"Shall we proceed to the Conduits?" Marcellus asked, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge of anticipation.
Aurélle and Dahlia exchanged a glance, their breaths catching in the quiet excitement. They nodded, hearts thrumming.
Marcellus led them through a narrow archway at the back of the shop. The room beyond seemed alive with energy. Magical objects floated freely in the air, orbiting slowly as if obeying invisible currents. Some were gemstones glowing softly with inner light; others were rings, pendants, or delicate bracelets, each humming with quiet power. A few were unusual objects: a dagger etched with runes, a small crystalline sphere spinning slowly, even what looked like a tiny statuette of a soaring bird, its wings flaring with subtle, flickering light. Shapes and colors seemed to shift as the girls moved, reflecting every hue of the rainbow.
Dahlia stepped in first, a thrill of excitement in her chest. Aurélle followed more cautiously, observing the objects with wonder.
"To find the Conduit that belongs to you," Marcellus began, his silvery hair shimmering in the room's magical glow, "you must channel your power. Feel it. Focus it. Let it flow naturally, and the Conduit will respond. It will choose you, not the other way around."
Dahlia's eyes sparkled. "All right," she whispered, determination in her voice. She closed her eyes and extended her hands, imagining her energy radiating outward, steady and vibrant. Slowly, a faint dahlia-colored light flickered among the floating objects, and a stone encased in a delicate silver ring drifted toward her. Its color mirrored the deep violet of the flower she was named for, and it hovered gracefully before settling into her palm.
She looked up at Aurélle, her smile wide with triumph. "Your turn," she said softly. "You can do it."
Aurélle hesitated. Since the party, she had not dared to channel her power. Doubts clawed at her mind—but then she remembered everything: the overwhelming joy and acceptance she had felt that day, the presence of her mother's memory, the moment she had truly felt gifted. Aurel closed her eyes, drawing a slow, steady breath. She could feel the energy beneath her skin, coiling and waiting, a warmth that had been dormant for too long. Her fingers twitched almost involuntarily, and a faint shimmer of silver-gold light began to ripple across her skin, faint at first, then growing brighter as her pulse synchronized with the rhythm of her own internal magic.
Marcellus watched from a respectful distance, his eyes wide but calm, as if he'd seen much, yet never anything quite like this. Dahlia stood nearby, her own excitement barely contained, but she gave her sister the space to breathe, to reach for the invisible threads of power that would call the Conduits.
The room felt suddenly still. Even the floating artifacts above them seemed to pause, suspended in midair, as though the Aetherium itself held its breath. Then, subtly at first, six objects began to stir: delicate glimmers of color, pieces of jewelry, a dagger, a hair ornament—each catching the light and spinning gently as if testing the air.
Aurel opened her eyes. A faint glow hovered around them, echoing the aura now radiating from her own body. Her hair lifted slightly in a gentle, magical breeze, silver strands catching the light and swirling around her face. She lifted her hands instinctively, fingers splayed, and the Conduits reacted.
Almost imperceptibly, Aurel rose a couple of inches off the floor, as if the magic beneath her could no longer be contained. Her silver-gold aura shimmered around her, faint currents of light dancing across the room.
The sapphire ring hovered first, spinning slowly before accelerating in a smooth, fluid motion toward her hand, as though it had always known where it belonged. Next, the golden pendant lifted and traced an elegant arc through the air before resting against her chest. The crescent bracelet followed, orbiting her wrist in a graceful half-circle, shimmering as it found its place.
Then came the crystal dagger, gleaming with facets that caught every light in the room. It floated deliberately, slicing the air like a star streaking across the night, and hovered near her side. Her eyes widened slightly, reflecting the glinting edges of the weapon as it settled.
The pink hair ornament lifted next, twisting and spinning gently, hovering above her head as if assessing where it should nestle in her silver hair. Finally, the silver earring, tiny and delicate, shimmered as it floated forward, tracing a small arc through the air before positioning itself near her ear, completing the six.
Aurel felt the energy tighten around her chest and arms as she floated just above the floor, subtle tremors of magic making her weightless. She barely noticed, completely absorbed in the delicate resonance between her and the Conduits.
Dahlia's eyes widened in awe, though she stayed silent, sensing the moment was hers alone. Marcellus's expression softened slightly, a knowing glance aimed only at Aurel, recognizing the rare brilliance unfolding before him.
And then, as gently as a sigh, the last of the Conduits settled into place. The room, alive with energy moments before, calmed, leaving a quiet, shimmering stillness around Aurel. Six magical artifacts, each glowing faintly with potential, had chosen her, drawn not by instruction, but by something innate—something powerful she could feel coursing through her, but did not yet understand.
She exhaled slowly, grounding herself, feeling the subtle weight of each Conduit as if they were extensions of her own body, a silent promise of what was to come. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly alive, truly seen, and completely connected to the magic that had always been inside her.
Marcellus's voice carried a rare note of awe. "I… I have never seen such a resonance before," he murmured. "Six Conduits at once. Truly remarkable. This… this is extraordinary."
Aurélle exhaled slowly, a smile tugging at her lips. "I… I did it," she whispered, hardly believing it herself.
Marcellus gave her a small, knowing nod, his gaze lingering on the silver-gold glow still radiating from her eyes. "The Conduits have chosen wisely," he said softly. "They will respond to you in ways that no other will. Handle them with care."
Dahlia stepped forward, awe and pride shining in her eyes. "This is incredible," she murmured. "Look at them, Aurélle… all for you."
Aurélle looked down at the Conduits, each pulsing gently in harmony with her inner energy. She reached for her sister's hand, squeezing it lightly. "We're really doing this," she said, her voice barely more than a breath.
"Yes," Dahlia replied, a grin breaking across her face. "Together."
The Aetherium hummed softly around them, magical energy weaving through the air like a living tapestry, and Aurélle felt, for the first time, that she was exactly where she belonged