Morning came cold and clear.
Rhea woke them before dawn — brought them to a small clearing outside the camp.
Torin waited — the cracked crystal fragment on a stone pedestal between them.
Miko felt the seal stir — curious.
Torin spoke.
"Today — you learn to touch it without losing yourself."
Miko looked at Kael.
He nodded — once.
Torin continued.
"Reach out.
But don't pull.
Let it come to you."
Miko exhaled.
Reached.
The crystal pulsed — crimson veins brightening.
The seal answered — warm, eager.
Yes.
Miko felt it — the connection.
Not a fight.
A flow.
She breathed — slow.
The crystal's glow merged with the seal — faint, steady.
Torin watched.
"Good.
Now — shape it."
Miko focused.
A small crimson tendril rose from her palm — thin, controlled.
It hovered — obedient.
Torin nodded.
"Now — release."
Miko let go.
The tendril faded — smooth, no backlash.
The seal pulsed — content.
Torin smiled — small.
"You're ready for more."
He placed another fragment on the pedestal — larger, darker.
"Again."
Miko reached.
This time — the connection was stronger.
The seal surged — eager.
More.
Miko breathed — held it back.
The fragment glowed.
She shaped — two tendrils.
They obeyed.
She released.
No pain.
Torin watched.
"Again."
They continued — hours.
Fragment after fragment.
Miko shaped — larger shadows, faster, sharper.
The seal grew stronger — but quieter.
Like it was… satisfied.
Kael watched — silent.
At sunset — Torin stopped.
"You've done enough for one day."
Miko sat — exhausted, but alive.
Torin looked at her.
"The seal is listening.
Keep it that way."
Miko nodded.
Torin left.
Kael stepped closer.
"You okay?"
Miko looked at him.
"I think so."
Kael sat beside her.
"You did good."
Miko leaned against him — just a little.
"Thanks."
Kael's arm came around her — tentative.
They sat — watching the sunset.
The seal pulsed — once, gentle.
Stay.
Miko smiled — small.
"I will."
To be continued…