As the evening wore on, Arinthal's expression turned serious, and she leaned forward, her eyes locked onto Aria's. "Tomorrow morning, at dawn, I want you to meet me back here at the cottage," she said, her voice low and mysterious. "We'll begin your training in earnest, and I'll teach you how to harness the Echoes' power."
Aria nodded, her mind racing with anticipation and a touch of fear. She had so many questions, but before she could ask any of them, Arinthal raised her hand, and her eyes seemed to glaze over.
The room began to blur, and Aria felt a strange sensation wash over her, like she was being pulled apart and put back together again. She tried to speak, to ask what was happening, but her voice was trapped in her throat.
When the world came back into focus, Aria found herself standing in her own small apartment, drenched from the rain that had been falling outside. She looked around, disoriented, wondering if it had all been a dream. Had she really met Lyrien and Arinthal, or was it just her imagination playing tricks on her?
Aria stumbled through her apartment, trying to make sense of what had happened. She felt like she was walking through a fog, unsure of what was real and what wasn't. She looked down at her hand, and the symbol on her palm seemed to pulse with a life of its own, reminding her that it had all been real.
As she stood there, trying to process the events of the past few hours, Aria couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine. She looked at the clock on her wall, and her heart skipped a beat. It was already late at night, and she was supposed to meet Arinthal at dawn.
Aria's mind was racing with questions. Had Arinthal really sent her back to her apartment through some kind of magic? And what did she mean by "training" and "harnessing the Echoes' power"? Aria felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she had no idea what she was getting herself into.
As she stood there, the rain continued to fall outside, drumming against the windows and the roof. Aria felt like she was standing at the edge of a precipice, staring into an unknown future. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
She knew she had to get some rest, to prepare herself for whatever lay ahead. But as she lay down on her bed, Aria couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being pulled into a world beyond her own, a world of magic and mystery, where anything was possible.
The darkness closed in around her, and Aria's eyes drifted shut, her mind still racing with questions and doubts. But as she fell asleep, she knew that she would be back at the cottage at dawn, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
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As the night wore on, Aria's sleep was fitful, her dreams filled with images of the mysterious cottage, Lyrien's warm smile, and Arinthal's intense gaze. She woke up before dawn, feeling a sense of anticipation and nervousness. The darkness outside was slowly giving way to a faint light, and Aria knew she had to get moving.
She quickly got dressed, her hands moving automatically as her mind replayed the events of the previous day. She grabbed a light snack, her stomach churning with excitement and a touch of fear. As she stepped out into the pre-dawn darkness, the cool air hit her like a slap, and she shivered.
The walk to the cottage seemed longer than it had the day before, but Aria's determination kept her moving forward. When she arrived, the cottage was shrouded in a misty veil, and Aria felt a sense of mystery wash over her.
She knocked on the door, her heart pounding in her chest. Arinthal's voice called out, "Come in, Aria. We've got a long day ahead of us."
Aria pushed open the door, and a warm glow enveloped her. Arinthal was standing by the fire, a small smile on her face. Lyrien was nowhere to be seen, but Aria noticed a small note on the table with her name on it.
"Good morning," Arinthal said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Today, we begin your training. Are you ready?"
Aria took a deep breath, feeling a sense of resolve wash over her. She nodded, her voice firm. "I'm ready."
Arinthal's smile grew wider. "Excellent. Let's get started, then."
As Arinthal began to explain the intricacies of the Echoes' power, Aria felt a sense of wonder wash over her. She was about to embark on a journey that would change her life forever, and she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.