Silver was kept in a small, light-framed house in Lumnesia. He was given time to rest and "communicate." But something inside him was changing.
One day, as he sat by a fountain of light, he saw something moving out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw that, far away, two small Lumins (which looked like birds) were having an intense exchange of thoughts. He didn't hear the words, but he felt the emotions – one worried, the other reassuring. It was as if he could "sniff" their emotional disposition.
He asked Lumin about it. Lumin's golden eyes sparkled with awe. "You're growing. The contact with the Bridge Stone, spending time in both worlds... it's awakening your abilities."
"So?" Silver asked.
"You're becoming sensitive," Lumin explained. "You can sense not only our thoughts, but also our emotions, our intentions, our fears. And if you focus, you can maybe even… become a little invisible."
"Invisible? Myself?"
"No, not physically. But you can make your presence so still that even the likes of us can't see you easily. It's the art of 'obscurity.' You blend in with the energy around you."
Lumin took him to do an experiment – to a deserted area. "Focus. Focus on your breathing. Imagine that you are a part of this glowing air. Calm your emotions, your thoughts, your fears… everything."
Silver tried. He began to breathe slowly, focusing on the heat of the stone in his hand. He felt as if his body was becoming a little less solid, a little more transparent. When he opened his eyes, Lumin looked genuinely surprised.
"Wonderful! I can still see you, but your presence is very faint. If I don't look directly at you, you look like a glowing bush nearby."
It was a small victory, but it gave Silver hope. If he could learn, if he could grow, maybe he could protect himself. Maybe he could make a difference.
But then, he felt another sensation. As he moved to the edge of Luminasia, where the light was fading, he felt a strange pull. A sad, empty feeling, as if some invisible rope were pulling him toward the darkness. It was the pull of Knox's world. The stone and his own experience were now connecting him to both worlds. It was a heavy support, but it was also a connection. The prophecy had come true. It was truly a bridge between the two.
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