Noel jolted awake, his heart pounding. His dream was already slipping away, leaving only a lingering unease.
He was drenched in sweat, his sheets tangled from a restless night. His throat was dry. Sitting up, he called for his nanny. Martha entered swiftly, replacing his damp bedding and setting a cup of fresh water beside him. He drank in slow gulps, but the tightness in his chest remained.
Something felt off. The dream, the strange sensation in his body it was too much to ignore. He needed air.
"I want to go to the koi pond," he muttered.
Martha hesitated. "At this hour? You should rest, young master."
But Noel wasn't in the mood to argue. He shot her a stubborn look, and after a moment, she sighed and gave in, following him outside.
The night air was crisp, the moon casting silver ripples on the pond's surface. Noel sat at the edge, elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the sky. The crescent moon reminded him of the ocean—sometimes calm, sometimes wild.
He clenched his fists. "Will Father congratulate me if I become a mage? Will he be proud if I master water? Can I even do it?"
The questions gnawed at him, twisting his insides. Another wave of pressure coiled in his abdomen, rising and falling like the tide—sometimes a gentle pull, other times an overwhelming surge.
By the time he returned to his chambers, dawn was breaking. He dismissed Martha with a nod—she'd already lost enough sleep because of him.
Stripping off his cloak, he sat at the edge of his bed, running a hand through his damp hair. His body still felt restless, like something inside him was shifting.
Ten days. Ten days since it began. Since his awakening started.
He exhaled sharply and slid under the fresh sheets. The moment his head hit the pillow, another surge rolled through his core, stronger this time.
Noel gritted his teeth. Whatever was happening to him—it wasn't stopping.