This ain't a diary, this is a - mirror?

Chapter 27: Something Strange...

{{ Hello? Are you awake? If you're out there, please say something?

Author? 'Mighty creator of our universe'? I'm serious here... ugh, why now of all times you don't show up? She's literally about to call my name. Author. Author. Author. Please - }}

"Samantha Rowell?" A voice called. Samantha gritted her teeth and stood up. She picked up her diary, tucked it under a paw and padded towards the room, trying to calm her nerves.

"Good luck!" Elena whispered, giving her a 'thumbs-up'. Samantha flashed her a weak smile,  not wanting to tell her that it didn't work, and entered the classroom.

Ms Ather was perched on the desk with her stick laid in front of her, alongside several stones. She looked up as Samantha entered.

"Please don't worry too much," she meowed, seeing the expression on Samantha's snout, "it's not a test or anything, I just want to know a bit about you. Would you mind closing the door?"

Samantha wordlessly closed the door.

"Now, take a seat, would you? Or if you'd prefer to stand, well, it's up to you."

Samantha sat. Ms Ather flipped through her papers and stopped at a page. "Hm. So, Samantha Rowell. Here it lists you as... no powers, but, of course, as I've said before... I'm here to help you find your power!"

"I do have a power." Samantha said slowly, swallowing a few times to relieve her dry throat.

Ms Ather looked surprised. "Well, it doesn't say here... but, of course, we've had some occasions like that where parents don't realise their pups have powers..." She trailed off. "Oh! Sorry for being so rude. Would you mind... showing me your power? Actually, could you start with a summary?" She pulled out a pen and positioned it against the paper.

"Well..." Samantha mumbled. "I can, er, communicate to a being..."

"Telepathy? Not too uncommon..." Ms Ather muttered, bringing her pen to the paper.

"No, no, not telepathy." Samantha amended her statement. "This being lives... in a different universe to ours. At least they claim so."

"Hm? Now that's interesting." Ms Ather flipped through the pages of another book to her right. "I've... not heard of a power like that." She stopped at a page. "Is it... limited telepathy?"

"It's not... telepathy." Samantha testified. "Er, well, it kind of is... I've had this voice in my head ever since I was a pup, but it only spoke short sentences, phrases or even just words. But with my, er, book, it can communicate in... full sentences."

"A book, huh? Would you mind... showing me?" Ms Ather curled her tail around her paws and smiled at Samantha.

"Uh... maybe?" Samantha slowly retrieved her diary and opened it to the next blank page. She took a deep breath and wrote, {{ If you're out there... I need your help now. Please. }}

---

The words glowed, alone, on the blank whiteness of the screen. The screen flickered dark after a few seconds, the words lost within, seen by no eyes aside from Samantha's and Ms Ather's.

---

After a long minute or so, Ms Ather looked up at Samantha. "Is it... only visible to you?"

Samantha took a deep breath. "Well... this being... answers when they want to. They're not always present... but here, you can see their writing..." She flipped through the previous pages and stopped at a relatively 'innocent' page.

"Hm... the writing does look different." Ms Ather murmured to herself. "But there's no sign of any... other activity. Are you sure... this is your power?"

"I... yes, I think so." Samantha nodded. "There isn't any other... power I can exhibit, after all..."

"It's okay to not know your power yet. You don't have to be ashamed..." Ms Ather comforted. Samantha felt a hot burst of anger shoot up within her. "I'm not lying!" She blurted out.

Ms Ather smiled, almost sadly. "It's not that I don't believe you... but it's hard to... truly know without evidence directly before my eyes. I've not been taught to deal with powers like this..." She sighed. "How about this. Maybe we can go through several tests to see if you have... any other power? Maybe it's something related, but not... the thing you were talking about."

Samantha lowered her head, defeated. "I guess so..."

Ms Ather smiled comfortingly. "Don't feel dejected. I'm sure something will happen eventually... but first, let's go through some of the... tests I have, if that's alright with you?"

Samantha nodded dully. Ms Ather pulled over one of the stones and picked up the stick in her mouth. She pressed the sharper point to the stone and there was a small, blue spark. The tip of the stick burst into a blue wisp.

"Touch your paw to the stone. It should tell us if you have any... traces of elemental powers." Ms Ather mumbled through the stick. Samantha put her paw slowly on the stone, already knowing the answer.

Ms Ather closed her eyes, concentrating. Her brow furrowed as she continued to concentrate. Sweat trickled down her brow and she gritted her teeth.

Samantha flinched as she saw Ms Ather's claws unsheathe and dig into the table. Suddenly, Ms Ather jolted back with a sharp hiss and a "mrrow!"

When Ms Ather saw Samantha's worried expression, she quickly reassured: "Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Her expression read something else.

"What?" Samantha asked carefully. Ms Ather started to pace the table, tail flicking anxiously. "I... I still need to... think. It's none of your concern yet... just relax."

Ms Ather took a deep breath and regained her composure. She quickly retrieved the stone with a paw - holding it like a hot potato - and pulled it back to her pile of stones. "Would you mind calling... Evan Silvius to the room, please? I need to... prepare something."

"But -" Samantha began, but Ms Ather shushed her. "I'll figure it out on my own. No need to get your tail in a twist over something you don't understand."

Samantha slowly stood up and picked up her book. She padded out of the classroom, tail drooping and eyes dull.

"Evan." She barked sharply. She gestured to the room once and padded towards her friends without checking that he'd heard her.

"The one time I needed you, and you don't reply?" Samantha whispered to herself. "Or have I been hallucinating this whole time?"