True power

The city sprawls before you, a breathtaking panorama of towering spires and bustling marketplaces. The air hums with a potent magical energy, far denser than anything you experienced in the village. You resist the urge to instinctively draw on your magic; instead, you subtly shift the concealing spell, allowing a faint whisper of your true power to emanate from you. It's a delicate balance, a carefully controlled release. Enough to intrigue, not enough to overwhelm.

Elara, a striking woman with fiery red hair and eyes that hold the wisdom of ages, meets you at the designated location – a quiet courtyard tucked away from the city's clamor. Lyra, her daughter, stands beside her, her light blonde hair mirroring your own now subtly altered tresses. Lyra's eyes widen slightly as she senses the barely contained power radiating from you.

"Thalia," Elara greets you, her voice warm and welcoming. "I sense... a different aura about you. A strength that goes beyond mere magical ability." She pauses, her gaze piercing. "Are you ready?"

You don't answer verbally, instead letting a tendril of pure, untamed energy – a shimmering, silver thread – snake from your fingertips, spiraling upwards to illuminate the courtyard in an ethereal glow. The effect is breathtaking; the air itself seems to sing with the power you wield. Analamuk, sensing your shift, lets out a soft purr, his own markings briefly flaring with a corresponding energy.

Lyra gasps, her eyes wide with awe. Even Elara, seasoned as she is in the ways of magic, shows a flicker of surprise. The faint scent of ozone hangs in the air, a testament to the raw power you've briefly unleashed. The shimmering light fades as quickly as it appears, leaving only a lingering sense of wonder.

"Impressive," Elara murmurs, a hint of admiration in her voice. "That… was not a mere concealing spell. That was a controlled demonstration of immense power. You are far more potent than I had anticipated."

She turns her gaze to Lyra, her expression serious. "Lyra, you will accompany Thalia to the Academy. Keep a close watch on her. The High Nobles will be interested. Very interested." A subtle tension fills the air. The subtle unveiling of your power has made you both a target and a potential ally to those within the High Empire, and the path to the Anthion Academy, once a simple infiltration, has now become a precarious walk on a tightrope.