Ewelin moved her hand gracefully through the air, her eyes closed in serene concentration, each motion steady yet gentle. Meanwhile, Enyora found herself lost in her own whimsical thoughts. 'What would a man look like if he became a weaver?' she mused, a playful smile creeping onto her lips. The image danced in her mind—a rugged figure trying to master such delicate movements, making them appear almost comical. The gentleness of Ewelin's actions sparked a giggle from Enyora, as she imagined the amusing spectacle.
“Does that mean you’ve memorized the movement?” Ewelin inquired, her voice breaking through Enyora's reverie as she gracefully halted her demonstration.
“Ah?” Enyora responded, confusion evident in her tone as she blinked rapidly, pulling herself back to the present. “The movement is quite simple, isn’t it?” Ewelin encouraged, her eyes sparkling with warmth as she walked over to the table and lifted a delicate cup of tea.
A wave of uncertainty washed over Enyora. Had she truly memorized it? she pondered. Slowly, she made her way to the center of the room, glancing nervously at Ewelin, who remained silent, her expression a gentle encouragement—a small smile paired with a reassuring nod.
With a deep breath, Enyora steadied herself, feeling the weight of the moment. She focused on Ewelin's serene demeanor, striving to embody the same grace. The air felt thick with anticipation as she prepared to attempt the movement, yearning to capture the elegance that Ewelin effortlessly displayed.
Enyora inhaled deeply, a tremor coursing through her as she felt Ewelin's piercing gaze upon her. With a flutter of nerves, she brought her hands together and began to move them gracefully through the air. When she finally opened her eyes, she was met with Ewelin’s expression of disapproval, a shadow of disappointment flickering across her features.
“Good, but you can do better,” Ewelin remarked, her voice steady yet firm as she set her teacup down with a soft clink against the table. The gentle warmth that once enveloped their interactions now felt replaced by a steely resolve. “It may take time, but I assure you, the results will be worth the effort,” she added, her tone encouraging yet laced with an unyielding expectation.
Enyora's heart raced at the implications of Ewelin’s words. “You must train diligently every day. Come again tomorrow, and you will practice from dawn until the moon graces the sky.” Ewelin instructed, her voice unwavering. “Do not cease until you have perfected it.”
Shock washed over Enyora like a sudden storm. The first time they had met, Ewelin had exuded warmth and kindness, her demeanor inviting and nurturing. Yet now, a stark transformation had taken place; the gentle mentor had morphed into a strict taskmaster, demanding nothing less than excellence. Enyora could hardly process the shift, her mind racing as she grappled with the challenge laid before her.
In the days that followed, Enyora immersed herself in rigorous training, pausing only for brief respites to eat or attend to her needs. Ewelin remained a steadfast presence, watching her intently for hour upon hour. Her remarks pierced through Enyora’s concentration like arrows, each one a sharp reminder of her perceived inadequacies. “You move like a mannequin,” she would critique, her tone devoid of warmth. “Your movements lack the necessary gentleness.” And on particularly tough days, Ewelin would bluntly ask, “Why are you so bad at this?” 
But the sharpest barbs came when Ewelin turned her gaze to Enyora’s physique. “You’re far too skinny,” she would declare, her eyes narrowing as if appraising a fragile piece of art. “You look almost like a skeleton.” Each comment stung, leaving Enyora feeling exposed and vulnerable. She had come to learn, to hone her skills, not to bear the weight of body shaming. As days melted into weeks, and weeks into a month, Enyora found herself trapped in a cycle of frustration. With only minor improvements to show for her efforts, Ewelin’s irritation mounted, compounding the stress that already clouded Enyora’s mind.
On this particular day, Ewelin had a meeting at the academy and instructed Enyora to train alone. Standing by the riverbank, Enyora resumed her practice, the tranquil sound of water flowing nearby juxtaposed against her internal turmoil. She focused intently on controlling the plants around her, yet with every attempt, she felt the same emptiness; no progress came, and her frustration simmered just below the surface.
“Enyora!!” a familiar voice called out, breaking through her concentration. She turned to see the triplets approaching her, their smiles bright and infectious. 
“You’re training here alone?” Aelora asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Can’t you see the other students with me?” Enyora shot back, her tone laced with sarcasm, a thin veneer over her mounting frustration.
Aelora burst into laughter, her cheerful demeanor unfazed. “Ahhahahah! That’s funny! You’re funny!” she exclaimed, her laughter ringing like chimes in the gentle breeze. 
For a brief moment, Enyora found herself softening at Aelora’s infectious joy, the weight of her struggles momentarily lifted by the lightness of the triplet’s spirit.
“It seems like you’re struggling a bit,” Aeliana observed, her brow furrowing with concern.
“Not just a bit; I’m struggling a lot,” Enyora replied, her voice tinged with frustration.
“We can help you!” Aelith exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.
“Please do,” Enyora welcomed, her heart lifting at the prospect of support.
“Okay. The first thing you need to do is empty your mind. Release yourself from any stress,” Aelith instructed, her tone gentle yet encouraging. Enyora offered a smile that lacked any real emotion, merely nodding; she was already drowning in stress.
“Then let the magic in your veins flow,” Aelith continued, her hands moving with fluid grace as she wove a thread of water. With an elegant flick, she released it into the river, causing it to freeze in an instant. “See? It’s easy!” Aelith declared, beaming with pride before gesturing for Aelora to demonstrate her magic.
Aelora stepped forward, effortlessly weaving a thread of fire around her, the flames dancing merrily in the air. With a swift motion, she directed the fire toward the frozen water, causing it to melt and resume its gentle flow. 
Next was Aeliana’s turn. She wove the air around them, and soon a playful blast of wind circled the group, causing their hair to dance wildly. Laughter erupted among them, the tension in the atmosphere dissipating like the wind itself as it eventually died down. 
“Now it’s your turn, Enyora!” Aeliana grinned, her eyes sparkling with encouragement.
Enyora nodded, though she felt a flutter of uncertainty. Not expecting much, she moved her hands as if she were truly weaving. To her astonishment, the ground beneath her trembled slightly. Her jaw nearly dropped in disbelief as she looked at the triplets, excitement flooding her being. “I did it! Did you girls feel that? The ground was shaking a bit!”
The triplets nodded enthusiastically, matching her exhilaration. “Great job! How about we do something even more exciting?” Aelora suggested, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Let’s turn that huge tree into a magical tree!” She pointed to a magnificent tree, its broad trunk and sprawling branches standing tall against the sky.
“How are we supposed to do that?” Enyora questioned, skepticism creeping into her voice.
“By combining our magic!” Aelora replied, her confidence unyielding.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” Enyora hesitated, doubt clouding her mind.
“If we don’t try, how will we ever know if it works?” Aelora challenged, a playful wink accompanying her words. “Come on, I promise my fire won’t destroy the tree.”
With a shared resolve, the four of them stood side by side, their hearts aligned in purpose. They began to move their hands in sync, a beautiful choreography of magic unfolding. Enyora focused intently, nurturing the branches and leaves of the tree, watching in awe as they blossomed and grew. 
Aelora then sent her fire toward the newly sprouted leaves, and true to her word, the flames danced without burning. Next, Aelith stepped in, weaving her magic to freeze the leaves, transforming them into glistening crystals that sparkled in the sunlight. Finally, Aeliana summoned a gentle breeze that swirled around the tree, making the leaves shimmer and emit a soft, twinkling sound—a melody of magic.
Together, they had created something extraordinary, a testament to their friendship and the boundless possibilities of their combined magic.
They stood together, basking in the glow of their creation, awe sparkling in their eyes. “It worked!!!” Aelora exclaimed, clapping her hands with unrestrained joy. “This is going to be our spot now—the Tree of Magic!” She announced, her excitement infectious.
However, their jubilant atmosphere shattered abruptly when Ewelin appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her face flushed with anger. “What is this! What have you girls done?!” she screamed, her voice sharp and filled with horror.
“It’s a Tree of Magic, Grandma—just like the one in Father’s book,” Aelora replied, her tone defiant yet innocent.
“No! Do you understand the consequences of your actions?! The weavers will all be connected to this tree! Soon, they will come here, and the entire kingdom will be flooded with them!” Ewelin’s voice rose in pitch, panic lacing her words.
“I don’t see the problem here. They’ll be safe here,” Aelora defended, her brows furrowing in determination.
“You don’t understand! Among them are traitors! They will bring the witch hunters here!” Ewelin retorted, her voice trembling with urgency. Then, turning to Enyora, she commanded, “Leave this kingdom now.”
Enyora rolled her eyes, frustration boiling within her. It wasn’t as if Ewelin had truly helped her improve her magic; she had merely taught her the movements, devoid of any real guidance. Just as she was about to walk away, Aeliana grasped her hand, her gaze fierce and unwavering as it remained fixed on their grandmother. “If she leaves, we go with her,” Aeliana declared, her two sisters standing resolutely beside her.
“We’re tired of you controlling our lives,” Aelith added, her voice steady but filled with emotion.
Ewelin bit her lip in anger, clearly taken aback by their united front. “Do not forget that your mother is still with me,” she warned, her tone dark and foreboding. The triplets hesitated, exchanging glances filled with uncertainty and concern before casting Enyora a sad look.
With a final, furious glance at the Tree of Magic, Ewelin screamed one last time, “You better change that!” Then, in a whirlwind of frustration, she stormed away, leaving the four girls in a heavy silence.
“I’m sorry, Enyora. We can’t do anything…” Aelith murmured apologetically, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s alright,” Enyora assured them, though her heart felt heavy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever Ewelin was doing to their mother was far from benevolent, and the weight of that knowledge pressed down on her.
Caius and his family were not home when Enyora went to pack her belongings. A sense of relief washed over her; she couldn’t bear to face their questions at that moment. She penned a heartfelt letter of farewell, expressing her gratitude for all they had done for her and wishing them a good life. With a heavy heart, she hoped they would remember her fondly, even as she prepared to step into an uncertain future.