The more Tayo practiced the wild energy with Lyra, the more sensitive he became. He could feel the energy not just in the grove, but even when he was back in the city. He could feel how the city's energy was thin and controlled compared to the wild energy outside. And sometimes, he felt other things too.
One afternoon, as he was walking through a less busy part of the garden on his way to the grove, he felt that cold, sharp feeling again – the feeling of being watched. It wasn't just a feeling this time. He stopped and looked around slowly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow move behind a thick tree. It wasn't just a shadow; it was too dark, too solid. Someone was there.
Tayo quickly stepped behind a large statue, trying to look like he was just admiring it. He used his new sense to feel the energy. He felt the garden's energy, the wild energy of the grove calling him, and the thin energy of the city reaching out from the main house. But he also felt another energy signature, different from the garden, different from the house. It felt... cold and hard. Like metal.
He waited, hidden. The shadow didn't move for a long time. Tayo's heart was beating fast. Were they the guards from before? Were they looking for him? For Lyra? For the wild energy? After what felt like forever, the cold energy moved away, slowly, quietly. Tayo stayed hidden until he was sure they were gone.
When he finally reached the grove, Lyra saw his face and knew something was wrong. He told her about the shadow, about the cold energy he felt. Lyra's face became serious. "That sounds like the city's watchers," she whispered. "They use metal-infused energy to track things. They are looking for something. Or someone."
The peaceful grove suddenly felt less safe. Their secret was more than just a forbidden practice now. It felt like a target. The city, which feared the wild energy, was starting to look for it, and for those who connected with it.