LYRA'S POV
(THE NEXT MORNING)
Ash stood in the training room looking like she hadn't slept. Dark circles under her eyes, hands trembling, smoke already leaking from her skin in nervous wisps.
"Ready?" I asked.
"No. But I'm here anyway."
"Good answer." I moved to the center of the room. "Before we start, I need to understand your magic better. Show me what happens when you lose control."
"I suffocate things. The smoke fills lungs, throats, and any enclosed space. It's how I—" Her voice broke. "It's how I killed my mother."
"Tell me about that night."
"I don't want to—"
"I know. But I need to understand what triggers the smoke. What makes it dangerous." I kept my voice gentle. "Please, Ash. Trust me."
