Chast and Zayn were woken up by soft feathers poking at their noses.
Chast sneezed loudly.
Zayn groaned beside him, rubbing his nose in annoyance. Their eyes were heavy, blinking slowly as they tried to adjust to the light.
Chatters and giggles echoed throughout the room.
As the two finally opened their eyes, they found themselves surrounded by students and professors who were watching them with amused grins plastered across their faces.
Zayn glared immediately, his sharp eyes narrowing at the professors... mostly at Professor Vrynth, who was waving a colourful feather with a smug smile.
Chast blinked a few times, his gaze wandering around the room. The once galaxy-like space had transformed into a forest filled with towering trees, birds humming softly on the branches, and thick bushes bursting with flowers.
A musky, earthy scent mixed with the sweetness of blossoms lingered in the air.
"You snore so loud!" Luke teased, exaggerating Chast's snores for everyone to hear. "Sounded like a pig!" he laughed, his voice echoing through the trees.
The class erupted into laughter as Chast's jaw dropped.
"I—I do not!" he protested, cheeks flushing.
Luke only snickered louder. "You sure? Because I swear the birds stopped singing just to listen to you."
Chast rolled his eyes and pushed himself up. He turned toward Zayn, who was still sitting lazily on the grass, and offered his hand to help him up.
Zayn stared at the hand in front of him, then looked up at its owner—Chast, smiling brightly, sunlight catching in his messy hair.
The professors exchanged knowing smirks as Zayn finally sighed and took Chast's hand, letting him pull him to his feet.
"Good morning, boss!" Chast greeted, his tone energetic and playful. The sleep had clearly done as his spirit was back, his energy fully restored after that long night of struggling with control.
Since last night, Chast had been calling Zayn boss because of how bossy he was toward him. Eventually, he got used to it and honestly, the title suited Zayn perfectly, especially since he was the president of the school.
Professor Morrwynn chuckled softly. "Their relationship progressed fast," she commented. "All it took was one night."
"Stop gossiping," Zayn muttered, his voice hoarse from sleep as he walked toward the professors.
Professor Morrwynn rolled her eyes, an amused smile tugging at her lips. The other professors chuckled, clearly enjoying his morning irritation.
"Okay, boss!" they all answered in unison, emphasizing the word with teasing grins , clearly echoing Chast's earlier remark.
Zayn ignored them completely. With a flick of his fingers, he summoned a chair made of crystal and shadow, sitting down with effortless sophistication.
"Proceed with the lesson," he commanded, gesturing lazily with his hand.
The professors exchanged amused glances but nodded before stepping forward.
"Good morning, Enigmatics!" Professor Valkiery greeted, her voice bright and full of energy.
"Good morning, Professors!" the students chorused, cheering in return.
"Yesterday, you learned control," Professor Vrynth began, his deep voice echoing through the forest-like hall. "And today, you will learn Resonance—the art of listening to your magic."
He paced slowly, eyes sweeping across the students who had fallen silent, hanging onto every word.
"It allows you to understand your power," he continued. "Without Resonance, your magic is hollow, detached, and unstable."
The students shifted uneasily, their earlier energy fading. Whispers began to ripple across the rows as they slumped on their cushions, uncertain of what to expect next.
"I hope it won't take me another night here." Chast sighed, smelling himself. His perfume faded and filled with sweaty scent. He wrinkled his nose, groaning inwardly at the sour scent clinging to him.
"You had fun anyway," Keller commented after overhearing Chast talking to Luke.
"Fun? Yeah, right." Chast rolled his eyes. "Camping here is so much fun."
Keller laughed, joined quickly by Luke. "Should we just bring your bed here then?" Luke teased between bursts of laughter.
Chast ignored them completely. He removed his robe and straightened his back and stretched his body. His muscles were burned and stiffened.
"You're lucky it was Mister Zayn who trained you," Nico chimed in, joining their conversation.
Nico's words lingered in Chast's mind. I guess he's right... I couldn't have done it without his help.
Professor Morrwynn summoned Aether Crystals that appeared before the students' eyes, glowing softly in midair.
"Every heartbeat defines who you are," she said, her calm yet commanding voice echoing through the forest-like hall. "Your goal is to hear it..." She paused, placing a hand over her chest. "With your heart and soul."
"Resonance has three stages," Professor Valkiery followed, her tone precise and confident. "Today, we'll focus on the first two. Your first task is to listen—truly listen. Focus, and feel the rhythm reaching out to connect with you."
"Now, place your hands on the crystal." Professor Morrwynn said, her voice calm but commanding. "Close your eyes. Don't force your magic just listen to it."
The students inhaled and obeyed.
The wind blew softly, rustling the crisp leaves as birds chirped from the branches above. The Aether Crystals began to glow faintly, responding to the faint stirrings of their owners' magic.
The students tried to focus, but the sounds of the forest, chirping birds, whispering leaves clashed with the rhythm of their crystals, throwing off their concentration.
Nico opened his eyes and glanced at his friends, who were trying their best to focus. He elbowed Keller, who sat cross-legged beside him.
Keller ignored him at first, eyes closed, trying to listen to the hum of his crystal. But Nico nudged him again.
Keller exhaled sharply and opened one eye, glaring. "What!?" he hissed, clearly irritated.
"How is this supposed to work?" Nico murmured.
Keller rolled his eyes. "Didn't you listen?" he muttered, raising an eyebrow.
Chast wrinkled his forehead, trying to concentrate, but all he could hear was the two whispering back and forth.
"Yeah, I heard," Nico said defensively, pointing at his crystal. "But how do I know if it's working?"
Keller shrugged. "You'll find out eventually, I guess."
Chast finally hushed them without opening his eyes. "You're bothering us," he whispered.
Keller and Nico exchanged quick glances, then sighed in defeat before returning to their crystals, both pretending to focus again.
Zayn's voice echoed in Chast's mind. He tried to recall every word Zayn had taught him about controlling his magic, knowing it would help him again this time.
Chast loosened his body, taking a slow, deep breath before listening—deeper and deeper—until the sounds around him began to fade away. The chirping of birds, the rustling leaves, even the whispers of his classmates—all dissolved into silence.
In that stillness, a soft light appeared in his thoughts. His Aether Crystal trembled gently, its cold surface warming beneath his palms, sending a tingling sensation up his arms.
Chast Vaughn, the Chosen...
His eyes tightened shut. The voice grew louder, echoing in his mind like a chant.
Chast Vaughn, the Chosen... Chast Vaughn, the Chosen.