Evie stood in the spacious courtyard, the soft breeze of the academy's open grounds brushing her face as she waited for Seth. The air around her was thick with anticipation, her heart thumping a little faster than usual. The princes had been keeping a close eye on her lately, each one providing their unique brand of care, but Seth... Seth was different.

He had been around her since their first meeting, his smile sometimes warm, other times goofy. But today, he was the one who would help her unlock her powers—well, at least, that's what he had said.

Seth stood in front of her, his usually relaxed posture now more focused, his sharp eyes scanning her. He wore a loose white shirt that fluttered slightly in the breeze, his dark hair wild and untamed, giving him an almost ethereal aura. "Are you ready?" His voice was calm but had an edge to it, as if testing her determination.

Evie nodded, taking a deep breath, the pressure of the moment settling in her chest. "I think so," she said, trying to steady herself. "Oh before we get to it, this is for you." Seth said handing her a new brand Iphone. She stood there frozen looking at him Seth smirked "Now now dont worry, I haven't stolen it or something, we thought its best if you have a phone to contact us , it will put us at ease" he added gently

"I-i cant this is too much f-for me, Rowan will—"

"Rowan is the one who bought this sunshine, I mean we all did but he practically sped to the city to get you this. open it once you retire for night" his eyes twinkled with joy.

Evie sighed and nodded with a small smile.

Seth smirked lightly, but there was a quiet confidence in his expression. "Now Let's see if you can handle the wind." He raised one hand, and the air around them stirred, a swirl of wind encircling his fingers. "I'm going to test your affinity for my element, Evie. Let's see how strong your magic is."

Evie felt a twinge of uncertainty but raised her own hand, palms open, in front of her. A gust of wind wrapped around her, and she closed her eyes, trying to connect with the energy Seth had brought forth.

At first, there was nothing. Then, a rush of air whipped around her, stronger than she expected. The wind wasn't just around her—it was inside of her, a torrent of energy, like an ancient river trying to break free. Evie's breath hitched as she felt her magic stir deep within her, the power pulsing with an intensity she had never experienced before.

Seth's eyes widened slightly as he watched her. His posture shifted, now fully engaged. "Interesting," he murmured, almost to himself. He moved closer, his presence heavy as the wind seemed to bend around him. "You're more powerful than I thought. This is... remarkable." His voice carried a hint of awe, but there was something else in his gaze—something that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Now, try to control it," Seth instructed, his voice a touch more serious. "Let the wind flow, but don't let it overwhelm you. It's not about power. It's about control."

Evie nodded, focusing as she drew in a deep breath. She felt the magic stirring inside her, swirling with Seth's energy. Slowly, she extended her hand again, willing the wind to calm, to slow. It resisted at first, wild and untamed, but with Seth's guidance, she could feel it starting to obey, a gentle breeze replacing the violent gusts.

As she managed to control the wind, the tension in the air shifted. Seth's gaze locked onto hers, his breath barely audible as his focus remained on her, guiding her through the process. She could feel the magic flowing between them, an electric connection as if their energies were blending into one. It was subtle, but undeniable. Every movement she made seemed to sync with his, every breath they took was a mirror of each other's, their magic dancing together, their proximity drawing them closer.

"Good," Seth's voice broke through the tension, a small smile forming on his lips. "You're getting it. But remember, this is just the beginning. You need to learn to protect yourself with this magic, to use it defensively before we even consider offensive spells." He took a step closer, now just a few inches from her. His eyes were intense, locking onto hers with a piercing intensity.

Evie could feel the heat radiating off him, a warmth that contrasted with the cool breeze still swirling around them. Her heart raced faster than the wind itself as she tried to steady herself. The magic was still there, thrumming beneath the surface, and the closeness between them only seemed to amplify it.

"Defensive magic will be your foundation," Seth continued, his voice dropping lower as he stepped even closer. "You need to learn how to protect yourself first. The offensive magic can wait until we have your control down."

She nodded, her chest tightening as she tried to focus on his words. But there was something about him—the way his voice held a quiet authority, the way his body was so close, making the air around her feel electric—that made it hard to concentrate. His presence was magnetic, his energy powerful but soothing, like a whirlwind that she couldn't escape, nor did she want to.

"Do you feel it?" Seth asked, his voice low, barely a whisper. His eyes searched hers, intense and curious. "The way our magic feels together?"

Evie swallowed, nodding slowly. "I... I do," she whispered back, her breath shallow as she tried to keep her composure.

Seth's gaze heated slightly, but there was a depth in his expression—something unreadable. "Good," he said, his hand brushing her arm as he stepped back. "You'll need more training, but for now, you've got the basics down. Don't push too hard."

He turned away then, his movements fluid, almost graceful. Evie stood there for a moment, still feeling the lingering energy between them, still aware of the closeness they shared. Her heart was still racing, but she couldn't tell if it was from the training, the magic, or something else entirely.

Seth glanced back over his shoulder, offering her a small smile, almost like a secret between them. "You did well, Sunshine," he said softly, his voice warm. "Now let me escort you to Sol . He will be training with you next." He turned me towards him, his hands on my waist , heat seems to pool in my stomach at his touch "You'll be just fine Evie , You have us butterfly"

Evie blinked, caught off guard by the nickname, but the warmth in her chest spread at the sound of it. She smiled back, feeling a flutter of something she couldn't quite define.

As she gathered herself, Seth walked off to the side, his demeanor shifting back to his usual relaxed form, but his eyes remained on her, a quiet intensity in his gaze that made her heart beat faster. The connection they'd shared was still there, hovering in the air like an unspoken promise.

But for now, she was content. She had taken her first steps toward mastering her power—and with Seth's guidance, she felt like she could do anything. _____________________________