The light flared brightly, too brightly, and before you could stop it, the flame burst, a sharp crackle echoing in the room.
The candles on your desk flickered wildly, nearly snuffing out, and you quickly pulled back, startled. The air felt heavier now, and you realized your heart was racing. You'd overdone it. Again.
"Damn," you muttered, shaking your hand to dispel the lingering heat. You glanced at the desk, the candles still swaying from the burst of energy, and sighed.
Yaga warned you that cursed energy had a way of fighting back when pushed too far too quickly.
Still, you couldn't help but feel a flicker of frustration. The form had been almost perfect. Almost.
You groaned and blew out the candles, flopping onto your bed.
'I wonder if dad's looking for me.'
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You continued your 'training arc', but instead of being in the confines of your room, you decided to practice outside in the training fields before your morning run.
Unluckily, you woke up late and were not alone.
But the training field was quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves in the wind.
You sat cross-legged on the ground, staring at the faint scorch marks your cursed energy had left on the grass.
The air still carried the scent of burnt ozone from your latest attempt, (and failure) to control it. Your fists were clenched tightly in your lap, nails digging into your palms.
It wasn't working. No matter how hard you tried, the cursed energy always slipped from your grasp like water through your fingers, bursting out in chaotic, uncontrolled bursts.
"You're overthinking it."
The voice startled you, and you turned to see Haibara standing a few feet away. His grin seemed softer this time, his eyes full of genuine concern.
Beside him stood Nanami, who, as always, looked more exasperated than anything else. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his sharp gaze assessing you in silence.
"I wasn't—" You stopped yourself. Might as well confide in them. "I can't do it. My cursed energy is too much! It keeps bursting at random points."
Haibara plopped down beside you, stretching his legs out in front of him. "You're too hard on yourself," he said. "None of us got it right away. Do you know how many times I almost blew my arm off trying to summon Shikigami? Nanami had to sit through all of it."
Nanami sighed, stepping closer. "And you haven't improved much since," he muttered dryly, though his tone lacked real bite.
Haibara laughed, unbothered. "See? Point is, you're not alone. We all struggle with this stuff."
