Una didn't stop running until the house was far behind her and the trees swallowed her whole. The book was still clutched tightly to her chest, like it might burn her if she let go. Her breath came in ragged bursts, the argument with Aunt Reina still echoing in her ears.

When she finally slowed down, she found herself at the lake, the small one tucked just beyond the woods behind their house. It was quiet there, almost too quiet, and for a long moment, she just stood there, trying to catch her breath. Then she walked to the edge and sank onto the grass.

The book sat beside her, untouched. She didn't want to open it. Not yet.

Her mind was a storm - confusion, fear, and that strange heaviness in her chest. Aunt Reina's voice still rang sharp in her head: "I don't want that book around here, Una. Throw it out immediately."

Una scoffed softly. "It's just a book," she muttered to no one, hugging her knees.

That's when she noticed it.

The water. It was moving.

At first, it was just a faint ripple, so small she thought she'd imagined it. But then it kept going, circling, shifting almost as if it was alive.

She frowned and glanced around. There was no wind. No stones. Nothing.

"Okay..." she murmured, "that's weird."

She raised her hand slowly, just testing a thought and the water moved again.

Una froze. "Wait. No way."

She looked at her hand, then back at the lake. It was ridiculous. Impossible. She gave a nervous laugh. "Alright. If I'm moving water right now, then I might as well be Katara."

Grinning half in disbelief, she waved her hand dramatically, pretending to bend like in Avatar: The Last Airbender. The lake responded, the water gliding up like a silk ribbon following her command.

Her jaw dropped.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," she breathed, half laughing, half terrified.

So she tried again, this time imagining one of Katara's early training scenes. She swirled her wrist, and the water twisted; she lifted her hand, and it rose, shimmering under the afternoon light. It was clumsy and uneven, but it worked.

The absurdity of it made her giggle. She felt like she was dreaming, like she'd slipped into some strange world where her imagination had come alive.

On impulse, she focused on a leaf lying near her foot. "Alright, let's see," she whispered, flicking her fingers. The leaf trembled, lifted, and floated straight into the water.

She gasped, then laughed - an honest, giddy sound.

"Okay, Katara," she whispered to herself, "looks like we've got competition."

Feeling bolder, she shaped her hands, drawing the water into a small, glimmering sphere. It hovered for a second - just long enough for her to think she'd done it - before wobbling and smacking her right in the forehead.

Cold water splashed down her face.

Una yelped and fell backwards into the grass, laughing so hard her stomach hurt. "Alright," she said between giggles, "maybe not a master yet."

The lake quieted again, but it almost felt like it was smiling back at her.

Una couldn't stop laughing as she ran. The air was cold against her wet face, and her hair stuck to her skin, but she didn't care. She had just-what, moved water? Controlled it? Made it dance?

Every few steps she found herself giggling again, half from excitement, half from disbelief. She didn't even think about where she was going until she was standing outside Lana's house, clutching the still-damp book against her chest.

She burst through the door without knocking.

"Lana!"

Her voice rang through the living room, right over the sound of soft music and, well... other noises.

Lana froze on the couch, half-straddling a guy from school, Marco, or maybe Milo, Una wasn't sure. They both turned at once.

"Una?" Lana blinked, her lipstick smudged. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Una stood there, breathing hard, dripping lake water onto the carpet.

Lana squinted. "Wait-are you wet?"

Una didn't answer. She just pointed at the guy. "You. Out."

The guy blinked. "Uh-"

"Now," she said, still catching her breath.

Lana rolled her eyes, waving her hand. "You heard the witch, Marco. Go before she turns you into a frog."

He muttered something and scurried off, adjusting his shirt as he left. The door slammed.

Lana sighed, flopping back on the couch. "Seriously, Una, you have amazing timing. What's next, you gonna crash my shower too?"

But when she finally looked at Una properly, her teasing tone softened. "Hey... what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost. And what's that?" She nodded at the book in Una's hand. "That creepy thing you were running out of the library with?"

Una just shook her head, pacing. "Lana, you won't believe me. You literally won't."

"Try me."

Una stopped, staring at her friend with wide, bright eyes. Her voice came out breathless. "I moved water."

Lana snorted. "You what?"

"I...moved...it!" Una said, throwing her arms around for emphasis. "At the lake. It moved, Lana! Like, it listened to me! I didn't even mean to...okay, maybe I did...but it just...happened!"

Lana blinked once. Then twice. Then she burst out laughing.

"God, you're serious!" she said between laughs. "You're serious! Oh my God, Una, this is the best thing I've heard all week."

Una frowned. "I'm not joking!"

"I know you're not," Lana said, still laughing, "and that's what makes it even crazier! Can't believe you're letting Katara get into your head."

She got up and grabbed a towel from the kitchen, tossing it at her. "Here. Dry off before you start floating my furniture."

Una caught it, glaring but then she smiled too. "I mean it, Lana. It's real. The water moved. And I think it was because of this." She lifted the old book slightly, almost reverently.

Lana's laughter quieted a bit. "The creepy witch diary?"

"It's not a diary," Una said, hugging it again. "It's... something else. I don't even know how to explain it. But when I read it, it felt like I knew what it was saying. Like the words were talking to me."

Lana stared at her for a long moment, half skeptical, half curious. Then she sighed and flopped onto the couch again.

"Okay," she said, patting the spot beside her. "Sit. Start from the top. And don't leave anything out. I want the full freaky details."

Una sat, still clutching the book.

As she began to tell Lana everything, the pull to the library, the flickering eyes, the symbols and Aunt Reina's reaction. As Lana listened, her usual humour dimmed little by little.

And by the time Una was done, the laughter had faded from her face completely.

"Okay," Lana said slowly, glancing at the book. "You're right. That's... not normal."

Una exhaled shakily, sinking deeper into the couch. "Yeah. Welcome to my new normal."

Lana sat there for a while, just watching Una's face. The book was still on Una's lap, heavy and old, its edges slightly wet from the lake water. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them felt tight.

Finally, Lana cleared her throat. "Okay... so what now?"

Una blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what are you going to do about all this?" Lana asked, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees. "You said your aunt freaked out the second she saw that book, right? Like, that wasn't normal. That wasn't oh-my-niece-is-reading-weird-books freaking out. That was something else."

Una nodded slowly, her fingers tracing the edges of the cover. "Yeah. It was like she recognized it. The look in her eyes..." She shook her head. "It scared me. I've never seen her look that way before. Not at me, not at anything."

"Exactly," Lana said, sitting back. "So what if she actually knows something? Like, really knows? Maybe this whole thing isn't random. Maybe she's been hiding something from you."

Una frowned. "You think Aunt Reina's hiding something? Like what, Lana? You think she's secretly part of some underground magic club?"

Lana gave her a look. "Well, you're the one moving water and glowing in libraries. I'm just trying to keep up."

Una rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "Fair point."

Lana sighed and looked at her again. "But seriously, Una. You can't just pretend none of this is happening. You said it yourself you've been feeling weird for weeks, animals reacting to you, trees moving, that cup thing at the café. Something's going on, and your aunt's reaction... that can't be a coincidence."

Una looked down, her thumb brushing a damp corner of the book. The old pages seemed to hum faintly under her hand, like they were alive and listening.

"I don't know," she said softly. "Part of me wants to just forget it, act like it never happened. But another part..." She paused. "Another part of me wants to know the truth. Like, what if I'm not just imagining things? What if there's something about me I don't know?"

Lana tilted her head. "So, you're gonna talk to her?"

Una hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I think I will. I mean, I can't just sit around pretending I'm normal if I'm not, right?"

Lana smirked. "You were never that normal anyway."

Una chuckled, shaking her head. "Thanks."

"So what are you gonna ask her?"

Una thought for a second. "I don't know... I guess I'll just start with the truth. I'll ask her what she knows. Maybe she's just trying to protect me or something. Maybe there's a reason she's been acting strange. But I'm done pretending I don't notice it."

Lana nodded slowly, her playful expression softening. "You're serious about this."

"I am," Una said, her voice steady now. "If there's something she's hiding... I want to know. I deserve to know."

Lana reached out and squeezed her hand gently. "Then I guess we're doing this together."

Una looked at her. "We?"

Lana shrugged. "Of course. You think I'm letting my best friend go all witchy and dramatic alone? Nah, I'm in this mess too now."

That made Una smile, a real one this time. "You sure you're ready for that?"

Lana grinned. "As long as it doesn't involve glowing eyes or haunted books trying to eat me, I'm good."

They both laughed, but the laughter faded quickly, leaving only the sound of the clock ticking softly on the wall. Una's gaze drifted to the book again.

She didn't say it out loud, but deep down she already knew, whatever answers Aunt Reina had been hiding wouldn't stay buried much longer.

The drive home was quiet. The sun was dipping low behind the trees, painting everything in shades of gold and orange. Lana kept glancing at Una from the passenger seat. Neither of them really said much. They both knew what they were about to do and maybe neither of them felt completely ready for it.

When they finally pulled up in front of the house, the lights inside were already on. The windows glowed softly against the dim evening, and a faint smell of herbs drifted out through the slightly open kitchen window.

Una frowned. "She's been cooking."

"Guess she knew we were coming," Lana said, forcing a small laugh.

Una tried to smile back but couldn't. Her hands were cold, and she didn't know why. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was something else.

They stepped into the house, and the warmth of it hit them. It smelled like home, but also different. Something earthy and sweet, mixed with a strange sharp scent that almost made the back of her throat burn.

"Una, you're home," Aunt Reina's voice came from the kitchen, calm and welcoming as always. "And Lana too. You should join us for dinner, dear."

Lana blinked, surprised. "Uh, sure. That sounds great."

Reina smiled at them as she stirred something in the pot. "You girls must be tired. Sit down. I made stew."

Una exchanged a quick glance with Lana. The table was already set, and there were two bowls waiting. Everything looked so normal - too normal.

They sat, and Reina served them with her usual gentle hands. But something about her eyes made Una's stomach twist. There was kindness there, but also... something else. Something hidden.

While the two girls ate, upstairs, a faint humming began to rise. The kind that wasn't meant for human ears. The room above them - Aunt Reina's room, was filled with candles. The flames flickered in rhythm with her low, melodic chant. The air shimmered faintly, the scent of burning sage and sea salt mixing with the night breeze.

Her voice was soft but powerful, weaving through the smoke like it carried weight. It wasn't just words, it was old magic. The kind that came from deep places.

She had already laid out what she needed: the herbs, the small bowl of saltwater, and the silver charm she always wore when she performed spells. Her hands moved slowly as she whispered, her eyes closed.

"Sleep the spark, calm the storm.

Quiet the power that wakes with dawn.

Let her heart forget, let her soul be still.

For truth brings death, and silence is will."

Una smiled faintly, though she couldn't help but feel something stir inside her. The melody wasn't just pleasant, it was thick, almost heavy. Her chest grew warm, her thoughts drifting like mist.

She blinked a few times, trying to stay focused, but the song was like a slow tide pulling her mind under. And soon enough, she joined the humming but stopped a few seconds later.

They ate quietly after that, and even Lana who never ran out of words had settled into the rhythm of it. By the time they were done, the house felt... different. Brighter. Too bright.

Lana stretched, licking her spoon.

"Okay, we've eaten, we've rested, now," She turned to Una with that look that always meant "Let's do this. "It's time we talk to your aunt. About everything. About the magic, the book, the lake..."

Una frowned.

"What?"

Lana laughed, thinking she misheard. "The book, Una. The weird glowing thing you found at the library? The one that made water dance? You said we were coming here to..."

"What are you talking about?" Una interrupted softly.

Her voice wasn't angry, just distant. As if the words themselves didn't make sense. She looked at Lana, searching her face for meaning. But all she found there was shock.

"Una," Lana said slowly, setting her spoon down. "You said... you moved water. You said you were scared, that Aunt Reina was acting strange. You...you really don't remember?"

Una stared down at her hands. Her fingers trembled slightly. There was a faint smell of herbs clinging to her skin and something else, something like burnt wax.

She tried to remember the lake, the laughter, the way her heart raced, but all she could see was a blur of water and light. Nothing clear. Nothing solid.

"I don't..." She swallowed. "I don't remember saying that."

Lana blinked, her face growing serious. "That's... that's really creepy, Una."

Across the table, Aunt Reina appeared at the doorway, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

"Everything alright, girls?" she asked, her tone calm, too calm.

Lana looked from her to Una. "Yeah, fine," she said slowly.

Una nodded, but her eyes stayed fixed on her aunt. For a moment, just a moment - she could've sworn she saw the faintest flicker of blue light pass across Reina's pupils, like a reflection of something unseen.

She blinked and it was gone.

The air suddenly felt colder.

And deep inside, beneath the fading hum of her aunt's song, Una could feel it - something had been taken.

She just didn't know what, or how much but Lana knew what...

It had been about three weeks since that weird evening with Aunt Reina.

Lana hadn't really talked to Una since then. At first, Una thought she was just busy, but when her texts went unanswered and the few times they crossed paths at school Lana barely said more than a "hey," she knew something was wrong.

Una hated the quiet between them. They'd always talked about everything, school gossip, random crushes, random TikTok nonsense. Now, it was just awkward smiles and short replies. It didn't feel like them anymore.

So one afternoon, Una decided she was done waiting.

Lana was sitting on the bench behind the cafeteria, scrolling through her phone with her earphones in when Una walked up to her.

"Hey," Una said carefully. "You've been avoiding me."

Lana looked up, pulling one earphone out. "Avoiding you? No. Just... giving space."

"Why?" Una frowned. "Did I do something?"

Lana sighed, placing her phone down. "You really don't remember, do you?"

Una blinked. "Remember what?"

"That day," Lana said, "when you came to me talking about weird things happening around you. You literally said you were moving water and that your aunt was acting strange. We planned to talk to her, Una. And then, out of nowhere, you acted like I made the whole thing up."

Una stared at her, stunned. "Lana, I swear, I don't remember saying that. I thought you were mad about something else."

Lana scoffed softly. "Well, it made me feel like I was crazy for believing you."

"I'm sorry," Una said, her voice soft. "I really am. I don't even understand half the things happening to me lately. But I didn't mean to make you feel stupid."

Lana looked at her for a while before her lips curved into a small grin. "Alright, apology accepted. But next time you decide to start moving cups and water like Elsa, give me a heads-up."

Una laughed, shaking her head. "Promise."

It felt good to laugh again. The weirdness between them melted away just a little.

But as their laughter died down, Una hesitated, then asked quietly, "Can you... Tell me what actually happened that day? From the start? Because I can't remember a thing. It's blank."

Lana tilted her head. "You really want to know?"

Una nodded. "Everything."

"Okay," Lana said, sitting up. "We got to your house. Your aunt smiled at us like she always does, and told us to sit down. Then she offered us food, that stew she makes with all those herbs. You even joked about how it smells like she's cooking an entire garden."

Una frowned slightly. "Yeah... I kind of remember that."

"Well," Lana continued, "after we started eating, she went upstairs. Then, a few minutes later, she started humming. You know, that soft tune she hums sometimes? I even teased her. I said, 'Okay, go Shakira!'" Lana chuckled, then her tone softened. "But then something changed. You froze for a bit. Just listening. Then you started humming along too."

Una blinked, startled. "I... what?"

"Yeah. You were literally humming the same song. At first, I thought it was just cute, but then you looked far away. Like, your eyes were open, but you weren't there. It freaked me out."

Una's skin prickled. "Lana, that's... really creepy."

"I know," she said. "And then when we were done eating, I told you, 'Okay, let's talk to your aunt now,' and you turned to me, totally blank, and said, 'What conversation?' Just like that."

Una exhaled, her voice trembling. "That's impossible."

"It happened, Una. I remember it like it was yesterday."

There was a pause before Lana continued. "I know it sounds crazy, but maybe your aunt... did something."

Una swallowed hard. "You mean like magic?"

"I mean something," Lana said. "I started doing my own research after that day. Because, honestly, the way you were humming and then forgot everything? It screamed creepy vibes. I went online and found stories about siren songs, you know, how they can control or erase memories. Like Bianca in the Wednesday series..."

Una's breath hitched. "Now you're the one allowing freak characters to get to you. You think Aunt Reina used one on me?"

"I don't know. But it fits." Lana leaned in. "And that's not all. Remember that creepy book? You dropped it that day before you ran out. I kept it. I looked through it. Googled some of the symbols. I even went to the library to ask that weird librarian. He nearly chased me out."

"What did he say?" Una asked quickly.

"Nothing. Just told me I shouldn't be messing with things I do not understand and are clearly not my business. Which, honestly, only made me dig deeper," Lana said, pulling out her phone. "And I found this."

She scrolled for a second and then turned her screen toward Una.

It was a photo of a wide, mist-covered campus with old stone buildings surrounded by tall pines and a thin fog rolling over the ground. Under it was a name in faded gold letters:

"University of Ardenvale."

"What's this?" Una asked softly.

"It's a university," Lana explained, "but it's got a department for mystical studies, mythology, and folklore. Apparently, some of the students there research old legends, strange abilities, stuff like that. I even found this article by a girl who said she used to have weird things happen to her like flickering eyes, things moving around her - kind of like you. She studied there for a few years and said she finally understood herself."

Una's fingers brushed the screen, her heartbeat thudding in her ears. "She... wrote that?"

"Yeah," Lana nodded. "She said Ardenvale helped her make sense of things. And, well, the place itself has a reputation. Some say it's haunted, others say it's just... different. The kind of place where weird things don't feel that weird anymore."

Una didn't answer. She couldn't.

Because as she stared at the photo on Lana's phone, her chest tightened.

Something inside her stirred - like the ground beneath her shifted. It was the same feeling she had when she picked that old book at the library.

Her fingers trembled. The edges of the photo seemed to blur for a second, and the faint sound of running water echoed faintly in her ears though there was no stream nearby. The air felt heavier.

And suddenly, she whispered, almost to herself,

"I know this place."

Lana blinked. "What?"

Una's voice was barely a breath. "I've been there... I've seen this before."

Lana blinked. "What do you mean you know it? You've never been there."

"I don't know," Una said, shaking her head. "I just... I've seen it before. Somewhere."

"Maybe in a dream?" Lana teased, trying to lighten the air. "Or one of those random YouTube documentaries you binge at 2 a.m.?"

But Una didn't laugh. Her fingers hovered over the phone, trembling slightly.

The image seemed to hum. Like the gate itself was calling her name.

"Lana," she said softly, not taking her eyes off the screen. "Something's not right about this place... and I think it's calling me."

A loud thunderclap just once but enough to make both girls freeze.

Lana gave a nervous laugh. "Okay, that was... weird timing."

But Una couldn't hear her. Her gaze was still fixed on the gate, her reflection warped against the phone screen. The air felt heavier, and the scent of sulfur and ancient wood smoke (like the trauma in her dreams) flooded her senses for a split second.

​

And somewhere, deep in the static silence that followed, she thought she heard a voice-faint, distant, and hauntingly familiar whisper the name.

"Nevera..."

Una lifted her head, her eyes bright and resolute. "I have to go there, Lana. Now."

​Lana's eyes widened. "Now? Una, school just started!"

​"I can't stay here knowing my life is a secret my aunt is actively hiding," Una stated, grabbing her friend's hands. "If that place is the only way I can make sense of these, then I am not taking chances. Help me apply, Lana. I am going to Ardenvale."