Dusk was falling over Bridgewater University as Valentina descended the steps of the main building. The day had been a mixture of lectures, secretly studying the forbidden book, gathering needed materials for the summoning, and growing tension. She needed a moment of calm to organize her thoughts.


    Her feet carried her back to the university gardens almost as if of their own accord. Here and there, students scurried past, engrossed in quiet conversations or books. A black cat was prowling through the bushes. Valentina found herself in front of the rose bed she had discovered here a few days ago. Some of the roses she had woven into full bloom back then were now beginning to fade again.


    She stretched out her hand and concentrated on the Essence surrounding the plants. Unlike her first attempt, she could now perceive the fine currents of Leb Essence more clearly. She could feel the energy flowing through the stems, spreading through the leaves and collecting in the remaining buds.


    With a gentle movement of her fingers, Valentina directed a stream of living Essence to one of the buds. Slowly, almost hesitantly, it began to open. The petals unfurled until a perfect, dark red rose stood before her.


    A faint smile flitted across Valentina''s face. A few months ago, she wouldn''t even have been able to attempt such a manipulation. Now it was much easier for her. And yet...


    Her smile faded. What did this small success mean in view of the challenges that lay ahead of her? The Greystone Competition would demand far more of her than opening a rosebud.


    Valentina sank down on a nearby bench, her gaze fixed on the distance. She thought of her father''s letter, of the debts that weighed on her family. Of the expectations placed on her.


    "What am I supposed to do?" she murmured quietly to herself. Her options seemed so limited. Even if she studied day and night, it would hardly be enough to keep up with the wealthy students who could afford expensive tutoring and high-end Distilled Essence.


    And then there was the forbidden book. The power it promised was tempting. But the risks…


    "Heavy thoughts for such a beautiful evening," a rough voice suddenly sounded next to her.


    Valentina winced and turned around. Standing next to the bench was the old gardener she had met on her first visit here. His weather-beaten hands rested on a worn rake and his eyes seemed to sparkle in the twilight.


    "Oh, you startled me," Valentina said breathlessly.


    The old man smiled apologetically. "I''m sorry about that, young lady. I didn''t mean to disturb you. But you looked like you could do with someone to talk to."


    Valentina hesitated. Something about the old gardener radiated wisdom and understanding. Perhaps...


    "I... I''m faced with a difficult decision," she began cautiously.


    The gardener nodded thoughtfully and sat down next to her on the bench. "Ah, the most difficult decisions are often those where we have to choose between what is right and what is easy."


    Valentina blinked in surprise. "How do you know...?"


    He laughed softly. "I''ve seen a lot of students come and go, young lady. I recognize the look of a troubled mind."


    They sat in silence for a while, watching the last rays of sun disappear behind the horizon.


    "You know," the gardener finally began, "Essence is a strange thing. It surrounds everything, gives life and strength. But it can also be dangerous if you''re not careful."


    Valentina felt her stomach tighten. Did he know about the book?


    The old man continued: "In my youth, I knew an Essence Weaver who strove for great power. He experimented with techniques that others thought were too dangerous. In the end, he actually achieved what he wanted – but at a terrible price."


    "What... What happened?" Valentina asked with a dry throat.


    The gardener sighed heavily. "He lost himself. The power he had gained consumed everything he had once been. In the end, he was just an empty shell, filled with an Essence that was not his own."


    Valentina shuddered. The story reminded her eerily of the warnings in the forbidden book.


    "But," the old man continued, his voice taking on a thoughtful tone, "perhaps his mistake was not in seeking power, but in choosing the wrong path. True power, you know, doesn''t come from outside. It grows within ourselves. We just need to set it free."


    He leaned over and gently touched one of the roses that Valentina had made bloom. "Do you see this rose? You didn''t force it to bloom. You just helped it to develop its full potential. That is true power – the ability to bring out the best in others and in ourselves."


    Valentina stared at the rose, her mind working feverishly. Was that what she was missing? In her desperation, had she been looking for an external solution instead of using her own inner strength?


    The gardener got up with difficulty, his rake crunching on the gravel path. "Think about it, child. Sometimes we find the greatest strength in the moment we are willing to risk everything – not for power, but for something greater than ourselves. Our faith. Or our family."


    With these words, he nodded to her and walked slowly down the path, soon swallowed up by the darkness.


    Valentina was left alone, her head buzzing with the old man''s words. She thought of her family, of the competition, of the forbidden book. Was she prepared to risk everything? And if so, for what?Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Night had now fallen completely, and the Burning Tower shone brightly on the horizon. Valentina stared into the flame for a long time, as if searching for answers. Slowly, a determination began to form inside her.


    She stood up, her decision made. No matter which path she would take, she would do it with everything she had. No more half measures, no more compromises.


    With firm steps, she made her way back to the dormitory. She had a lot to prepare and the night was still young. As she opened the door to her room, her eyes fell on the hidden forbidden book. She hesitated for a moment, then reached for it with determination. She would use all the resources at her disposal. But she would be careful, wise. She would not make the same mistake as the Essence Weaver from the Gardener''s Tale.


    The tower clock struck midnight. Her heart hammered in her chest, a mixture of fear and determination coursing through her. With trembling hands, she knelt down in front of her bed, the carved amulet in the shape of the Burning Tower in her hand. Valentina closed her eyes and began to pray, her voice barely more than a whisper.


    "Martyr, forgive me for what I am about to do. I know it''s wrong, but I see no other way out. Please, give me the strength to find the right path and protect me from the dangers that lie ahead."


    A single tear rolled down her cheek as she finished the prayer. She remained motionless on her knees for a moment, then rose with renewed determination.


    Valentina began to gather the materials she needed. The forbidden book had given her a precise list: salt enriched with Essences, candles made of pure beeswax, rare herbs for the protection ritual. She had already collected many of them in secret, or rather stolen them from the university. She would find the herbs in the forest.


    The last thing she took out was a small silver pendant. It was simple but finely crafted - a gift from her mother. Valentina swallowed hard. This would serve as a focus for the binding.


    With practiced movements, she packed everything into a worn leather bag. She carefully hid the forbidden book under her clothes. Then she listened at the door. The corridor was silent.


    As quietly as a shadow, Valentina slipped out of her room and crept down the stairs. Her heart stopped for a moment when a floorboard creaked under her feet, but no one seemed to have heard it.


    When she reached the first floor, she paused. Through a window, she could see the security guard doing his rounds on campus. She waited until he had disappeared around a corner, then scurried to the back door.


    The cool night air greeted her as she stepped outside. The Burning Tower loomed in the distance, its eternal flame a silent reproach. Valentina forced herself not to look.


    She hurried across the campus with quick steps, always ready to hide behind bushes or statues in case someone came. Once she had to hastily squeeze into the shadow of a building when two students returned late from the library.


    At last she reached the edge of the campus. The town of Bridgewater stretched out before her, a labyrinth of narrow streets and tall buildings. In the distance, she could hear the shouts of the town guard calling out the hour.


    Valentina pulled the hood of her cloak lower over her face and plunged into the shadows of the city. She knew the way well.


    She scurried through deserted alleyways, dodging drunken night owls and always keeping an eye out for the city guard''s lanterns. Once she had to hide behind a pile of barrels when a patrol passed by. Her heart raced as the heavy footsteps of the guards approached and then disappeared again into the distance.


    After what seemed like an eternity, Valentina finally reached the outskirts of the city. A little further on, the dark forest stretched out before her. She hesitated briefly, then plucked up her courage and stepped between the trees.


    The forest was silent, interrupted only occasionally by the call of an owl or the rustling of small animals in the undergrowth. Valentina made her way through the thicket, guided by the faint light of the moon shining through the branches.


    After a while, she reached a small clearing. It was circular, as if nature itself had created it for this purpose. In the center stood a single, ancient tree. The herbs they needed grew from its roots.


    Valentina knew immediately that this was the right place.


    With trembling hands, she began to unpack her materials and pick the herbs. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took one last look at the preparations. She pulled out the forbidden book again. The leather-bound pages felt cold, almost as if they were sucking the warmth from her fingers. Valentina turned to the marked page and began to draw the intricate outer summoning circle.


    The Essence-enriched salt glowed faintly as she drew the lines. Every symbol had to be perfect. A single mistake could have disastrous consequences. Beads of sweat formed on Valentina''s forehead as she concentrated on copying the intricate patterns from the book.


    When the outer circle was complete, Valentina paused. Her eyes wandered to the silver pendant that lay in the center of the circle. Her mother''s gift, now the focus for a forbidden ritual. A stab of guilt ran through her.


    "What am I doing here?" she whispered into the stillness of the night.


    For a moment, she was overcome with the urge to call it all off, run back to university and forget this madness. But then she thought of her father''s letter, of the debt, of the despair in his words. She thought of Faustus and the other rich students bragging about their resources. Of the Greystone Competition and what it could mean for her family.


    With renewed determination, Valentina knelt down again and began to draw the inner circle. Each symbol was drawn with precise care, each line filled with the power of her desperation and determination.


    When the last line was drawn, Valentina stood up. The circles glowed softly now in the darkness, pulsing with hidden energy. The Bankreizh was finished. She stepped into the outer circle and stood directly in front of the inner circle, clutching the book tightly to her chest.


    A cool wind came up, rustling the leaves of the trees and making the candle flames dance. It was as if the forest was holding its breath in anticipation of what was to come.


    Valentina closed her eyes briefly, gathering all her courage. Then she began to speak, her voice trembling at first, then becoming firmer and firmer:


    "Ich riuhe dich, w?sen der zw?chenwalt. H?re m?ne wort, enpfahhe m?n gemuete."


    The words of the forbidden book flowed from her lips, a mixture of Altothal and a language that sounded even older and stranger. With each word, the air around her seemed to grow denser, charged with invisible tension.


    "Durch ?zzen gebunden, durch willen geruofen. Ersch?ne vor mir, n?m gestalt in diser werlt!"


    The wind picked up, becoming a howl that threatened to tear the words from Valentina''s mouth. The candles flickered wildly, casting twitching shadows on the forest floor. The incantation circle began to glow brighter, the symbols seemed to move, to dance.


    Valentina felt her hair literally stand up. The air crackled. Something was approaching, something old, something different, something powerful. She could feel its presence scratching at the boundaries of reality, trying to break through.


    Valentina doubted for a moment. Was it too late to stop? Had she made a terrible mistake?


    But there was no turning back. The last words of the incantation left her lips, echoing across the clearing:


    "Ich offenne daz tor. Ich biete dir inlaz. Kom zu mir!"


    A bright flame exploded from the center of the circle, scorchingly hot. Valentina was thrown back by an invisible force, stumbled and almost fell out of the outer circle. The forbidden book slipped from her hands, skittering across the floor.


    When the fire faded and Valentina looked up, blinking, she froze. There, in the center of the circle, where only her silver pendant had been before, a figure unfolded from nowhere. Shadowy at first, then getting more and more contrast.


    A wall of glowing eyes opened, fixing Valentina with a manifold gaze. A voice, which seemed to be in her head and in the air around her at the same time, carved words into her consciousness:


    "What do you want?"


    Valentina stared wide-eyed at the apparition, unable to answer. What had she done?