The forest remained tense long after Magnus disappeared again.
Even the wind seemed uneasy.
The warriors stayed alert, scanning the trees carefully, but there was no sign of him anymore.
Beside the carved tree, Aria was still staring at the message.
Her name.
Carved deep into the bark.
It felt strange… seeing it there like that.
As if she was being hunted.
Or claimed.
Next to her, Alpha Kael spoke quietly to the warriors.
"Double the patrols tonight."
Several wolves nodded immediately.
"No one leaves the territory alone."
One of the guards asked, "What about Magnus?"
Kael's eyes darkened.
"If anyone sees him again… come to me first."
The warriors quickly moved away to carry out the orders.
Soon only three people remained near the tree.
Aria.
Kael.
And Ikechukwu.
The old man studied the carved words for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Hmmm."
Kael looked at him.
"You keep doing that."
"What?"
"That sound."
Ikechukwu smiled slightly.
"It means I am thinking."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Well, think faster."
The old man chuckled.
"In my village we say something."
Kael groaned quietly.
"Of course you do."
Ikechukwu tapped his staff on the ground.
"When a leopard shows itself in daylight…"
He looked toward the forest.
"…it is no longer hiding."
Aria frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Magnus is done playing small games."
Kael nodded slowly.
"I agree."
Aria felt a chill run through her.
"So what happens now?"
The old man turned and looked directly at her glowing wrist.
"Now we follow the first rule of power."
She blinked.
"There are rules?"
"Oh yes."
He raised one finger.
"Rule number one."
He pointed toward the forest.
"Never show your full strength to your enemy."
Aria frowned.
"I didn't exactly plan to throw trees into the air."
Kael smirked slightly.
"Still impressive."
Aria rolled her eyes.
Ikechukwu continued.
"Magnus wanted to see what you could do."
Aria looked confused.
"Why?"
The old man smiled faintly.
"So he can prepare."
Kael's expression hardened.
"That makes sense."
Aria looked between them.
"So… I basically showed him my power?"
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"Yes."
"That's bad."
"Yes."
Aria groaned loudly.
"Great."
The old man chuckled.
"But it is not the end of the world."
Kael crossed his arms.
"What do we do?"
Ikechukwu's eyes gleamed slightly.
"We do what Magnus does not expect."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"And what's that?"
The old man tapped his staff twice.
"Train harder."
Kael nodded once.
"That was already the plan."
Ikechukwu shook his head.
"No."
He looked at Aria again.
"Not just training."
"Then what?"
The old man's voice became quieter.
"Control."
Aria looked down at her wrist.
"Still working on that."
Ikechukwu smiled.
"Then we begin properly tonight."
Kael frowned.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
Aria looked confused.
"What's happening tonight?"
The old man turned his gaze toward the sky.
The sun was already starting to lower behind the trees.
"The moon will rise soon."
Aria's stomach tightened.
"And?"
Ikechukwu's eyes darkened slightly.
"The moon is strongest at night."
Kael understood immediately.
"You want her to train under moonlight."
The old man nodded.
"Yes."
Aria didn't look excited.
"That sounds dangerous."
Ikechukwu smiled calmly.
"Yes."
Kael looked at her.
"But it might be the fastest way to control your power."
Aria sighed.
"Why do I feel like I'm about to regret this?"
The old man chuckled.
"In Nigeria we say something about fear."
Kael shook his head slowly.
"I already know I won't like this one."
Ikechukwu grinned.
"The goat that fears the river…"
He paused.
"…never learns how to swim."
Aria stared at him.
"So I'm the goat?"
The old man shrugged.
"For now."
Kael actually laughed this time.
Aria glared at both of them.
"This better work."
The wind moved softly through the forest.
High above the trees…
The moon slowly began rising into the evening sky.
And somewhere far away in the darkness…
Magnus was watching that same moon.
Waiting.