Luma's thoughts lingered on the boy who had appeared in the clearing. What was that device he carried? How did it silence the air, freeze time in its tracks?
Ion watched her closely, sensing the quiet storm of questions brewing in her mind.
"You're thinking about the Seeker's device," he said, breaking the silence.
Luma nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration. "How did it work? I could feel the world stop—everything froze. Was it magic?"
Ion smiled softly, shaking his head. "There's no magic here. Only science. The device he used was based on controlling vibrations and air pressure. It created a standing wave—a kind of interference pattern—where the usual movements of air and sound canceled each other out. What you felt wasn't time stopping. It was everything around you being held in place."
Luma looked at him, her mind racing. "So it was like… the wind and sound waves were 'frozen'?"
"Yes. Time doesn't really stop, Luma. It's a steady flow. But when you cancel the movement of particles, like air or sound, it creates the illusion of stillness."
She chewed on that for a moment. "So… physics can make things seem like magic?"
Ion laughed, a rare sound that softened his usually stern demeanor. "Physics is the closest thing we have to magic, but it's all about understanding the forces of the world. What might seem impossible now—like stopping time—becomes clearer once you understand how waves and energy work."
Luma's mind wandered again, but this time, she didn't immediately ask more questions. Instead, she turned toward Ion. "How about you? You've never told me where you come from. I know you're a teacher, but... who are you, really?"
Ion paused for a long moment. His eyes seemed to search the horizon, as if considering how much to reveal.
"I was once like you," he began, his voice quiet but heavy. "A student, eager to learn. I come from a place far from here—a village much like the one you've known. My last name is Amin, which means 'steadfast.'"
Luma tilted her head, intrigued. "Amin? And why did you leave your home?"
Ion's gaze turned distant, and for a moment, Luma felt she was losing him to memories. "The pursuit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. I was sent to the Tower to study, but it was there that I learned about the Masters of Entropy. Their hunger for control over the laws of nature—it twisted my path. I left to prevent them from continuing their experiments."
Luma was quiet for a while. The stories she'd heard of the Masters of Entropy were whispered among elders, but they seemed more like legends than truths.
"But why me? Why bring me on this journey?"
Ion looked at her directly now. "Because, Luma, you are the key. The Masters believe the laws of physics can be broken—bent to their will. You were born with an innate understanding of the world's true principles, even if you don't realize it yet. The way you understand patterns in nature—that's what makes you a rare talent. I need you to learn what they cannot control."
Luma's eyes widened. "I'm just… me."
Ion smiled gently. "And that is why you are more than they will ever be. You're not bound by their need to control, Luma. You see things with clarity. But it will take time. I can teach you how to use your knowledge. To defend yourself and the world."
Luma stood up, her heart pounding with the weight of the journey ahead. "Then I will learn. I will be ready."
Ion nodded, and for the first time, Luma saw the smallest glimmer of hope in his eyes.