Beryl pressed her blue paw against the shop window and stared at the glowing crystals inside. Her purple eyes grew wide as the gems pulsed with light. She wanted to master those magical crystals more than anything. One day, she would be the most powerful mage in all of Artiqua. The shopkeeper never let young cats touch the real crystals. Beryl needed somewhere else to practice. She padded through the snowy streets until she spotted something strange. Purple marks covered a patch of white snow near the edge of town. Beryl crept closer and sniffed the runes. They smelled like old magic. Her whiskers tingled as she studied each symbol. These markings could teach her the crystal techniques she needed. She traced one rune with her paw, and the snow beneath her shifted. A purple hatch appeared where the snow had been. Beryl's heart raced. This secret place could be perfect for practicing crystal magic. She could learn here, away from the shopkeeper's watchful eyes. Soon everyone in town would see what she could do.