing or two about it."
Akari laughed quietly.
The dream began to fade, the warmth of Zilyana's presence lingering like a soft blanket.
"Goodnight, Akari," the goddess whispered.
"And tomorrow, try not to start another war by accident. Okay?"
"H-hey!"
Akari's eyes fluttered open in her dimly lit room.
Her heart felt lighter.
And her purpose felt clearer.
A focus.
Something to hold her power.
"…A sword, huh?" she whispered into the darkness.
Outside her door, soft footsteps passed through the hallway, Lyra doing a late-night patrol.
Akari smiled.
Tomorrow would be the start of something new.