Chapter 4: A Flicker in the Dark

Maxim sat by the stream, staring at the water, frustration gnawing at him. He'd been coming to the forest for days, trying to recreate the strange event with the stone. Nothing. It was like chasing a dream, slipping through his fingers every time he got close. He had tried with rocks, sticks, even leaves, but there was no surge of energy, no wind, and no darkening of the skies. Maybe it had been his imagination after all.

The cool breeze rustled through the trees, and Maxim leaned back against a mossy boulder, closing his eyes. His thoughts drifted to the past few days—nothing unusual had happened, except that strange moment. He tried to calm his mind, but frustration wouldn't let him. Why had it worked that first time?

He heard the familiar gurgle of the stream nearby and sighed. Suddenly, the sound of water shifted—subtle, but noticeable. He opened his eyes, sitting up quickly. The flow of the stream seemed different, the water moving slower as if something unseen was holding it back.

Maxim stood, his heart racing. He took a step closer, his eyes fixed on the water. It wasn't just slower, it was swirling now, forming small spirals along the surface. He extended his hand cautiously toward the stream, feeling the strange pull of energy coursing through him. As his fingers hovered just above the water, one of the spirals grew larger, moving in sync with his hand.

Maxim gasped and pulled his hand back quickly. The water immediately resumed its normal flow, as if nothing had happened. His breath came in short, sharp bursts. This was something new. He hadn't touched the water, but somehow, it had responded to him.

"No way," he whispered to himself, glancing around as if someone might be watching. But there was no one—just him and the quiet rustling of the trees.

Maxim knelt by the edge of the stream, staring into the clear water, searching for answers. What had he done differently this time? His frustration had been there, sure, but he hadn't been angry like the first time. Maybe it wasn't just about emotions. He remembered the sensation—the energy within him, the same one that had stirred when he'd picked up the stone. Was it inside him all along?

Carefully, he extended his hand again, this time with purpose. His fingers trembled slightly as he hovered them over the water. He closed his eyes and concentrated, focusing on that pull he had felt moments earlier. The sound of the stream changed once more. When he opened his eyes, the water beneath his hand was swirling again, responding to his presence.

A grin spread across Maxim's face. It wasn't a fluke. He was doing this.

He stood up, excitement surging through him. He looked around, his mind racing with possibilities. Could he do more? If he could control water like this, what else was possible? The idea sent a shiver down his spine. His thoughts returned to the stone—maybe it wasn't about the stone at all. Maybe the power had been inside him all along, waiting to be discovered.

Maxim glanced at the trees around him, wondering if they would react too. He wasn't sure how to control it yet, but he knew now that something was happening—something real. And it was up to him to figure out what it all meant.

Before he could experiment more, a familiar voice called from the distance. "Maxim! Are you there?"

It was his sister, Anna, breaking the spell of the moment. Maxim quickly pulled his hand back, the water returning to its natural flow. He turned toward the voice, realizing how late it must be.

"I'm coming!" he called back, wiping his damp hands on his pants. His mind was still spinning with what he had just done, but there would be time to explore it later. For now, he had to act normal.

As he walked back toward home, the sense of excitement was impossible to ignore. He had unlocked something new, something powerful. The possibilities stretched out before him like an endless horizon, and for the first time, Maxim couldn't wait to see what lay beyond.

The world wasn't as ordinary as it seemed. Not anymore.