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nWhen August awoke the next day to sun streaming in the windows, she didn't see Graeme in the room. Walking out onto the deck in the clothes she wore the day before, she saw Greta sitting in a lounge chair next to the large tree branch that jutted out from a hole in the deck to spread its leaves above the pool area.

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"Hi, Greta,

" August spoke weakly.

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"Good morning, you. How are you feeling?

" Greta turned to face her with a relaxed smile.

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"I'm quite tired,

" August replied honestly.

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"Hmmm. No doubt because of all the excitement yesterday,

" Greta replied, rising from the chair and checking August's cheeks and forehead with the back of one hand.

"You feel a little warm. It's best if you stick close to the house today and rest.

" August nodded, and Greta continued.

"Graeme went to get some things from the market, and I wanted to check on you anyway. I didn't want to wake you.

"

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"Okay,

" August said.

"I'm just going to go change,

" she added, pointing behind her to the bathroom.

nGreta watched the girl leave the deck, and her smile faded to a look of concern.

nAugust hoped that some cold water would wash away the tiredness that felt as if it was seeping into her bones. After splashing water on her face and tying her hair back into a messy pony tail, she changed into the first comfortable clothes she found in the closet.

nShe smiled weakly remembering the afternoon spent with Graeme. He was so comfortable to be with. His sister was the same way. She looked up to see her strange eyes in the mirror looking back at her, and she couldn't help but worry that something else resided inside her that she didn't know of yet—something dangerous that had yet to show itself. The thought made her shiver. What if she hurt them? Graeme had been through so much. She couldn't bear to add to it should the elders prove right about her.

nGreta prepared some broth that she hoped would help the girl who looked pale again today. It was hard saying what August's body was going through now that she had awoken and what the path to stabilization would entail. What was her brother was thinking taking August out yesterday? With the council keenly aware of the human and seeking any excuse to bring judgment, now especially regarding this mention of so-called witches, if August were to have another one of her episodes out in front of others, it could turn for the worst.

nIt would be best if her brother and August laid low until more was sorted out rather than adding fuel to an already potentially volatile situation. But it was Graeme. He did what he wanted. Perhaps that's what worried the elders the most.

nAfter realizing that August was taking quite a bit longer than expected, Greta went to check on her and discovered her sitting in a corner of the bathroom with her legs pulled into her chest.

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"August?

" Greta hurried to her side, putting an arm around her back. She was hot again.

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"P-please don't touch me,

" she said.

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"Let me help you,

" Greta replied.

nNot hearing her object, Greta scooped August into her arms and laid her on the bed where she checked her temperature. Thankfully it wasn't as high as last time, but the girl still appeared to be in pain. Tears were sliding out the corners of her eyes.

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"Try to open your eyes,

" Greta said softly, smoothing the hair off of August's forehead for her to squeeze her eyes tighter.

"Trust me,

" Greta touched the side of her face,

"open your eyes, dear.

"

nFinally August listened, opening her eyes and allowing more tears that had pooled there to escape. She squinted against the brightness of the room until her gaze shifted to Greta's face.

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"Greta?

" she gasped, her eyes going wide and pupils growing to an abnormally large size before the gold gradually returned, burning deeper than before.

"You're like Graeme,

" came her whisper.

nGreta tipped her head to the side with a pleased smile spreading across her face. One theory of hers seemed to be right.

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"What is it that you see?

" Greta asked.

nAugust sat up without taking her eyes off the peach-haired girl, reaching to feel the galaxy of energy near Greta that was shimmering the same way it had around Graeme. A smile slowly formed on August's face.

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"It's so beautiful. And… hard to explain. It looks like—I think it's your energy or something,

" she said in amazement.

"But it looks like a… a rotating aura of light and—and shapes. Dancing around you.

"

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"Perhaps it can help you like Graeme's energy did. Why don't you give it a try?

" Greta asked, as if she had suspected this all along.

nAugust concentrated on the miniature shimmering galaxy orbiting Greta's figure and extended her hand as if she were waiting for raindrops to fall on her skin. The aura rushed to include her in its orbit, and a profound calm penetrated her to her core.

nGreta smiled to herself as she noticed August become still and relaxed. When August opened her eyes again, a new serene energy had settled around her. The fear that had previously been there in her eyes was gone.

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"Come, let's test something,

" Greta took hold of the girl's hand and led her out to the deck. By touch, Greta could already tell that August's fever had come down.

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"I think this is an ability you could potentially tap into anytime, but I wonder how far it goes,

" she thought aloud.

"There are multiple dimensions of energy all around us all the time. Can you pick up any others?

"

nAugust gazed out into the forest around them, surprised at this theory Greta had shared with her. At first she didn't notice anything different about their surroundings. Leaves that had yet to drop for the season danced around them on the trees. Crows called in the distance. Sunlight and shadows reflected on the surface of the pool water.

nIt wasn't until a gust of wind came to pass that August noticed how it shimmered unexpectedly in front of them, picking leaves from the trees and swirling them around before allowing them to fall. August gasped softly. Shifting her gaze upward into the trees that dwarfed the two of them, she noticed a green shimmering mist sweeping down between all the trees like a veil. And yet, within that veil, there were concentrated orbits of movement that came in and out of view—dazzling auras weaving and dancing in and around each other.. It was like watching a complicated math formula being written in the round—with light itself.

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