CHAPTER 335: THIS IS WHERE WE BEGIN

Not spying, not eavesdropping, just... aware.

The feeling wasn’t heavy. It wasn’t sharp. But it was there—settled around them like the forest itself was paying attention.

The air felt cooler, even though the temperature hadn’t changed much.

The light from the garden behind them faded as they moved forward, and the deeper they walked, the quieter it got.

There was no wind, insects, or rustling of the leaves; just the soft sound of footsteps, steady breathing, and the occasional crunch of moss underfoot.

But none of them struggled to see.

The forest wasn’t dark—not truly. It just muted everything, like it had adjusted the light and sound just enough to match their pace.

Their eyes adjusted naturally, without effort, like the trees were letting them through.

Thalynae walked in front, calm and focused. She didn’t turn around to check on them. She didn’t say a word.

Her steps never faltered. Her pace was steady—neither rushed nor slow—just even, like she had walked this trail more times than she could count.

There was no hesitation in her movements. No need to explain. She simply led.

Then she stopped.

There was no signal. No gesture. She just came to a halt as if the forest itself had told her this was the place.

The path ahead opened into a circular clearing. The shape was almost too perfect to be natural, but there were no signs of construction.

The grass here was different—not overgrown or wild, but smooth and soft, like it had grown into shape over time.

It looked like it had never needed to be trimmed because it always stayed this way.

At the center of the clearing stood a single stone.

Waist-high. Smooth. Shaped like a teardrop lying on its side. Its surface was a muted gray, almost like river-washed stone, but it wasn’t dull.

Thin veins of pale green light ran under the surface, pulsing faintly—like a slow, steady heartbeat. The kind that didn’t demand attention but couldn’t be ignored.

Thalynae stepped to the side, letting the stone come fully into view, and turned to face them.

"This is where we begin," she said.

Her voice was quiet, but it carried across the clearing like it belonged here. No echo. No need to raise it.

She looked toward the stone, then back at them. "One at a time. Place your hand on it. If the resonance is real... you’ll feel it."

That was all she said. No instructions. No further details. Just a simple truth.

Everly stepped forward first.

She didn’t hesitate, but she didn’t rush either. Her face was focused—serious, not nervous. She lowered herself slightly, pressed her palm flat against the top of the stone, and held her breath.

The veins under the surface glowed a little brighter.

Just a little.

The pulse didn’t change much. But it reacted. The stone had noticed her.

Everly stood, nodded once, and stepped back without saying a word.

Evelyn followed. Quiet. Focused. She didn’t need a signal; she mirrored her sister’s movement. Palm down.

The glow brightened again. Slightly stronger than before. Not dramatic. But definite.

Then came Nyssara.

She paused for a second, looking at the stone, then at the others. Her face stayed steady, but her jaw shifted just a little.

She stepped forward.

Her hand hovered above the stone for a second. Then she pressed it down.

Nothing happened.

No change. No glow. No pulse.

The stone remained still.

Her fingers curled slightly, tension tightening in her arm—but she didn’t force it. She stayed there for a second longer, then pulled her hand back and stepped away.

Thalynae didn’t flinch. Didn’t frown. Her expression stayed calm.

"It’s not rejection," she said. "Your resonance is buried deeper. Some roots take longer to rise. But it’s there."

She stepped forward, her position now between the three girls and the stone.

"But what just happened was enough. That pulse doesn’t lie. All three of you are marked."

She looked at each of them, slowly, one by one.

"You’re not just students anymore," she said. "This isn’t a regular class. This is alignment. The start of something more."

Everly tilted her head a bit. "What do you mean by alignment?"

Thalynae didn’t pause. "One flow. Three threads. That’s what this path requires. You don’t need to understand it all now. You will. In time."

None of them interrupted her.

The air around them wasn’t heavy, but it was full, like something older than any of them was watching. Not judging—just observing.

Thalynae turned to the woods behind her.

"Come back here tomorrow. First light. We’ll go deeper then."

She didn’t offer a goodbye.

She just turned, walked silently back into the trees, and disappeared—like the forest took her back in.

The three of them stayed there a moment longer.

No one said anything.

The stone pulsed softly behind them.

A slow, steady beat. Not bright. Not dim. Just constant.

They left the clearing the same way they had come in.

They didn’t speak on the way back.

Not because they were avoiding it. Not because they were unsure.

There just wasn’t anything to say yet.

But something had changed.

And they all felt it.

The next morning came without warning.

The sun had barely broken through the branches when they arrived. Pale light filtered through the canopy, soft and gold, not yet strong enough to heat the ground.

Thalynae was already there.

Same robes. Same posture. Same silence.

She turned as soon as they stepped into the clearing. She didn’t ask if they were ready. Didn’t ask how they’d slept. She simply gave one word.

"Follow."

So they did.

She led them down a narrower path this time. The trees were closer together, and the air was cooler and denser.

The light barely made it through in strips. It wasn’t dark—just dim like walking into a part of the world that had decided to keep its secrets close.

They didn’t go far.

Just a few minutes in, the forest opened again—wider this time.

The space ahead was larger. Not huge. But open enough to breathe.