chapter 6

After finishing her meal with Shido, Aria bid him farewell and continued her way through the forest. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of mastering her powers, as she knew that relying on luck and chance to evade the Anti-Spirit Team (AST) was not sustainable.

As she walked, she focused on summoning her powers and honing her control. She picked a nearby tree, closed her eyes, and visualized it bending and swaying at her command. Despite her best efforts, nothing happened.

Frustrated but determined, Aria continued to experiment with different techniques and visualizations. After several failed attempts, she finally felt a small spark of energy. The tree she was focusing on rustled slightly, and she smiled in satisfaction.

"Yes!" she exclaimed softly, "I did it!"

Her confidence soaring, Aria continued to practice and hone her control over the movements of the tree. She could feel the energy inside of her growing stronger with each attempt, and soon, she was able to conjure up a gust of wind to rustle the leaves and branches.

Suddenly, an idea popped into her head.

"Ohhh, that's a great idea. Let's find a source of water."

As she walked, Aria spotted a small stream running through the forest. She knelt down beside it and dipped her hand into the water, feeling its coolness soothe her skin. Suddenly, she felt a strange energy coursing through her body, like a small spark of electricity.

'What was that?' Aria thought, feeling both surprised and excited. She tried to concentrate on the feeling, closing her eyes and letting the energy flow through her. She felt a slight vibration in the water and watched in amazement as it began to bubble and churn.

'Is this...my other power or magic?' Aria wondered. She tried to focus on the water, willing it to move in a certain direction. Slowly, she lifted her hand and watched as the water rose up with it.

'Yes!' Aria thought triumphantly. 'I can control it!'

But as soon as she opened her eyes, the water crashed back down and splashed all over her. Aria groaned in frustration, feeling both embarrassed and disappointed.

'It was just a fluke,' she thought, standing up and brushing off her clothes. 'I still have a lot to learn.'

Aria took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She knew that mastering her powers would take time and effort, and that failure was a natural part of the learning process. With renewed determination, Aria returned to practicing her water control. She focused on summoning the same feeling of energy and control she had experienced earlier, and after several more attempts, she was finally able to lift the water into the air and guide it in a slow, meandering path through the forest.

Watching the water flow gracefully under her guidance, Aria felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. She knew it wasn't perfect, and that she still had a long way to go, but it was progress. As the sun began to set, Aria realized that she didn't have anywhere to stay for the night. She had been so focused on practicing her powers that she had forgotten to search place to stay.

Looking around, she saw nothing but trees and bushes, and the sun was rapidly setting, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Aria shivered, feeling the chill of the evening air. She knew it wasn't safe to stay out in the open, especially with the AST on her trail. But where could she go?

Suddenly, Aria remembered a small cave she had seen earlier in the day. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. She quickly made her way back to the cave, hoping it was still unoccupied. As she approached, she saw a small fire flickering inside, and she heard the sound of someone moving around. Her heart sank as she hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do.

But then she heard a familiar voice calling out, "Aria, is that you?"

It was Shido. Aria felt confused. 'Huh' though aria.

(A/n: still short chapter sorry)