A little bird told me

"Relax, man," Bastian said, his tone reassuring, his hand lingering on Alex's shoulder. "It's easier than you think. You'll get the hang of it."

His words were meant to comfort, but they did little to ease the panic gripping Alex, the fear of failure, of exposure, looming large as the hall's chatter swelled around them, the day's challenges only beginning.

Bastian's blue eyes gleamed with a teasing spark, his mouth opening as if to toss another quip at Alex, his hand still resting on Alex's shoulder in the crowded hall of Starhaven Academy.

The morning sunlight poured through towering stained-glass windows, casting vibrant blue and gold patterns across the polished marble floor, where students swirled in a chaotic dance, their voices a lively buzz, their tunics a riot of colors.

Before Bastian could get a word out, a figure approached, her presence slicing through the throng like a blade, drawing every gaze in the vicinity.