Bloodcrest Valley

Part One: A Dangerous Discovery

Kael raises an eyebrow but says nothing, her eyes flickering to Isabella with a look of mild concern.

Nerissa, sensing the tension, steps forward. "Control comes from the mind, Isabella. Focus is everything. A distracted mind weakens your connection to the elements."

Isabella nods quickly, embarrassed but grateful for the gentle correction. She shoots Maddy an apologetic look, but Maddy just shrugs, clearly enjoying the lesson too much to worry about the small mishap.

As the lesson continues, Isabella finds herself struggling to maintain focus. Her thoughts keep swirling back to Leo and what he might be thinking after witnessing her partial transformation.

Back on Land – Unseen Tension

Meanwhile, back on land, Leo sits in his room, unable to stop replaying the scene by the lake in his mind. He'd seen something—something impossible. The shimmer of scales on Isabella's legs, the sudden way she and Maddy had disappeared into the water... it didn't make sense.

He paces back and forth, glancing out his window toward the beach. "What's going on with her?" he mutters to himself. "I'm not crazy, right? I saw that."

Tessa enters the room, raising an eyebrow. "What are you going on about?"

Leo hesitates, unsure of how much to say. "I don't know. Something weird happened at the lake today. Isabella—she just vanished. Like, into the water."

Tessa looks at him skeptically. "Are you sure? Maybe she and Maddy were just swimming."

Leo shakes his head. "No, it wasn't like that. I swear... it was like the water grabbed them."

Tessa gives him a long, curious look. "Well, if you're that curious, maybe we should look into it."

Leo, determined to uncover the truth, nods. "Yeah... I think we should."

Back in Lunaris

After the lesson ends, Kael and Nerissa call Isabella and Maddy aside, their expressions more serious than before.

"Is everything alright?" Kael asks gently, her gaze focused on Isabella. "You seemed distracted during class."

Isabella hesitates, glancing at Maddy before nodding. "I'm fine. Just... a lot on my mind."

Nerissa watches her closely. "Remember, this life you've entered comes with responsibilities. Keeping our world hidden from humans is one of the most important."

Isabella swallows hard. She knows Nerissa is right, but the weight of the secret feels heavier now. "I understand."

Kael gives her a small smile. "You'll get the hang of it. Just focus on mastering your abilities, and everything else will follow."

As Isabella and Maddy swim back toward the city, Isabella can't shake the feeling that her secret is unraveling faster than she can control.

Later that evening, as the sun begins to set over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, Isabella finds herself walking alone along the beach, needing to clear her mind. The constant juggling of her double life has worn her down, and the fear of her secret being discovered is ever-present.

She watches the waves gently roll in, the salt-scented breeze calming her nerves. But the peace is short-lived.

"Isabella!"

The voice startles her, and she turns to see Leo standing a few feet away, his expression determined and intense. He's been watching her carefully ever since the incident, and now he seems to have reached his breaking point.