The dawn over the training courtyard carried a strange quiet—too still, too expectant, like the world itself was bracing.
Germaine rose before sunrise.
Not because Elric demanded it.
Not because she wanted it.
But because the Shard inside her was awake.
And… listening.
Solaryn perched on her shoulder, feathers glowing with restless heat.
Lumira hovered close to her cheek, violet light tightening and loosening like breaths.
Neither SoulPet was calm.
That was the first warning.
The second came when Germaine stepped outside her room:
The corridor lanterns flickered as she passed.
Not from mana fluctuations—
But from fear.
Her presence made them shudder.
She frowned. "Something's wrong."
Solaryn ruffled his wings, nervous sparks crackling.
Lumira pulsed sharply: Go. Now.
Germaine followed the pressure in her chest.
The Shard was not violent.
Not rebellious.
Just… insistent.
A direction.
A pull.
Like a compass magnetizing toward something beyond the fortress walls.
She reached the east gate—and froze.
Her family stood there.
Mother.
Father.
Hersiblings and her cousins.
All geared for travel.
They weren't alone. Elric stood with them, staff in hand, expression carved from stone.
Germaine's breath hitched. "Why are you packed? Where are you going?"
Her mother's eyes softened with guilt. "Germaine… the Council sent a recall order. We are being relocated to the inner provinces until they understand the extent of your Shard's instability."
Germaine felt the air leave her lungs.
Solaryn flared with a low, threatening chirp.
Lumira dimmed in distress.
"Relocated?" she whispered. "Because of me? Wait, how did you get know about the shard?" she turns towards Elric "You told them?"
"I had to. It's for your own good " he replies with a straight expression.
Her father stepped forward, placing both hands on her arms. "You are not a danger to us. But the Council thinks—"
"They think I might explode," Germaine finished.
Silence.
Her younger sister looked up at her, eyes wide and frightened. "Is it true? Will the Shard hurt you?"
Germaine forced a shaky smile. "No. I'm learning to control it."
Elric cleared his throat. "Germaine—before you panic—this is temporary. Once your stability is proven, they'll return."
Germaine stared at him.
Temporary.
But it felt like exile.
Her chest squeezed tighter.
The Shard pulsed—
Once.
Twice.
Hard enough that she stumbled back.
"Germaine?" her mother called.
Solaryn screeched sharply.
Lumira surged to full brightness.
The Shard pulled again—
Not outward.
Not violently.
But forward.
Beyond the gate.
Beyond the walls.
Away.
Germaine's breath jumbled. "I—I have to go."
Her mother stepped forward urgently. "Go where?"
"I don't know," Germaine said, voice trembling. "But the Shard is reacting—harder than ever. If I stay here, the stress—"
She pressed a hand to her chest as the Shard knocked again.
Elric's eyes darkened. "…It's calling you."
"Calling?" her father repeated.
Elric nodded grimly. "There is only one reason a Shard behaves like this."
Germaine swallowed. "What reason?"
But she already feared the answer.
Elric's voice lowered.
"A Shard only reacts this strongly when something connected to it is awakening."
Solaryn stiffened.
Lumira fluttered wildly.
Germaine's heart pounded. "Another… Shard?"
"Possibly," Elric confirmed. "If so, it may not be hostile. It may not be stable either. But if it is awakening out there, and you are within its radius, your Shard will be affected regardless. It could rupture your lattice if unaddressed."
Her family paled.
Germaine took a step back.
Then another.
"I need to go," she whispered.
Her mother shook her head. "Not alone—"
"It has to be alone," Elric cut in quietly. "No one else can follow her without destabilizing the resonance."
Germaine stared at him.
"You knew I'd have to leave eventually."
Elric didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The Shard pulsed again—
Sharp.
Demanding.
Irresistible.
Germaine clenched her jaw. "If I stay, I'll put you all in danger."
Her father grabbed her hand. "You are our child. Your safety matters more than—"
"No," Germaine said firmly. "Not this time."
Solaryn fluttered up, planting himself on her shoulder proudly.
Lumira spiraled around her head like a protective halo.
"My Shard has chosen," Germaine whispered. "And if I don't follow it—my lattice might tear apart from the inside."
Her family stared at her—
Fear.
Pride.
Pain.
Her younger siblings ran forward and hugged her tightly around the waist. "Come back."
She bit down on the ache in her throat. "I will."
She gently stepped away, turning to Elric last.
"What do I do?"
Elric's face tightened. "You follow the pull. And whatever you find—do not fight it blindly. Use everything you learned. If it's another Shard awakening, you must stabilize the resonance between yours and it."
Germaine nodded shakily.
"And Elric… thank you."
For training her.
For believing her.
For not treating her like a danger.
Elric didn't smile.
But he did bow his head.
"You are ready," he said. "More than you think."
Germaine took a deep breath.
"Then this is goodbye."
"For now," Elric corrected.
She turned.
Facing the open road.
Facing the unknown.
Facing the pull pounding through her chest with frightening urgency.
Solaryn spread his wings, golden heat blazing.
Lumira brightened to a sharp violet glow.
Germaine stepped out of the courtyard.
Her home fell behind her.
Her family's voices blurred.
Her Shard's pull grew sharper.
Stronger.
Unavoidable.
She whispered to her SoulPets—
"Stay close. We're doing something insane again."
Solaryn chirped fiercely.
Lumira chimed in determination.
Germaine began to run.
Away from safety.
Away from Elric.
Away from the fortress that sheltered her.
Toward the wildlands.
Toward danger.
Toward something awakening.
Toward a Shard powerful enough to shake her entire core.
And as the fortress vanished behind her—
Germaine realized the truth:
This was no training arc anymore.
This was the beginning of the hunt.
The moment she truly stepped into the world as an Adept.
Not protected.
Not guided.
Not sheltered.
She had only herself and her soulpets to rely on, "Maybe we'd find ways to strengthen you guys and myself along the way? What do you think?"
Solaryn nuddged at her chin obviously excited, Lumira too just a bit more in the reserved side.
"Haha, sure sure. Let's go do this thing "
Just her, her SoulPets, and a Shard that refused to be ignored.
And the world was finally paying attention.