A young female sat in the College of Magic, in the Grandmaster's private laboratory. Her face was tense with concentration as she carefully let the mist energy from the container flow into a small glass sphere she held in her hand. Slowly, very slowly... That's the hardest part, just a little more and I'll— Suddenly, she felt a surge of energy coursing through her. Her hair stood on end, the pressure of the magic overwhelming her senses. Before she could react, the sphere slipped from her hand, and in a flash, it exploded, releasing a thin cloud of pink mist that dissipated quickly into the air.
A firm but gentle voice interrupted the silence. "Careful, Jessica. You know we don't have a lot left." Jessica blushed and lowered her gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry, Grandmaster. I... I felt a strong disturbance in the mist... A burst of energy like I've never felt before." She tucked a strand of strawberry-blonde hair behind her ear and cocked her head, as if listening to something beyond the room.
The Grandmaster stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he observed the remnants of the experiment. After a moment, he spoke, his voice measured. "Jessica, put all experiments on hold. If you feel any other disturbances, report to me immediately." The old man stood and walked toward the massive oak door, his steps echoing softly in the quiet room. He paused momentarily, then added, almost as an afterthought, "I have preparations to make."
***
The black-gloved hand withdrew, dark oily tendrils of smoke trailing behind, leaving a gaping wound on the body. The blood-stained corpse lay motionless, a puddle of red slowly spreading beneath it. There were faint swirls of pink mist around the dead man, drifting away, carrying the final traces of life with them. The black-clothed man tilted his head. This one was weak... or was he? The thought lingered, a flicker of uncertainty cutting through his usual confidence. It was becoming harder to tell. He straightened, satisfied, the distraction had been dealt with swiftly. His task was far from over, but at least this small nuisance had been removed.
As he prepared to move on, he cocked his head, listening for any new disturbances. Another one? The magic felt stronger, but erratic. He sighed. These inconveniences were only delaying his true objective. Well, I'm already here. No point in sending someone else now. His eyes closed as he concentrated, sensing the magic's source. He smiled faintly. It was in the same direction he was headed. No detour necessary. He turned and strode toward the road where a large black carriage waited.
"Driver, let's go. Toward the College of Magic."
***
Oblivious to the events unfolding elsewhere, Jake reached the city by nightfall. His priority was to get rid of some stolen goods. The usual market was busy, and his items fetched him a decent amount of coins. He booked a room in a cheap inn.
Sitting on the bed, he took the jewel out of his pocket and stared at it. "Not one event since that night... Are you broken now?" The stone remained silent. He lay back on the bed, inspecting it again. The faint pink glow had completely faded. Jake clenched the artefact in his fist, threw it, and caught it again. He even tried to bite it. Nothing. "I hope I haven't imagined all of it… No, scratch that… I hope I imagined all of it." Being insane seems the lesser of two evils. Jake sighed. Why had the jewel gone dormant? Was it because he was doing what it wanted? Returning to the College? Was it part of a sophisticated anti-theft spell? Maybe it had a mind of its own, and as long as Jake brought it where it wanted to go, it would leave him be, stop torturing him.
The next day, Jake made his way to the park. He found a bench under a large oak tree and sat down, taking in the peaceful scene before him. The city felt strangely calm this early. He pulled out a small piece of bread and began eating slowly, his thoughts distant. His gaze landed on the College of Magic, its massive structure crowned by a single round tower looming over the streets. A feeling of unease stirred within him as he stared at the imposing walls of the College. Now what? he thought, pursing his lips. Should I just knock on the door and ask why the magic jewel I stole from them is malfunctioning?