Selene waited until the forest settled again before stepping back inside.
She didn't speak.She didn't ask permission.She simply observed — the way someone with far too much experience judged things without making it obvious.
Lyn sat against the stone wall, pale but breathing steadily.Mara stayed glued to her side like a protective wolf.Rafe stood guard near the entrance, one hand on the ruined archway, eyes scanning the trees.
Selene's gaze moved over each of them in silence.
Then, finally:
"Lyn. You awakened light mana without training. That means your mana channel opened violently. It needs regulation immediately."
Lyn shrank back, voice trembling.
"I… I don't know how…"
Selene crouched to her level, staying a respectful distance away.
"You don't have to know. I will guide you."
Mara stiffened.
"Guide? As in teach? No. She's not ready."
Selene didn't look at her.
"You're right. She's not. But if I don't intervene, her mana will burn her from the inside."
That made Lyn's eyes widen.And Mara went silent.Even Rafe tensed.
Lyn whispered:
"Is that… true?"
Selene nodded.
"The fever. The trembling. The difficulty breathing. These are signs your mana paths are unstable."
Lyn's lower lip shook.
"I… I'm scared."
Selene's voice softened — in a way that almost didn't match her.
"Good. Fear means you're aware. Awareness means you can learn."
Selene lifted a hand.
Golden runes glowed faintly in the air — symbols Rafe didn't recognize.Mara flinched at the sight.
Lyn's eyes widened with wonder.
"What… is that…?"
"Light-channel stabilization," Selene said. "A harmless projection. I won't touch you."
She glanced at Rafe, as if acknowledging the negotiations from earlier.
Rafe nodded once.
"Go on."
Mara shot him a look.
"You're letting her?"
"For now," Rafe whispered. "But I'm watching everything."
Mara huffed — clearly unhappy, clearly jealous — and crossed her arms.
Selene drew the rune in the air slowly.
"This is your center," she explained. "The core point where your light gathers. When you felt everything slow down, it came from here."
Lyn watched, mesmerized.
Rafe recognized that look — curiosity mixed with fear.Mara recognized something else — that someone else was close to Lyn.
Selene continued:
"Close your eyes."
Lyn hesitated, then obeyed.
"Picture warmth," Selene said. "Not fire. Not heat. Just… warmth. Like sunlight on your skin."
Lyn's breath steadied.
Rafe felt a faint pulse in the air — light magic responding.
Mara whispered under her breath:
"…She's really doing it."
Selene nodded approvingly.
"Good. Now imagine it shrinking. Becoming gentle. Controlled."
Light shimmered faintly over Lyn's skin.
Soft.Warm.Harmless.
Her trembling stopped.
Her breathing slowed.
The feverish heat faded.
Rafe's eyes widened.
Mara gasped softly.
Selene lowered her hand.
"Open your eyes."
Lyn did — and for the first time since they found her, she looked calm.
Not healed.Not strong.But stable.
Lyn touched her chest.
"It… doesn't hurt anymore."
Selene rose gracefully.
"You'll need to practice that every morning and every night. Until your body adjusts."
Lyn nodded quickly.
"Thank you…"
Her voice was full of relief.
Selene's expression softened — almost imperceptibly.
"You're welcome."
Mara stood abruptly.
"That's enough for today," she said. "Lyn should rest."
Selene raised an eyebrow at her tone.
Rafe hid a small smile.
Mara wasn't obvious.She wasn't loud.But she was jealous — the quiet, fierce kind.
Rafe stepped between them.
"Let's give Lyn space."
Selene stepped back, leaning casually against one of the stone pillars.
"I'll keep watch."
Rafe nodded.
Mara pulled Lyn toward the back of the ruin.
But when Lyn sat down again, she looked up at Rafe.
"…Did I do good?"
Rafe crouched to her height.
"You did more than good," he said softly. "You controlled your mana for the first time."
Lyn smiled — small, shy, warm.
Mara watched them, something tightening in her chest.
Rafe noticed.
When he stood, Mara grabbed his sleeve.
"…I don't like her."
Rafe lowered his voice. "Good. Stay cautious."
"That's not what I meant."
He blinked.
Mara looked away quickly, cheeks warm.
"I don't like how she looks at you. Or Lyn."
Rafe froze.
"…Are you jealous?"
"NO."
He raised a brow.
"…Mara."
"Fine," she whispered sharply. "Maybe a little."
Rafe fought the urge to smile.
Not because her jealousy was funny — but because it was honest.
He squeezed her shoulder once.
"She's not replacing you."
Mara swallowed.
"…Promise?"
"Promise."
She breathed out slowly, tension easing.
But before either could say more—
A faint crack echoed in the forest.
Selene's staff snapped up instantly.
"Someone's approaching."
Rafe's Bloodline Instinct flared like lightning.
Not the scout.Not a caretaker.
Something else.
Something heavier.
Selene's voice dropped to a whisper.
"…Kids. Stay behind me."
She took a single step toward the entrance.
Her staff glowed faintly.
Rafe pulled Mara and Lyn backward.
Lyn's light flickered nervously.
Mara clenched her fists.
Rafe's heart pounded.
Through the trees, a tall figure appeared — moving slowly, carefully, with a limp.
Then a second figure behind him.
Both wearing black coats.
More scouts.
But the first one—
His coat was torn.His hair disheveled.His face scraped.
It was the scout they trapped.
He had escaped.
He lifted his head and shouted hoarsely:
"I FOUND THEM!"
Selene's eyes hardened like stone.
Rafe whispered:
"This is bad."
Mara whispered:
"This is very bad."
Lyn whispered:
"…I'm scared…"
Rafe grabbed their hands.
"I know."
He stared at the scouts.
"But we're not running anymore."
Selene raised her staff —
And the world held its breath.