Chapter 6: Premonitions and Preparation

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The days following their first lesson passed in a blur. Isla and Tessa spent every moment they could practicing, honing their newfound abilities. But the more they learned, the more Isla noticed something shifting in her sister. Tessa's quiet demeanor had grown more distant, her eyes often clouded with unease, as if she were constantly on edge. Something was haunting her.

It came to a head one evening, when they were supposed to be practicing defensive spells. Tessa had barely spoken, and her concentration was shot, the magic slipping through her fingers as if she couldn't focus. Isla could tell something was wrong.

"Tessa," Isla said softly, pausing their practice. "What's going on with you?"

Tessa hesitated, biting her lip. "It's nothing. I'm just tired."

"You're lying," Isla pressed, stepping closer. "I can see it in your face. You've been off ever since... well, ever since the figure showed up in the park."

Tessa's gaze faltered. She dropped her hands, and the faint shimmer of magic faded from the air. "I don't know how to explain it, but... I've been seeing things."

"Seeing things? Like what?"

"Flashes," Tessa said, her voice low. "Moments that haven't happened yet. They come to me randomly sometimes in the middle of the night, sometimes when I'm just sitting here. It's like déjà vu, but different. I think they're... premonitions."

Isla felt a chill run down her spine. Premonitions? They had always known Tessa was special, even before Aunt Seraphina confirmed their magical heritage, but this was something different. "What kind of things do you see?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"At first, it was small stuff," Tessa said, wrapping her arms around herself. "Like us practicing here, or random moments at school. But lately, it's been... darker. I keep seeing us, Isla, but we're in danger. There's fire, and we're fighting something. I don't know what it is, but I can feel the fear, the pain. It feels real."

Isla's stomach twisted. Tessa wasn't one to exaggerate or make things up. If she was seeing these things, then it was serious. "Does Aunt Seraphina know?"

Tessa shook her head. "Not yet. I didn't want to worry her. But I think I need to tell her. These visions... they're getting stronger."

Before Isla could respond, Aunt Seraphina appeared in the doorway, her face grim. "You don't need to tell me," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I've known about your premonitions, Tessa. I've sensed the magic growing inside you for some time."

Tessa looked startled. "You knew?"

Aunt Seraphina nodded. "Premonitions are rare, even among our kind. But they are powerful. They are a gift, but also a warning. What you're seeing are glimpses of possible futures. They don't have to come true, but they can guide you if you learn to control them."

Isla felt a flicker of hope. "So, we can stop whatever she's seeing? We can change it?"

"Perhaps," Aunt Seraphina said. "But it won't be easy. If the danger is as real as Tessa's visions suggest, you will need more than magic to face it. You'll need to learn how to defend yourselves, to channel your magic and protect each other. And the first step is understanding the nature of the creatures you're dealing with."

She gestured toward a large, ornate chest in the corner of the room. Isla hadn't noticed it before, but it radiated a quiet power. Seraphina knelt before it, muttering a soft incantation under her breath as she opened the lid. Inside were weapons swords, daggers, and other tools Isla couldn't quite recognize. Each gleamed with a faint magical glow.

"These," Seraphina said, picking up a silver blade, "are enchanted weapons. They are specifically designed to fight against the creatures you may encounter. But remember, magic is your greatest weapon. We'll begin your training tomorrow."

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