It was less than a five-minute walk to a large clearing where Professor Blackwood stopped. “This should do,” shesaid, giving the place a nod. “You can shadow walk from here without breaking through any of the protective magic around the school.”
I looked around the clearing, taking in the open space surrounded by trees. My shadows stretched out tentatively, exploring the area like curious fingers. Without the academy’s wards pressing down on us, my magic felt even more responsive, almost eager.
“So how does this work exactly?” I asked, turning back to Professor Blackwood. “Do I just... think about where I want to go?”
“Not quite,” she replied, moving to stand beside me. “Shadow walking is about more than just intention. It’s about understanding the spaces between spaces, the pathways that exist in darkness.” She gestured to my shadows pooling at my feet. “Your magic already knows how to do this. You’ve done it accidentally several times. Now we need to teach you to do it deliberately.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I fully understood. “Okay. Where do you want me to try going?”
“See that large oak tree across the clearing?” She pointed to a massive tree about fifty yards away. “That’s your target. I want you to walk through the shadows from here to there.”
Fifty yards didn’t seem like much, but the idea of intentionally stepping through reality made my stomach twist with nerves. “What if I end up somewhere else? What if I can’t control where I go?”
“That’s why we’re starting small,” Professor Blackwood assured me. “And why I’m here to guide you back if necessary. But I don’t think you’ll have that problem. Your magic is remarkably precise when you’re not panicking or in the middle of an orgasm.”
My cheeks burned again. I wasn’t sure I agreed with that assessment, but I took a deep breath and focused on the oak tree. My shadows responded immediately, stretching toward it like they were eager to make the journey.
“Don’t force it,” Professor Blackwood instructed. “Let your magic show you the path. Shadow walkers don’t travel through normal space. You slip between the layers of reality, moving through the darkness that is the universe itself.”
I closed my eyes, trying to feel what she was describing. And there...yes, I could sense it. A sort of thinness in the air around me, places where the barrier between here and there felt permeable. My shadows gravitated toward these weak points naturally, though I couldn’t explainexactlywhat it was.
“I think I feel it,” I murmured.
“Good. Now step into your shadow. Let it pull you through.”
I looked down at the darkness pooling around my feet. It seemed deeper than it should be, like I could fall into it if I wasn’t careful. Taking another breath, I lifted my foot and stepped down.
The sensation was indescribable. For a moment I was nowhere and everywhere at once, suspended in a void of pure darkness. I could feel the silver bands on my wrists growing warm, helping to anchor me, keeping me from getting lost. Then, just as quickly, I was stumbling forward into solid ground.
I opened my eyes to find myself standing directly in front of the oak tree.
“I did it!” I gasped, spinning around to look back at Professor Blackwood. The distance between us seemed impossible. I’d just moved fifty yards in the space between heartbeats.
“Excellent work!” Professor Blackwood called out, though she didn’t sound surprised. “How do you feel?”
I took stock of myself. My heart was racing, but not from exertion. The silver bands were still warm against my wrists,but not uncomfortably so. My shadows swirled around me, more active than usual but not out of control.
“Dizzy,” I admitted. “But... good. That was incredible.”
“Shadow walking often causes temporary disorientation,” she explained, walking toward me at a normal pace. “Your body moved through space without actually traveling the distance. Your inner ear doesn’t quite know what to make of that.”
I nodded, watching as she approached. The dizziness was already starting to fade, replaced by an exhilarating sense of possibility. If I could do this, what else was I capable of?
“Can we try it again?” I asked eagerly. “Maybe somewhere farther?”
Professor Blackwood smiled, a rare expression that made her look years younger. “I was hoping you’d say that. But first, I want you to try something different. Shadow walk back to where you started, but this time, I want you to pay attention to the space between. Don’t just pass through it. Observe it.”
The request seemed strange, but I trusted her guidance. I focused on the spot where we’d been standing, letting my shadows stretch toward it. Then I stepped into the darkness again.
This time, I forced myself not to rush through. The void surrounded me, and instead of panicking or pushing forward, I... looked. The darkness wasn’t empty. It was filled with doorways, arches with paths that branched and connected in impossible patterns. I could see them all at once, though I had no idea where they went.
It was beautiful. Terrifying.Overwhelming.
I stumbled out of the shadow back at our starting point, gasping. My knees nearly buckled, but I caught myself against a nearby tree.
“What was that?” I breathed. “Those arches...”
“The Garden Path,” Professor Blackwood said, her expression serious now. “They are the roads to the other realms, and they will lead you astray if you trust them blindly.” She held up a finger, punctuating her words. “Always trustyourself, Mr. Vale. Trust your feelings. And donotlet yourself be led down the Garden Path by anyone other than yourself.”
