Page 77 of The Blood Moon Oath

Finn watches her carefully as she stands just inside the circle of runes. His gaze flicks to me for a moment, a silent understanding passing between us. He gestures for her to come closer.

“Step into the center,” Finn instructs, his voice calm, but with an undertone of something else. Maybe excitement? I can’t tell. “It’s safe. The runes are set to protect you while we work.”

She steps into the middle, her eyes briefly flicking to mine for reassurance again. I give her a soft smile, a quick flash of something almost tender, but it’s enough for her to settle. And it’s enough for me to realize just how deeply she’s starting to affect me.

“Alright, Sable,” Finn says, his tone professional now. “Iwant to run some tests. I have some theories about what your powers might be, but we need to know for sure.”

She nods, her posture straightening as she stands tall. I can feel the slight nervousness coming from her through the bond, but there’s also determination. She’s not backing down.

“Okay,” she says, her voice just a little shaky.

Finn pulls three objects from the table and places them in front of her. The first is a simple rock, unremarkable at first glance. The second is a cup of water, shimmering faintly in the light. The third is a lit candle, the flame dancing steadily, casting a warm glow around the room.

“Now,” Finn says, his tone taking on an almost clinical edge, “I want you to move your hand over each of these items. Close your eyes and just feel them. See if you can sense any power in them, or if you can manipulate them in any way.”

Sable looks at the objects, then back at Finn. I can sense the tension in her, the wariness in her mind as she hesitates. I send her a pulse of reassurance, the feeling washing over her as I push a sense of calm through our bond. She reacts almost immediately, her shoulders relaxing and her breath evening out.

“Take your time,” Finn says, watching her carefully. “There’s no rush.”

Sable takes a breath, closing her eyes, her hand hovering above the rock. The air in the room seems to tighten. I watch her, my senses on high alert, and I can feel the weight of the silence settling in around us. For a long moment, she doesn’t move. She’s focusing, I can tell, but the intensity is palpable. I feel it.

I can’tsensewhat she’s doing—her power is blocked by the runes surrounding us—but there’s something happening. I don’t need to see it to know. I can feel it in the air, in the way the room seems to hold its breath.

And then—there’s a shift.

It happens so quickly I almost miss it. The rock moves, floating into her hand. Her fingers curl around it, holding it firm and steady. I blink, surprised by how easily it obeys her. Sable opens her hand to show Finn, her expression both pleased and slightly taken aback by the result.

Finn exchanges a look with me, his gaze thoughtful, even impressed. “Well done, Sable,” he says, his voice even, like he’s already moved past the shock of it. “Now, move to the water.”

She doesn’t hesitate, but there’s a shift in her energy, a subtle current I can feel through the bond. She lifts her hand above the glass, her focus locked on it. For a moment, nothing happens.

Then suddenly, she yelps.

The water splashes violently, shooting up against her fingers, the surface rippling wildly as if it has a mind of its own. Sable pulls her hand back with a startled laugh, but there’s a flicker of fear in her eyes that she quickly tries to hide.

“Just control it,” Finn instructs, his voice calm but firm. “Now, move to the fire.”

Sable nods, but her brow furrows in concentration as she moves her hand toward the lit candle. I watch closely, my eyes narrowing, trying to catch any sign of her powers at work. Nothing happens at first.

And then, just like that, the flame begins to grow. Slowly at first, like a trickle of warmth building beneath the surface. But then—it leaps. The flame shoots upward, almost out of control, the heat increasing rapidly, and I can see Finn’s expression shift. He moves quickly, pushing her hand out of the way so it doesn't get singed, his own powers surging to contain the flame. With a flick of his wrist, the flame calms, settling back into its usual size.

He exchanges another look with me, something unreadablepassing between us. But Finn doesn’t show it, not to Sable, at least. He clears his throat, his tone shifting to something more instructional.

“Alright,” Finn says, his eyes on Sable, “Now I want you to hold your two hands together, just an inch apart from one another. Focus on the space between them. Try to harness it.”

Sable looks at him, skeptical, her brows drawing together. “Focus on theair?” she asks, her voice laced with disbelief. “Are you serious?”

Finn nods, unperturbed. “You can do it. Trust me.”

Sable sighs, but she holds her hands as instructed, palms facing each other, the faintest gap between them. She concentrates, but at first, nothing happens. I can feel the frustration coming off of her—sharp and quick, like a jolt of static. She pushes harder, but still, the air remains still.

I push calm and determination through our bond, silently urging her to try again. I feel her pause, a flicker of doubt slipping away as she takes a deep breath. I send her reassurance—you can do this. The second she gets her focus back, I feel the slightest shift.

A soft tug. A whisper of movement in the air. I watch as the air between her hands starts to shift, a faint circulation, almost imperceptible, but it’s there.

Finn notices it too. His eyes widen slightly, a flicker of concern in his expression. He masks it quickly, though, his face returning to its usual calm. “Excellent work, Sable,” he says, though I can tell his mind is already working, already analyzing what just happened. “This is just the start. But it will take a lot out of you, especially the manipulation of the elements like this. You need to rest after this. We’ll pick up again later.”

Sable nods, her expression flushed with effort butsatisfied. “Yeah,” she says, her voice softening. “I am a little tired. And... honestly, I feel pretty hungry too.”

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