The morning began heavy, with the pale sunlight filtering through the thick clouds covering Seven Lakes. I rose from bed feeling physically exhausted, but my mind was restless, still processing the intensity of the encounter with Luna and the threatening presence I sensed in the square. The silence of my room felt ordinary, yet every sound in the house—the ticking of the clock—seemed amplified, laden with a tension I couldn't explain.
As I sipped my coffee, my thoughts drifted involuntarily to my mother. It had been weeks since I last saw her, and the longing for the smell of her cooking, the warmth of her tight hug, and the sound of her voice that always seemed to calm any storm inside me pressed on my chest. A knot formed in my throat, blending with the anxiety that had lingered since the encounter in the square. I wished she were here, even without understanding the danger I faced.
I decided to walk through the city, trying to organize my thoughts. The streets felt quieter than usual, almost as if everyone had recoiled before something imminent. I noticed details that would have previously gone unnoticed: leaves twisted in strange ways, tiny shadows moving against the light, people lingering in their gaze for a fraction longer than normal. Something in the world felt different—heavier, tenser.
When I reached the edge of the lake, a shiver ran down my spine. The water was unusually murky, reflecting the gray sky, but that wasn't what unsettled me. There was a presence, as if the air itself were compressed, and I could feel something—or someone—watching my every move. Suddenly, a series of small ripples formed across the water, without wind or any visible movement. Then, a low, distorted voice echoed from the center of the lake:
"Ana…"
It was unnatural, coming from no one in the distance. The tone seemed to vibrate through the air, piercing my ears and chest simultaneously. My instincts screamed to run, but my feet remained rooted. The ripples began forming patterns, almost as if the lake itself was trying to communicate, and my mind discerned a strange structure—figures that resembled symbols, but impossible to identify.
At that moment, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned quickly, expecting Pedri or someone familiar, but there was no one. A chill ran through me. Dark eyes appeared at the end of the pier: Zade stood there, watching my every gesture. The intensity of his gaze pressed on my chest. Beside him, the teenage boy, Jace, stared at me with a serious, almost inhuman expression, as if absorbing every detail of my posture, every hesitation.
"You feel it, don't you?" Zade said, unmoving, his deep voice cutting through the air like an electric current.
My body reacted before I could speak. A shiver ran down my spine, and I realized, consciously, that my perception of the world was shifting. Every thought, every intention around me seemed sharper, more defined. I could anticipate small gestures, hear unspoken thoughts, and perceive patterns in people's behavior. But with Zade and Jace, all of this failed. There was a barrier even my new awareness couldn't penetrate, leaving me vulnerable, exposed.
Before I could react, something in the sky drew my attention. The clouds churned violently, forming whirlpools that seemed almost tangible, and the city trembled subtly. A lightning bolt sliced across the horizon, though there was no storm. Nearby houses flickered with intermittent lights, doors rattled without wind, and the sense that the real world was being altered grew stronger. People began looking up, confused and frightened, but none understood what was happening.
At that moment, Luna appeared, emerging from the nearby trees. She ran toward me with her usual grace, but something was different: her gaze seemed more intense, almost as if she was sensing the changes I was beginning to understand. My heart raced. As she drew near, I noticed every detail—the way her hair moved, the contrast of her skin against the gray light, and the energy pulsing around her. I stood frozen, hypnotized, feeling an immediate, almost physical connection I couldn't explain.
"Hey… you need to trust," she said, her voice firm yet gentle, conveying certainty. "It's not just you who is changing. Something big is happening."
The city around us seemed suspended, as if holding its breath. A piercing scream echoed from the lake, and the waves suddenly rose into sharp peaks, like cutting blades. I felt the force of the water almost push me back, and instinctively, my hand moved, as if trying to contain the energy exploding around me. A faint wave of light emanated from where I touched, scattering tiny sparks that danced across the surface, forcing the lake to retreat abruptly.
It was the first time I felt that my powers were not merely intuitive: something inside me was awakening, responding to external forces, connecting to what the city could not explain. The fear I felt was mixed with a strange fascination, as if the very essence of the world was calling me toward something greater.
As Luna stayed by my side, holding my arm to calm me, I heard Zade's voice again, distant, full of hatred and determination:
"You cannot escape, Ana…"
For a moment, I saw the reflection of the city in the lake distort completely, as if all of Seven Lakes were being pulled into another plane, erased from existence. The sense of despair was overwhelming, but when I looked at Luna, something firm stirred inside me: this was only the first battle, and this time, I understood that I needed to fully awaken the magic within me before it was too late.