The light stayed longer this time.
Even after I lowered my hand.
Even after I stopped focusing.
It flickered softly near my fingertips before fading away on its own.
I stared at my hand.
"That's new," I murmured.
Lucien didn't answer immediately. He was watching me again—the same careful way he did when he noticed something I didn't.
"Do it again," he said.
I sighed quietly but lifted my hand.
This time I didn't rush. I closed my eyes for a moment and took a slow breath, remembering what he showed me earlier.
Don't force it.
Let it come.
The faint glow appeared again, smaller than before but steady.
When I opened my eyes, it was still there.
"See?" I said. "Progress."
"Barely," he replied.
I frowned at him. "You really don't know how encouragement works, do you?"
"It keeps you from getting careless."
"I wasn't careless."
"You almost destroyed the training ground ten minutes ago."
"That was one time."
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Fine," I muttered. "Maybe two."
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. For once, the air didn't feel tense. The light in my hand stayed calm, warm instead of burning.
Lucien stepped closer again.
Not suddenly.
Just enough that I noticed.
"Hold it," he said.
"I am."
"Without tightening your grip."
I rolled my eyes but tried anyway.
The moment I relaxed my fingers slightly, the light changed again. It became softer, more stable, like it didn't need constant effort anymore.
"…Okay," I admitted. "That actually works."
"I told you."
"Yes, after letting me suffer for hours."
"That was necessary."
I gave him a flat look. "You enjoy this, don't you?"
"No."
"…You hesitated."
"I didn't."
"You did."
For a moment, something that almost looked like amusement crossed his expression.
Almost.
Then it was gone.
"Focus," he said.
Of course.
I took another breath and looked at the light again.
For a few seconds, everything stayed calm.
Too calm.
Then—
something strange happened.
The light flickered.
Not violently.
Just once.
Like it had reacted to something.
I frowned. "Did you do that?"
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
The glow trembled again.
This time I felt it.
A strange pull.
Like something far away had noticed it.
Or noticed me.
I straightened slightly. "Lucien…"
"I feel it," he said quietly.
The air around us grew heavier for a moment before slowly settling again.
The light in my hand faded.
Not exploding.
Not breaking.
Just… disappearing.
We both stayed still.
"What was that?" I asked.
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
His eyes were scanning the empty training ground like he was listening for something.
Then finally he said,
"…Nothing you need to worry about yet."
I sighed.
"You realize that answer is starting to become really annoying."
"I'm aware."
I crossed my arms.
"One day," I said, "you're going to actually explain things."
"Maybe."
That was the closest thing to honesty he had given me all day.
And strangely—
it didn't feel like he was lying.
But the strange feeling from a moment ago still lingered in my chest.
Like something had just woken up.
And somewhere—
someone had felt it.