Chapter 62 – Finding the Source

Emily gave the girls a knowing smile. “Well, I’ll leave you two alone for now. And Sarah—don’t overwhelm my daughter with too many selfies, alright? She needs some rest too.” She winked playfully. “I’ll join you again when Jack gets home.”

Sarah grinned. “No promises, Mrs. Roth!”

As Emily disappeared into another room, Sarah turned her full attention back to Madelyn. “Sooo, what are we going to do now?” she asked, tilting her head with excitement. “Movie? Mario Kart? Something else? The possibilities are endless.”

Madelyn didn’t really know what she wanted to do, her mind flickering between countless thoughts. Her friends, Kim, the viral video, her dad’s meeting, Aeloria, herself and—maybe even the most confusing—how she felt around Sarah. Everything seemed to swirl together, leaving her restless. But amidst the chaos of her thoughts, a spark of an idea emerged.

The memory of last night—when she had transformed into a fox—lingered in her mind. The nightmare had made her feel lost, scared, and utterly alone. Lyra had explained that her body had reacted on its own, transforming her into her fox form. But what stood out even more was what had come after: waking up in Sarah’s arms.

Madelyn felt her cheeks heat up as she recalled how she had slept curled on Sarah’s chest. It was a strange feeling, one she wasn’t sure how to process. On one hand, the sensation of being so close to someone made her feel safe and comforted in a way she hadn’t expected. The warmth of Sarah’s embrace, her steady heartbeat beneath her, had been calming. On the other hand, it also made her painfully aware of how vulnerable she had been—yet, with Sarah, she found she didn’t mind. Being that vulnerable around her felt natural, even reassuring, in a way that surprised her.

She’d never admit it out loud, but despite the embarrassment, she hadn’t slept that comfortably in ages. Being near Sarah in such a way had felt… nice. Maybe a bit too nice.

Madelyn shook her head, trying to focus on the present as her ears twitched involuntarily at the memory. The blush on her face deepened, and she fidgeted slightly in her place. Still, the nagging question in her mind remained: Can I control my fox form? And if I can do that… what else is possible? Could I tap into other powers? The idea both excited and terrified her, the possibilities spiraling through her mind faster than she could keep up.

Madelyn glanced at Lyra, who was perched on the edge of the table, nibbling on a cookie crumb. Taking a deep breath, she spoke up, her voice hesitant but laced with curiosity. “Lyra… do you think I could learn to control it? The transformation, I mean. Yesterday, it just… happened. But what if I could do it again—only this time, because I wanted to?”

Lyra stopped mid-nibble, her tiny wings fluttering as she flew closer to Madelyn. “Yes, that should be possible,” she replied, her tone thoughtful. “I mean, it’s something that’s part of you—it’s also you, if that makes sense. But…” Lyra’s voice trailed off, and she tapped her chin as if searching for the right words. “I don’t know if you can do it now. Right now, most of your powers are tied almost completely to your emotions.”

Madelyn furrowed her brow, leaning forward slightly. “What do you mean? Like when I got angry in the game and transformed into a fox? Or last night, when everything got to be too much?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lyra nodded. “Yes, exactly. In the game, anger took over, making you strong and, well, pretty terrifying. Last night, you were emotionally overwhelmed—you felt lost, scared, and alone. Your body responded to those emotions, channeling them into that form. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn to control it.” She paused, her head tilting slightly. “Although… I’m not entirely sure why your body chose that form specifically. It’s not something I’ve seen before, even among powerful individuals like you—those connected to the divine or something greater. There might be something unique about you—or something we haven’t uncovered yet.”

Sarah, who had been quietly watching the conversation, perked up. “So you’re saying Maddy’s powers are basically driven by how she feels at the moment? Like magic fueled by emotions?”

“Pretty much,” Lyra said, tilting her head. “At least for now. But with practice, Maddy, you can learn to channel your abilities more intentionally. It’s a process of understanding yourself—your emotions, your instincts, and even the parts of you that feel wild and untamed.”

Madelyn chewed on her lip, considering Lyra’s words. “So… you can help me learn to control them?”

“I can guide you,” Lyra said with a gentle smile. “But most of it will come from within you. It’s about finding yourself—what feels right, what resonates deep in your soul. That’s where your true power lies.”

Sarah grinned, leaning forward excitedly. “So, what’s the first step? Can we try something now?”

Madelyn hesitated, a mix of anticipation and nervousness swirling within her. “Maybe… but what if I can’t do it? Or worse, what if I lose control again?”

Lyra fluttered closer, placing a tiny hand on Madelyn’s shoulder. “We’ll start small,” she reassured her. “No pressure, no expectations. Just explore what feels natural. That’s the first step to finding and using your powers.”

Madelyn nodded, her determination flickering to life. “Okay. Let’s try.”

Madelyn closed her eyes, trying to focus, though she wasn’t exactly sure what on. She took a deep breath, searching within herself for some sort of connection, a feeling, anything. After a few moments of stillness, she opened her eyes again, glancing at Lyra with a sheepish expression. “Ehm… what am I supposed to do?”

Lyra fluttered closer, her wings shimmering faintly in the soft light. “Well,” she began, “as a fairy, my powers may work a little differently. I have a kind of energy storage that fills up when I’m in sunlight, eating, or near places—or individuals—with a lot of excess power. So, being close to you, Maddy, actually gives me a huge boost of energy.”

“Wait, really?” Madelyn blinked, surprised. “Just me being around gives you power?”

“Exactly,” Lyra said with a small grin. “It’s like you’re this walking beacon of energy. And because you’re so closely tied to Aeloria, your power is immense—though right now, you’re only scratching the surface of what you’re truly capable of.”

Sarah leaned forward, her curiosity sparking. “So, how do you use that energy, Lyra? Like, do you just snap your fingers and poof—magic?”

Lyra chuckled, folding her tiny arms. “Not quite. I can feel how much energy I have in me. It’s instinctive, like a muscle I know how to flex. When I need to do something—like creating light, healing, or something simple like opening a door—it’s like I tap into that muscle and use what I need. It’s not infinite, of course. If I use too much without replenishing, I get exhausted.”

“That’s so cool,” Sarah said, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “What kind of things can you do, though? Like, what’s the full list of fairy tricks?”

Lyra laughed, fluttering in mid-air as she gestured dramatically. “Well, Sarah, you already know two of my powers. First, my ability to appear as a small flower—it’s not just for show; it’s actually cloaking magic. It lets me blend in and observe without drawing attention.”

“Okay, that’s sneaky,” Sarah said, grinning. “So you can be in Madelyn’s hair when she’s going out without anyone noticing. What’s the other one?”

Lyra’s expression turned a bit more serious, her glow softening. “The other one you saw last night,” she explained. “When Madelyn was panicking in her fox form while sleeping, I used a protective barrier spell. It surrounded her in a golden sphere and stabilized her emotions so she wouldn’t hurt herself or exhaust her energy further.”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “I knew it! You were talking in that weird language—that was you casting a spell?”

Lyra’s wings fluttered, and she tilted her head, her expression shifting to one of surprise. “Wait… you could actually hear what I said? That’s… strange. Most people can’t even perceive the language, let alone hear it. It’s an old, sacred language of magic—its resonance should be beyond human senses. That makes it even more impressive—and a little concerning—that you could pick up on it.”

Sarah practically bounced in place, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “Are you kidding me? That’s so cool! Does this mean I have magic too? Or, like, super ears? Or—wait, am I secretly part fairy or something?” She grinned, her excitement making her words tumble out in rapid-fire succession.

Madelyn’s frown deepened, her ears twitching uneasily. “Sarah… I don’t know if that’s something to be happy about. What if hearing it isn’t safe? What if it’s doing something to you?”

Sarah waved her off with a laugh. “Oh, come on, Maddy, it’s fine! I mean, nothing’s exploded yet, right?”

Lyra hovered between them, her expression still thoughtful. “It’s not necessarily dangerous,” she said slowly, “but it’s definitely unusual. It’s something we might want to keep an eye on… just in case.”

Madelyn’s gaze lingered on Sarah, her worry not entirely eased. “Still… maybe we should figure out why this is happening. If it’s connected to the magic, it might not just be random.” She hesitated for a moment, then added, “And if Sarah can hear it, does that mean she’s… affected by it too?”

Sarah waved a hand dismissively, though her grin was a little less certain now. “Affected how? Like I’m gonna sprout wings or start glowing? That could actually be pretty awesome—oh, unless it’s, like, something bad. Then, uh, not as awesome.”

Madelyn hesitated, her gaze flicking between Sarah and Lyra. The idea of Sarah being affected nagged at her, but another thought pushed its way to the front of her mind. Her ears twitched slightly as she turned her attention to Lyra. “Wait,” she said, curiosity edging into her voice, “so when you were casting that spell, you were using your own energy to help me?”

Lyra perched delicately on Madelyn’s head, her tiny wings fluttering as she spoke. “Well, yes and no. I did use my own energy, but most of it came from being near you. Your presence helps charge me, so in a way, it was kind of your energy too.” She crossed her arms with a playful huff. “And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. Your power is raw and overwhelming—it’s like trying to tame a wild storm.”

Madelyn’s expression softened. “Lyra, I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

Lyra waved a tiny hand dismissively. “Don’t be. That’s why I’m here—to help you. But,” she added with a pointed look, “you can’t keep relying on me every time. You’ve got to start learning how to harness your own power.”

Sarah nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, Maddy! Lyra’s right. If you can turn into a fox, imagine what else you could do!”

Madelyn hesitated, her hands fiddling with the hem of her dress. “I don’t even know where to start,” she admitted.

Lyra smiled warmly. “That’s what practice is for. Start small—focus on what feels natural. Your fox form, for instance. It’s already a part of you, and your emotions have triggered it before. With enough focus and patience, you should be able to call on it at will.”

Madelyn furrowed her brow, her mind racing to process Lyra’s advice. “So, I should try and find something within me, like your energy storage?” she asked cautiously. “And then focus on transforming into my fox form?”

Lyra nodded, hovering closer. “Yeah, that’s pretty much the idea, at least for me. But it may not be as easy as it sounds. For fairies, learning to control power like that can take years—sometimes decades. It requires patience, focus, and a lot of trial and error.” She paused, her gaze flicking to Madelyn with a thoughtful expression. “But you’re… Aeloria’s daughter. Unique in a way. I don’t know if that means you’ll take just as long, or if you might figure it out faster. It’s hard to say.”

“Okay,” Madelyn said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll try.”

She closed her eyes, doing her best to tune out the world around her. She tried to focus inward, searching for something—anything—that felt like the “energy storage” Lyra had described. Her breathing slowed as she concentrated, but even after a while, nothing happened. She felt... empty, like trying to grasp at smoke. Frustration bubbled up in her chest, and she felt her ears droop, her tail curling protectively against her.

“I can’t do it,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t feel anything.”

Before she could sink further into disappointment, Sarah wrapped her arms around her in a sudden side hug. The warmth of the gesture caught Madelyn off guard, and she turned her head to see Sarah smiling at her, her expression soft and reassuring.

“It’s okay, Maddy,” Sarah said, her voice gentle but firm. “Don’t push yourself so hard. You’re probably overthinking everything again. You always do that.”

Madelyn blinked, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in spite of herself. “I do not always overthink,” she replied, though her tone lacked conviction.

Sarah grinned. “You totally do. But that’s okay—it’s one of your charms. And maybe Lyra was right, and it can take a long time before you can manage to control your powers. So, why don’t we do something else for a bit, and you can try again later when you’re feeling more relaxed.”

Lyra nodded from her perch on Madelyn’s shoulder. “Sarah’s right. Magic is a lot like a muscle—you don’t need to strain it all at once. Sometimes, letting your mind rest can help things click into place naturally.”

Madelyn sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “Maybe you’re right,” she admitted, leaning into Sarah’s side just a bit. “It’s just... frustrating. I want to be able to do this.”

“And you will,” Sarah said, her voice brimming with certainty. “You’re already amazing, Maddy. This is just one more thing you’ll figure out. No rush.”

The encouragement wrapped around her like a warm blanket. “Thanks,” she said softly, looking between Sarah and Lyra. “You both are... really great.”

Sarah chuckled, giving her a playful squeeze. “I know. Now, come on—what should we do to distract you for a bit before your dad gets home and you can be cute and worried again? Mario Kart? Or maybe we could watch something? Your call.”

Madelyn’s ears twitched, and her face flushed a bit red. She wasn’t really sure how to feel about Sarah’s comment, but somehow, it didn’t bother her as much as she thought it might. Sarah always had a way of making things better, even if she said the strangest things.

“Mario Kart sounds good,” Madelyn mumbled, her tone softening as a hint of playfulness crept back. “But don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

“Easy on me? Oh, it’s on!” Sarah shot back, already springing to her feet. “Let’s see if you can finally beat me, Dancing Flame.”