After playing, laughing, and taking far too many pictures, the four of them finally settled down for lunch. The baskets were filled with neatly arranged sandwiches, fresh fruits, juice boxes and tiny desserts. Lucien and Sable ate happily, crumbs decorating their cheeks while Dante quietly cut fruit for them with the precision of a man handling a sword.
Alina watched them all with quiet joy, taking small bites of her own sandwich while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the Shadow Domain. The river shone gently beside them and the black blossoms continued to drift around like soft midnight snowflakes.
While Lucien and Sable played with their Legos after eating, Dante leaned back slightly, resting one hand on the mat. "Miss Alina," he said suddenly, "I rembered sothing I wanted to tell you."
She looked at him curiously. "Yes, sir."
"You can also try finding your magic core." His tone was calm, but his eyes held a spark of interest. "Each individual can attempt it. Your core type, your strength and your natural elent can all be discovered if you try the techniques."
Alina’s eyes widened with genuine excitent. She leaned closer without aning to. "Really, sir. I can try too."
Dante chuckled softly at her childlike enthusiasm, the sound low and warm. "Yes, Alina. Anyone can. You simply need to focus."
She straightened eagerly. "How do I do it."
Dante shifted slightly to face her, his expression softening in a way that made her heartbeat stutter. He raised a hand slightly, as if guiding her through sothing delicate. "It is simple in concept," he said gently, "but requires patience. Close your eyes and enter a deep state of calm. No cluttered thoughts. No rushing. Your breathing must slow. Your mind must beco quiet."
Alina nodded slowly. "Like ditation."
"Exactly," he said. "But deeper. When your mind becos still enough, you may start seeing colors or shapes or light forming around you. Those colors represent your power. In our system, magic cores awaken as colors first."
Alina leaned forward, fascinated. "What do they an."
Dante lowered his eyes, thinking. "Allow to explain it properly."
His voice took on a quiet, almost reverent tone.
"In our world, every being has a core within them. A small sphere of energy resting deep in the soul. When one focuses inward, that core reveals itself as a color because colors are the purest form of raw power."
This technique worked especially well for people who were unsure of their abilities. Most powers were inherited from parents by race or lineage, but mixed races or gifted individuals sotis had hidden potential that did not awaken naturally. This thod helped locate and identify those abilities.
Dante himself had researched it often for Lucien. Lucien already controlled shadows, but Dante knew he possessed a second ability that was still dormant. He had been studying these old thods, so telling Alina felt natural.
Unlike the usual elental sharpening or upgrading techniques that needed special places or strong natural energy, this thod needed nothing more than steady focus and calm attention.
Alina listened breathlessly.
Dante continued, his voice steady and deep.
"Red represents fire and willpower.
Blue represents water and emotion.
Green represents nature and healing.
Gold represents leadership and divine strength.
Black represents shadow and control.
White represents purity and protection.
Purple represents chaos, creativity and rare talent.
Silver represents ancient magic that is unpredictable and powerful."
He paused, watching her eyes shine with wonder.
"Your core could be a single color," Dante said softly, "or two mixed. Mixed cores are powerful and unpredictable, but also harder to master."
Alina swallowed, feeling a small thrill run through her. "So if I see a color, that ans it is my core."
"Yes," Dante said in a low, calm voice that felt almost intimate. "Sotis the core shows movent, shapes or even a faint sound. All of it is part of the aning. The stronger the glow, the stronger the potential."
Alina’s eyes sparkled like a child watching fireworks. "This is incredible."
Dante’s lips curled in a small smile. "You may try it now if you want."
Alina blinked. "Right now."
"Yes." He nodded. "I will guide you."
Her cheeks ward slightly. "Alright."
Lucien looked up from his Lego tower. "Teacher doing magic."
Sable gasped. "Teacher going to get core. Teacher will be powerful."
Dante chuckled. "Let her try."
Alina sat a little straighter, pulled her shawl closer and closed her eyes as Dante’s voice softened beside her.
"Calm your breath," he murmured. "Slow and gentle. Let every thought fall away."
She breathed in deeply.
Petals drifted across her lap.
The river murmured softly.
Lucien and Sable watched with round, fascinated eyes.
Dante leaned closer, his voice barely above the breeze.
"Now look inward."
Alina followed his instructions as best as she could, letting her hands rest quietly on her lap while her eyelashes lowered. She tried to breathe slowly, tried to empty her mind, tried to enter the quiet space Dante spoke of.
But the mont she attempted to silence her thoughts, mories rose all at once.
Her mother’s tired voice.
The old argunts.
The lonely days when she worked too hard.
Her worries about rent.
Her tiny hopes.
Her insecurities.
Every ti Dante told her to relax, her chest tightened instead.
Her thoughts slipped away from her control like scattered feathers.
She frowned, trying harder, forcing her breath, but that only made her shoulders stiffen. The peaceful colors Dante promised stayed hidden, and instead she felt a strange ache in her temples.
Dante noticed the subtle shift in her face. The way her brows knitted together. The uneven breaths. The small tension in her shoulders.
A flicker of concern crossed his eyes.
Before he could speak, Alina’s lashes lifted. She opened her eyes with a small, defeated sigh. Her lips pressed into a thin, embarrassed line.
"Sir," she whispered softly, her voice tiny. "I was not able to do it."
Her shoulders drooped a little as she looked down at the mat, her fingers curling around the edge of her shawl. The disappointnt was clear in her eyes, as if she believed she had failed sothing important.
Dante shook his head imdiately, gently but firmly.
"It is alright, Alina," he said, his tone warm and reassuring. "No one succeeds on their first attempt. Not even shadow warriors. It takes ti for the mind to beco quiet."
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