Meanwhile, Vanessa stood opposite Linda with arms folded. "Stormheart, huh?"
Linda lit up—literally. Her hair frizzed slightly, and clouds billowed around her. "Watch this!" she cheered, raising both arms.
Dark clouds materialized above the arena, rumbling. A bolt of lightning shot down and struck a nearby dummy, vaporizing it.
Vanessa blinked. "That's terrifying."
But then Linda hiccupped—and the storm suddenly grew more intense. Winds howled, knocking over props and even wobbling the floating platforms.
"Linda—calm down!" Candace called out, shielding her eyes.
Linda covered her face, panicked. "I didn't mean to—!"
Vanessa's eyes met Linda's.
And in an instant—everything stopped.
The winds froze. The clouds held. Linda's body stilled mid-movement. Vanessa stepped forward, her real body standing still, but now controlling Linda's.
"I've got her," she said calmly.
After thirty seconds, she severed the link, and Linda stumbled, eyes wide.
"Whoa. That felt... weird, but helpful." Linda took a deep breath. The clouds dispersed. She grinned sheepishly. "Okay, maybe I need to stop getting too excited."
---
🧠 Training Reflections
As they rested under a hovering aether platform, the girls gathered together, sharing water and snacks.
Candace looked at Isabella. "Your power's... different. Not flashy, but elegant."
Isabella smiled, forming a small energy orb in her hand. "It's all about control. You'll both get there too."
Vanessa looked over. "And Candace, you've got infiltration skills I could only dream of. Phasing's a nightmare to counter."
Linda nodded. "And I'm a living weather forecast now!"
Everyone chuckled.
But Isabella's expression turned serious.
"That rune pulse… it didn't just awaken your powers. It's attracting something."
---
⚠️ Meanwhile…
Far away, near the edge of the dimension, fractures formed in the sky—cracks leaking void shadows and strange whispers.
The Echoes were watching.
And they were learning.
---
🔚 To Be Continued…
Candace and Linda have taken their first steps into a larger world—but the team is growing stronger just in time. For soon, they will need all their strength to survive what's coming next.