"Place your hand on the surface, Mr. Celestial," Professor Veyra said, her voice dropping its playful tone and becoming sharp.
I held back a heavy sigh, stepped up to the stone stand, and pressed my palm flat against the cool surface of the crystal ball.
For a second, nothing happened. Then, the colorless mist inside went wild.
The crystal shook hard under my hand. A sharp, jagged line of black lightning tore through the center, followed quickly by the dark purple bend of space folding in. Before the orb could settle, a tongue of dark flame burst from the bottom, swirling into the small storm.
The three forces did not blend. They fought hard for control, crashing against each other inside the glass like trapped animals.
The students in the front rows leaned back, a few putting their hands over their chests.
"Amazing...," Isolde said, her pale blue eyes reflecting the wild flash of elements. She did not look scared. She looked really interested.
