We continued exploring the mansion as Noko clapped excitedly:

—"Woow! Ren just keeps surprising us-nya!"

Maya eyed me with a mix of awe and suspicion:

—"Seriously, how many more tricks do you have up your sleeve?"

Zara stayed silent, her analytical gaze sweeping over me. "Lightning spells, mana cores, and now divine magic..." she mused.

A sudden boom made us jump. The rain hammered violently against the windows, and Maya shuddered.

I discreetly moved closer to her:

—"You okay?"

—"Don’t you dare tell Zara!" Maya whispered, digging her nails into my arm.

—"I won’t," I promised, rubbing my sore forearm.

Zara watched Maya with interest, thinking: "She tensed up when I mentioned the rain... and now..."

CRACK! Thunder shook the mansion. Maya leapt like a startled cat, instinctively clinging to me.

—"M-Maya...?" I stammered, feeling her trembling body pressed against mine.

Realizing what she’d done, she sprang back, flushed:

—"N-Nothing! I just... slipped."

Noko giggled:

—"Ooooh, I think I get it-nya!"

Zara leaned toward Noko:

—"Hey, Noko, do you think Maya...?"

—"Yep! No doubt about it," Noko affirmed, ears twitching eagerly.

Zara smirked mischievously and, with a subtle flick of her fingers, conjured a tiny magical thunder crack near Maya.

—"AHHH!" Maya yelped, then immediately snarled: —"ZARA! What the hell?!"

—"I can’t believe the mighty Amber Flame is scared of a little thunder," Zara teased, savoring every second.

—"It’s not the thunder! It’s... the rain," Maya admitted, crossing her arms like a petulant child.

Zara opened her mouth to ask why, but Noko cut in:

—"Don’t worry, Maya! Everyone’s scared of something. Like me—I hate when people touch my tail without... Eek!"

Noko jumped as if poked, immediately latching onto my back again:

—"Who touched my tail?!"

Zara raised her hands:

—"Sorry, just testing a theory."

Noko launched herself at Zara in a tackle-hug that devolved into a play-fight of light swats and feline growls. Maya watched the scuffle, and what looked like a faint smile tugged at her lips.

"At least they’re getting along," I thought, relieved the party hadn’t imploded at the first sign of conflict.

—"Alright, let’s keep moving," I interrupted, prying Noko off Zara. —"We’re almost done."

We pressed onward, nearing the backyard. A collective chill ran down our spines.

Suddenly, Noko leapt:

—"Someone touched my tail again! Zara, I mean it!"

—"Wasn’t me!" Zara protested.

Maya pointed:

—"Guys... look."

A faint blue aura floated toward the backyard.

—"It’s like it’s guiding us," I murmured.

Zara nodded:

—"Seems so. No ghosts are left inside—we should follow."

Noko’s tail bristled:

—"I’ve got a bad feeling about this-nya..."

The four of us exchanged glances, knowing something ominous might await. With the fading sound of rain, we stepped into the mansion’s backyard.