I'm standing in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by tall trees that whisper secrets to each other as they sway in the wind. Caleb is next to me, his eyes fixed on my trembling hands. My palms are sweaty, and I can feel my heart beating so hard I'm sure he can hear it too.
"Emma," he says, his voice low and steady, "you have to focus."
I nod, but my concentration is shot. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. This is not the time to panic. I need to master this spell, no matter how difficult it seems.
I close my eyes and picture the glowing orb of light I want to conjure. It's small at first, barely visible, but I imagine it is growing larger, brighter until it pulses with energy right above my outstretched hand.
When I open my eyes, there's nothing there. Just empty spa
