Valentina walked through the narrow aisles of the library, looking for a quiet free place to study. She eventually found a secluded table near the advanced Essence Theory section. With a sigh of relief, she settled down and spread out her notes when she saw through a gap in the shelves that Professor Horne was sitting a few rows away, reading a book in a low murmur.

  "Why don't you take this opportunity, little Weaver?" purred Vyxara in her head. "Your Essence Listening could be very... insightful."

  Valentina hesitated, but curiosity finally won out. She closed her eyes and concentrated, allowing her senses to immerse themselves in the Essence around her.

  At first, she only heard the usual murmur of the students, trivial conversations about homework and the next visit to the Burning Quill. But then, very faintly, she heard the familiar voice of the professor. He was mumbling very quietly, but her ability made it sound as if he was speaking directly into her ear.

  "...slapped her buttocks hard..."

  Valentina's eyes widened in confusion.

  "...should never have started..."

  She stood up quietly and crept closer to the shelves, closer to Professor Horne, always careful not to be discovered. The voice became clearer.

  "...should end it, but I can't... this passion, this fire..."

  Professor Horne sounded agonized, his voice rough with suppressed emotion. Valentina could hardly believe what she was hearing. The stern, unapproachable Professor Horne, consumed by a forbidden passion?

  "...If anyone finds out, I'll be ruined.... but I can't stop..."

  "Oh, this is getting more and more interesting," Vyxara commented with amusement. "Who would have thought that the old professor had such juicy secrets?"

  Valentina leaned against a bookshelf, her head buzzing with questions. What exactly was Professor Horne hiding? And above all: with whom?

  Suddenly she heard footsteps approaching. Panicked, she scurried back to her table, her heart pounding in her throat. She picked up a book at random and pretended to be deeply engrossed in her reading.

  Professor Horne walked past her shelf. His appearance was slightly rumpled, his hair even more disheveled than usual, as if he had run his fingers through it several times in frustration. He glanced around nervously before leaving the library with quick steps towards the exit.

  Valentina exhaled with relief. She had barely avoided a discovery.

  "Now, now, little Weaver," Vyxara teased, "that was close. But tell me, aren't you terribly curious about what our good professor is hiding?"

  Valentina bit her lip. Yes, she was curious. Very much so. But was it right to pry into a professor's private affairs?

  "Remember," Vyxara continued, "knowledge is power. And the more you know, the better you can protect yourself... And maybe even take advantage of it."

  "I don't know," Valentina murmured quietly. "It feels wrong."

  "Wrong?" snorted Vyxara. "What's wrong about seeking the truth? Besides, who knows, maybe it's something illegal. Then wouldn't it even be your duty to find out?"

  Valentina frowned, sighed deeply and began to pack up her things. It was getting late and she desperately needed to get some sleep. But as she left the library, she couldn't stop thinking about Professor Horne's tortured words.

  When she reached her room, her head was full of jumbled thoughts. She knew she should concentrate on the Greystone competition, on her project. But Professor Horne's words were buzzing through her head.

  "You could find out, you know," Vyxara whispered seductively. "With your skills, it would be easy."

  Valentina lay down in bed, staring at the ceiling. She knew she should ignore it, concentrate on her own affairs. And yet...

  With a frustrated groan, she turned onto her side. She would think about it tomorrow. For now, she needed to get some sleep. But even as she fell into a fitful slumber, Professor Horne's words echoed in her head.

  ~

  The next day, Valentina found herself in the library again. She had arranged to meet Crispin to study together days ago, a routine they had been following for months. But today everything felt different.

  As Crispin approached, he stopped short, unsure. His eyes met Valentina's and for a moment there was a tense silence.

  "Hey," Valentina finally said, a shy smile on her lips.

  "Hey," Crispin replied. He sat down opposite her, his movements cautious, as if he feared she might run away if he made the wrong move.

  They began to unpack their books and notes, the silence interrupted only by the rustling of parchment and the occasional cough of a student at the next table.

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  "So," Crispin began hesitantly, "where should we start? Professor Emberfell's lecture?"

  Valentina nodded gratefully for the focus on academic topics. "Yes, that sounds good. I've had some difficulties."

  They immersed themselves in their studies, initially with exaggerated politeness and caution. But the longer they worked, the more the atmosphere relaxed. Slowly, they returned to their familiar dynamic, discussing theories and explaining complicated concepts to each other.

  "Isn't that reassuring?" whispered Vyxara in Valentina's head. "Nothing has to change if you don't want it to."

  Valentina smiled gently and continued to listen to Crispin's explanation of a particularly tricky Essence theory. His eyes lit up with enthusiasm, and for a moment she forgot all the complications of the last few days.

  "...and if you then combine the Leb-Essence with a touch of Z?t," Crispin explained eagerly, "then theoretically it should actually work, then you should be able to slow down the ageing process of plants!"

  "That's brilliant, Crispin!" Valentina exclaimed. Without thinking, she grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

  They both froze for a moment. Crispin's eyes widened slightly and Valentina felt a slight blush creep into her cheeks. She slowly withdrew her hand.

  "Sorry," she mumbled.

  "It's okay," Crispin said gently. He smiled, a little sadly, but full of warmth. "Val, I... I want you to know that nothing has changed for me. You're still my best friend."

  Valentina swallowed hard. She felt a lump in her throat, a blend of gratitude and guilt. "Crispin, I..."

  He raised his hand to interrupt her. "You don't have to say anything. I understand. I really do. I'm just glad that we... that we got to experience it together."

  She nodded, unable to speak. At that moment, she realized how much Crispin's friendship meant to her and how grateful she was that he was so understanding.

  "And yet you broke his heart," Vyxara teased her.

  Valentina shook her head slightly, as if to dispel Vyxara's voice. She turned her attention back to Crispin, who was now talking about his latest ideas for the Greystone competition.

  While he explained, she watched him more closely. She noticed the little signs – how his eyes kept wandering to her, how he unconsciously leaned towards her when he spoke. It was obvious that his feelings for her had not simply disappeared.

  A stab of guilt ran through her. Had she taken advantage of his feelings? No, she assured herself. She had told him the truth, right from the start. And yet...

  "Val? Are you all right?" Crispin asked worriedly. "You look so absent."

  Valentina forced herself to smile. "Yes, everything's fine. I was just thinking. Your ideas are really fascinating, Crispin."

  He blushed slightly at her praise, and Valentina felt a tinge of affection. Crispin was so good, so pure. So different from...

  She pushed the thought aside. Now was not the time to think about it.

  "Let's take a break," she suggested. "How about a walk through the garden?"

  Crispin's face brightened. "That sounds wonderful."

  As they packed up their things, Valentina felt something inside her relax. Yes, things had changed. Yes, there were secrets and complications. But here, with Crispin, she felt like herself again for a moment.

  They left the library, side by side, their steps in unison.

  "You know," Crispin said quietly as they strolled along the path, "I'm really glad we're friends, Val. No matter what."

  Valentina smiled, a genuine, warm smile. "Me too, Crispin. Me too. And I'm glad things are back to normal between us." She squeezed his arm and Crispin smiled at her.

  ~

  The evening bell rang as Valentina entered the laboratory one last time. The next round of the Greystone competition was coming up tomorrow, and the university seemed to be vibrating with anticipation.

  Her water purification pattern, a complex interweaving of Leb and Wazzer Essence, floated gently before her. Valentina let her fingers glide through the luminous pattern, each twist, each vibration as familiar as an old song.

  "All set, little Weaver?" purred Vyxara in her head.

  Valentina nodded slightly. "Almost. I just want to make sure everything is perfect."

  She began to pack up her materials: small vials of Distilled Essence, carefully labeled notes, a small model of her system. Each item was carefully stowed away in her bag.

  Outside, the corridors were bustling with activity. Students hurried back and forth, laden with books and their Essence instruments.

  "Did you hear that?" a passing student told his friend. "Faustus is said to have hired a whole team of assistants helping him with his project!"

  Valentina shook her head. Typical Faustus, she thought, snorting. Always keen to show off his money and influence.

  "Don't let that upset you," warned Vyxara.

  Valentina smiled faintly. "I know, Vyxara. Don't worry."

  She checked her list one last time. Everything was there, everything was prepared. Now she just had to get through the night and do her best tomorrow.

  When she left the lab, she met Professor Emberfell.

  "Valentina," said the professor kindly. "Any final preparations?"

  Valentina nodded. "Yes, Professor. I wanted to make sure everything was ready."

  "Good, good," Emberfell nodded approvingly. "I'm really looking forward to your presentation. Rest well, tomorrow will be a big day."

  With a pounding heart, Valentina made her way to her room. Her excitement and nervousness seemed to grow with every step.

  Once in her small attic room, she spread out all the documents once again. She went through every step of her presentation, quietly mumbling the explanations to herself.

  "You know it all in your sleep," Vyxara reassured her. "Trust yourself. And remember – in an emergency, I'm there to help you."

  Valentina dropped onto her narrow bed, exhausted. The moonlight fell through the small skylight and bathed the room in a ghostly light. She stared at the sloping ceiling and reviewed the events of the last few weeks.

  "So much has happened," she murmured quietly to herself.

  "Indeed, little Weaver," Vyxara replied softly. "You have changed. You have grown."

  Valentina nodded thoughtfully. She thought about her night with Crispin, about the progress of her project.

  "I do feel... stronger somehow," she said hesitantly. "But also... insecure."

  She stood up and stepped to the window to get some air. "This time tomorrow, the second round of the competition will be over," she whispered. The idea made her heart beat faster. What if she failed? What if all her hard work was for nothing?

  "You'll be brilliant," Vyxara assured her.

  Valentina smiled faintly. "Thank you, Vyxara. I don't know what I'd do without you."

  Her eyes fell on the desk where her notes on the water purification pattern lay. Next to it was a crumpled piece of parchment with hastily scribbled words – her notes on Professor Horne's strange behavior.

  "I wonder what his secret is," she murmured, more to herself than to Vyxara.

  "Ah yes, our mysterious professor," Vyxara purred amusedly. "A fascinating distraction, isn't it? But the competition takes priority. Then we'll take care of Professor Horne."

  Valentina sighed and turned away from the desk. Vyxara was right. The competition had to be her priority. And yet... curiosity gnawed at her.

  She lay back down on the bed and closed her eyes. "It feels like I'm on the verge of something big," she said quietly. "Like everything is changing."

  "It does," Vyxara replied softly. "And you're ready for it. Go to sleep now. Tomorrow will be a big day."

  Valentina nodded tiredly and snuggled into her blanket. As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring.

  Half asleep, she heard Vyxara's voice, soft as a lullaby: "Sleep, little Weaver. Dream of the power that lies in your hands. Of the secrets waiting to be revealed. Of the greatness that awaits you."