ã€ŠSaving Mysteria Volume 1: From Earth to the Arcaneã€‹


 Prologue: The Seers Vision

    I have seen the end of Mysteria.

    Not in dreams nor in whispers of prophecy, but in visions as clear as the rising sun. I have seen the rivers run dry, their waters no longer shimmering with the glow of magic but reduced to lifeless streams of dust. I have seen the floating spires of Arcelis, once brilliant beacons of light, collapse into the abyss, their enchantments stripped away as if they had never existed. I have felt the tremors of a dying world, the land itself cracking open, its breathless cries swallowed by the void.

    The sky, once vast and endless, darkens under an unnatural eclipse. The stars that once danced above our world flicker and vanish, their light devoured by a force far beyond our own. Magic, the very essence of Mysteria, is fading. And with it, everything we have ever known.

    This fate was never meant to be.

    For more than a millennium, Mysteria has stood strong, its balance maintained by the ten Cardinal Mages¡ªthe chosen vessels of the Gems of Cardinal Magic. These were not merely gifted sorcerers; they were living embodiments of the arcane forces that governed our world. Each was bound to a Gem, their power inseparable from the ancient relic that chose them.

    The Pharaoh of the Heavens, sovereign of the skies, who commanded the winds and storms with a mere breath. The King of Fire, whose flames burned with creation and destruction alike, stood as both a force of renewal and ruin. The Duke of Supremacy, an unshakable force, bent all to his indomitable will. The Emperor of Earth, the unyielding foundation, shaped mountains and valleys with a single step. The Czar of Changes, ever-shifting like the times, wove fate and transformation at his whim.

    The Queen of Waters could call forth the tides with a whisper. The Duchess of Creations, the master artisan, molded existence from the void. The Angel of Life, a beacon against darkness, stood as the eternal guardian of vitality. The Czarina of Senses, the keeper of secrets untold, unraveled the mysteries hidden beyond mortal perception. Lastly, the Empress of Reflections, the perfect mimic, could become all that she beheld, mirroring both form and power with flawless precision.

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    Together, they were the Mystic Knights of Mysteria, warriors and scholars, rulers and wanderers, each carrying a duty far greater than themselves. They were our shield, our guiding stars, the guardians of all magic.

    But time is merciless. The last of the Cardinal Mages has long since perished, their souls returned to the flow of magic, their legacy nothing but stories passed down in trembling voices. The Gems, without their vessels, fell into silence, waiting for the next to be chosen.

    And now, as Mysteria stands on the precipice of ruin, the invaders come.

    They are not from our world. They do not belong to the order of magic. Their presence is an abomination, their existence a hunger that can never be sated. They come from a place devoid of true power, their own world withered and drained. And so, they set their sights upon ours. Not to conquer, not to rule, but to consume.

    They will leave nothing behind.

    But I have seen something else. A glimmer in the darkness. A future unwritten.

    The Gems, though silent for centuries, are not lost. They have stirred once more, but their gaze has turned away from Mysteria. They have reached beyond our skies, past the veil of worlds, to a place untouched by magic.

    Earth.

    A realm where sorcery is but a story, where spells and incantations are nothing more than words on a page. It is there that the Gems have found their new vessels, their new Cardinal Mages. Ten souls, living lives unaware of the destiny that awaits them. They are ordinary in their own world, but in ours, they are everything.

    I have seen them standing at the threshold of fate, bewildered and afraid. I have seen them struggle, torn between two worlds, bearing a burden heavier than they could ever have imagined. I have seen them rise, wielding magic that has not been touched by mortal hands in an age.

    And I have seen them fight.

    They do not yet know it, but they are Mysteria¡¯s last hope.

    The battle has already begun. The question is, will they be strong enough to win the war in Saving Mysteria?

 Chapter 1: A World Not My Own

    Blood soaks the earth beneath my feet, a thick, metallic scent clogging the air. The sky overhead is a swirling chaos of dark clouds and crimson streaks¡ªan unnatural storm raging over the battlefield. Screams pierce through the cacophony of clashing steel and searing magic. I tighten my grip around my bow, its silver inlays glowing faintly as I weave another arrow of condensed magical energy.

    Why am I here?

    It¡¯s been ten years. Ten years since I arrived in Mysteria. Ten years since I last set foot on Earth. And yet, I still have no answer. No way home.

    A blast of energy rips past me, throwing dust and debris into the air. I raise a barrier just in time, the shimmering veil of bluish-silver light absorbs the impact. A guttural roar echoes through the battlefield¡ªanother beast falls, its monstrous form collapsing into the mud. My friends fight on, pushing forward. I do the same, my magic flowing instinctively now, my body moving as though this has always been my life.

    But it hasn¡¯t.

    I remember who I used to be. I remember my last night on Earth.

    <hr>

    It was almost seven o''clock on a Friday night when I arrived home, exhaustion settling deep into my bones. The office had been suffocating as usual, another dreary day spent in front of a screen, answering emails that barely mattered. My place was quiet, save for the familiar soft thuds of tiny paws against the wooden floor. Three gray tabby cats approached me, their tails flicking lazily.

    I managed a tired smile.

    ¡°At least you guys are still here,¡± I muttered, crouching down to scratch behind their ears. ¡°You¡¯re the only reason I haven¡¯t lost my mind yet.¡±

    Lumine, the only girl of the three, purred in response, a comfort in an otherwise dull existence.

    Gizmo, the oldest of three (he just turned ten this year), was screaming at me, demanding food. Cosmo, Lumine''s brother from the same litter, meowed at me softly, brushing his face against my legs. That''s his own way asking for food.

    I took my phone out and opened the app that controls their feeder. I tapped Dispense, and surely, their feeder let out a handful of kibbles. The three of them ran across the room at the sound of the kibbles falling onto their metal bowls.

    I considered taking a shower, but the thought of standing under running water felt like too much effort. Instead, I threw myself onto my bed, barely bothering to remove my tie. The sheets smelled faintly of detergent and something uniquely mine¡ªfamiliar, grounding. Sleep pulled at my consciousness, and I let it take me.

    And then¡ª

    A soft hum. A glow of bluish-white light.

    I opened my eyes, but I wasn¡¯t in my bed anymore.

    Cold. The ground beneath me was solid, unyielding. Concrete? No¡ªstone. I pushed myself up, my fingers brushing against smooth, ancient carvings. A vast emptiness stretched around me, punctuated only by the glow of floating symbols and the eerie melody that filled the space.

    I followed the sound, the light growing brighter with each hesitant step. And then, standing before me, was a figure unlike any I had ever seen.

    He was tall, his frame both lean and powerful. Long hair, the color of the sky at dusk, cascaded down his back. Great feathered wings extended from his shoulders, a shimmering mix of silver and blue. His eyes, piercing yet unreadable, met mine.

    ¡°Welcome,¡± he said, his voice smooth, resonant.

    ¡°Where I am?¡± I asked, mostly annoyed than confused.

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    ¡°You are in Mysteria.¡± He smiled.

    ¡°Excuse me? Mister what now?¡± I replied. I stared at him, my mind sluggish, still clinging to the notion that this was a dream.

    He inclined his head slightly. ¡°I am Yashka,¡± he said. ¡°I understand this might be very confusing for you, but I am here to offer you insight and answers.¡±

    I hesitated before answering. ¡°¡­Right.¡±

    ¡°Czak Alastar,¡± he murmured, as if confirming something. ¡°You have been chosen.¡±

    ¡°First of all, chosen for what?¡± I asked, my voice dull with annoyance. ¡°Second of all, how did you know my name?¡±

    He let out a soft amused chuckle. ¡°Chosen to protect this world,¡± he said, ¡°and I know your name because the Gem that chose you told me.¡±

    ¡°The what chose me now?¡± I frowned.

    ¡°You, along with nine others, have been chosen by the Gems. They¡ª¡±

    ¡°The gems?¡± I echoed. ¡°The gems? How could a gem choose?¡±

    He smiled, as if this question had been asked and was expected. ¡°The Gems are semi-sentient beings,¡± he began. ¡°Think of them as artificial intelligence, so to speak in your world. These Gems are the vessels of every magic that has ever been and will ever be in Mysteria. They hold the greatest power known in existence.

    ¡°Every form of magic flows from these gems: the Gem of Heavens, Gem of Fire, Gem of Supremacy, Gem of Earth, Gem of Changes, Gem of Waters, Gem of Changes, Gem of Life, Gem of Senses, and Gem of Reflections. These gems recognized your potential, your aptitude for magic.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Magic? I¡¯ve never cast a spell in my life.¡±

    Yashka tilted his head slightly. ¡°Everyone from your world has the potential for magic. But Earth is devoid of magical energy. Mysteria, however, is filled with it. Here, your potential can be realized. I can help you weave spells, cast incantations, invoke hexes, engrave runes, conjure illusions, summon energies, harness mana, wield sorcery, and manifest phantasms.¡±

    I smirked. ¡°That¡¯s a tempting offer, but I still do not see what it has to do with me.¡±

    Yashka¡¯s wings shifted slightly as he took a measured step forward. ¡°Mysteria is under threat. Invaders from another realm seek to consume its magic, to drain it until nothing remains.¡±

    I let out a slow breath, crossing my arms. ¡°That¡¯s rough. But, again, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡±

    Yashka¡¯s gaze darkened, his expression grave. ¡°If Mysteria falls, the balance of the universe will be disrupted. Simply put, all worlds will fall¡ªincluding Earth.¡±

    ¡°That sounds a little dramatic.¡± I wrinkled my nose. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Mysteria is the core of all magical energy,¡± Yashka explained. ¡°It maintains the balance of existence, ensuring that worlds remain separate and do not collapse into each other. If it is destroyed, that balance will shatter. Every world, yours included, will cease to exist.¡±

    I swallowed hard. ¡°¡­So, saving Mysteria means saving Earth.¡±

    Yashka nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    I let out a dry laugh, running a hand through my hair. ¡°Well, shit. I wasn¡¯t exactly having the time of my life back home anyway.¡±

    Yashka¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°I understand this is difficult to process.¡±

    I sighed, shaking my head. ¡°No, you don¡¯t. But that¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s say I believe you. What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°You must accept the power bestowed upon you,¡± Yashka said. ¡°The Gem of the Heavens has chosen you, but you have to accept it. To give the Gem consent to be its new vessel.¡±

    ¡°And what is the Gem of the Heavens, exactly?¡± I asked, trying not to sound so skeptical.

    Yashka gestured towards the humming light. ¡°It is the source of all sky, wind, and celestial magic.¡±

    I let the words sink in. A part of me still thought this was a dream. But another part¡ªthe part that had long since grown numb to the monotony of my old life¡ªwas whispering, urging me forward.

    ¡°¡­Fuck it,¡± I muttered. ¡°What am I going to lose anyway?¡±

    Yashka offered a small, knowing smile. ¡°Then it is decided.¡±

    He lifted a hand, and a soft, celestial light surrounded me. ¡°You were chosen by the Gem of the Heavens,¡± he repeated. ¡°And now, your journey begins.¡±

    I barely heard the rest of his explanation¡ªabout dominion over the heavens, about the nature of the Gems. I was still stuck on the absurdity of it all.

    When he led me toward the exit of what he called the ¡°Plane of Consciousness,¡± I followed without question. What else was I supposed to do?

    And then, in the blink of an eye, I was somewhere else.

    A temple. A massive chamber, its walls lined with intricate murals of swirling skies and starry expanses. Standing within it were others¡ªnine humans, three elves, two . . . talking bears?

    And then¡ª

    ¡°Star?¡±

    A voice, familiar and raw with relief. My head snapped toward the source.

    My breath caught in my throat.

    I knew that voice.

    I was not alone in this world.

 Chapter 2: We, The Chosen Ten

    The voice that called my name sent a shock through my system.

    I knew that I knew that voice. A voice I have not heard in decades, at least not over the phone.

    My head snapped toward the source, my pulse pounding in my ears.

    There, standing among the gathered figures, was someone I never expected to see in front of me again.

    ¡°Zeke?¡± My voice came out hoarse, disbelief thick in my throat.

    Zeke looked just as stunned as I felt. His light brown eyes were wide, taking me in like he wasn¡¯t sure if I was real. He still had that same messy red hair, the same sharp features, and the same wary stance, like he was always ready to fight or flee. But something was different. He looked stronger, more confident, as if the weight of this world had already settled on his shoulders.

    ¡°Star?¡± he repeated, stepping forward. ¡°Holy shit, is it really you?¡±

    ¡°In the flesh,¡± I muttered, still processing. My childhood friend¡ªmy best friend¡ªwas here. In Mysteria.

    Zeke and I had grown up together, practically inseparable from the moment we met. We had spent years causing trouble, sneaking out to avoid our afternoon naps as kids, daring each other to do stupid things just to see who would break first

    But life had a way of pulling people apart. His family moved back to Ireland almost twenty years ago. We never saw each other in person again. And then college came, jobs, responsibilities¡ªwe drifted, as people do. And now, against all logic, we were standing in the same room again, in a world neither of us belonged to.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this,¡± Zeke said, his voice quieter now. ¡°I thought I was alone in this. How did you get here?¡±

    I exhaled sharply. ¡°Same way you did, I¡¯m guessing. A glow, some cryptic bullshit, and then poof¡ªnew world, new problems.¡±

    Zeke let out a breathless laugh. ¡°Yeah. That about sums it up.¡±

    Before we could say more, another voice interrupted. ¡°So, you two know each other?¡±

    I turned to see everyone else watching us with varying degrees of curiosity. I had almost forgotten about them. I had been so preoccupied with the thought of Zeke being in this world too.

    ¡°Uh, yeah,¡± I started. ¡°He and I grew up together,¡± I supplied nonchalantly, hoping the guy who interrupted us wouldn¡¯t be extroverted. I had no energy nor in the mood to hold hands and sing Kumbaya.

    ¡°Hmmm.¡± The guy simply pursed his lips and nodded. That was all.

    He was around 185 cm tall, his light brown eyes glowing with a calm intensity that contrasted with his blond hair, which was slightly tousled. His frame was athletic and well-toned, with broad shoulders and a sculpted chest.

    ¡°Viktor,¡± he started. ¡°That¡¯s my name. I gathered I should tell you since I know yours, Star and Zeke.¡±

    ¡°Alastar,¡± I corrected him. ¡°My name is Alastar. Czak Alastar, but please just call me Czak. Only my family and Zeke call me Star. Sorry.¡±

    He nodded and gestured for everyone to gather around.

    I had no idea how long they¡¯d been here before I arrived. It seemed like I was the last to step out of the Plane of Consciousness.

    I looked around and scanned everyone in attendance. There were three elves, two talking bears, three other guys except for Zeke and myself, and five girls. How boring, the ten of us summoned, five guys and five girls. This seemed like a very typical superhero isekai bull shit.

    We gathered around, and it seemed people had found their friends.

    ¡°How long have you been here before, well, I arrived?¡± I asked Zeke.

    ¡°Not too long,¡± he started. ¡°Maybe an hour or two. I was the third to arrive. Had a very long and confusing conversation with the previous guardian of my Gem.¡±

    ¡°Previous guardian?¡± I echoed.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, ¡°the one who met me in the Plane of Consciouness. He said his name was Draganta.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± I muttered. ¡°What else did he say?¡±

    ¡°Nah, he went on about how I was chosen and how I need to accept it. There were others chosen before me, but they didn¡¯t accept the task blah blah blah . . . ¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± I interrupted him. ¡°What¡¯s your Gem?¡±

    ¡°Fire,¡± he answered. ¡°Draganta mentioned something about being the King of Fire, of creation and destruction.¡± His thoughts seemed to trail off as if trying to remember more details. ¡°You? What did you get?¡±

    I laughed. ¡°You make it sound like we won some gacha shit,¡± I started as he laughed with me. ¡°Heavens,¡± I said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that means exactly. Yashka mentioned something about sky, wind, and celestial magic.¡±

    ¡°Is Yashka the previous guardian of your Gem?¡± Zeke asked.

    ¡°I guess so.¡± I shrugged. ¡°That didn¡¯t really occur to me. I thought he was just a member of the welcoming committee or something.¡± That gained some more laughter from Zeke, surprisingly.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve never changed,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s good to be with someone familiar in this strange land.¡±

    I smiled.

    Familiar. Zeke and I were more than familiar. But I can¡¯t really blame him to just say familiar. It¡¯s been twenty years since we last saw each other. Sure, we chat and video call from time to time to catch up, but that doesn¡¯t count as being best friends anymore, I guess.

    ¡°It looks like introductions are in order?¡± A voice cut through my thoughts. It was a voice so majestic and authoritative it pulled me out of my trance.

    ¡°I am Ishthar,¡± she said, inclining her head slightly. ¡°The Seer of Mysteria.¡± It was one of the elves. She stood at the center and was the most striking. Long silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, contrasting with her warm tan skin. Her deep violet eyes held an unreadable depth, as if she was seeing more than just the present moment.

    ¡°The Seer?¡± I echoed. ¡°So you knew we were coming?¡±

    ¡°I see fragments of what may come. It was my visions that foretold the coming of the Chosen.¡± Ishthar smiled, but there was no amusement in it. She shook her head, gently. ¡°I knew of your arrival,¡± she corrected. ¡°But visions are never clear until the moment they unfold.¡±

    ¡°Think of them as pieces of a puzzle,¡± one of the elves beside Ishthar interjected. ¡°You see all teh pieces, but you don¡¯t get to see the entire picture at once.¡±

    ¡°This is Marik,¡± Ishthar gestured to the shorter elf who just pitched in. ¡°He is the High Mage of Mysteria and has held that mantle for the last three hundred years.¡±

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    Marik chuckled. ¡°Three hundred and twenty-six, but who¡¯s counting?¡±

    My gaze shifted to Marik. He was noticeably shorter, barely reaching my shoulder, yet his presence demanded attention. His sharp, intelligent eyes gleamed from beneath the silver strands that fell over his face, veiling them like mist over the sea. But even through that curtain, I glimpsed the color of the ocean¡ªdeep, fathomless, and brimming with knowledge.

    He was draped in layered robes of midnight blue and shimmering silver, the fabric embroidered with constellations that seemed to shift as he moved. Runes glowed faintly along the cuffs and hem, their meaning just beyond my understanding. Over his shoulders rested a high-collared mantle fastened with an intricate silver clasp, the sigil of Mysteria etched upon it.

    In his grasp, he held a staff of darkened silver, its surface engraved with arcane symbols that pulsed with quiet energy. At its head, a crystal orb hovered, not set into the metal but suspended within an open framework of twisting silver, as if caught between moments in time. The orb itself swirled with deep blues and flickers of starlight, resembling the very cosmos¡ªendless, ever-shifting, and watching.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look a day over twenty-five.¡± One of the girls blurted out, her tone mostly confused.

    Marik grinned. ¡°Elves age differently,¡± he responded. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten your name, my lady.¡±

    ¡°Gabrielle,¡± she said, ¡°Gabrielle Bennett.¡±

    ¡°My pleasure to know your name, Queen of Waters.¡± Marik bowed.

    Gabrielle managed a rather embarrassed smile, trying to avoid everyone¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed,¡± another girl said, tapping Gabrielle¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He called me something weird¡ªEmpress of Reflections¡ªearlier too.¡±

    They chuckled, quite amused by whatever was happening at the moment.

    I shifted my gaze back to Marik and Ishthar. I was waiting for something from them. I don¡¯t know what it was, but some sort of explanation would be nice.

    Ishthar gestured to the taller elf. ¡°And this is Iago, a mage apprentice. He¡¯s been under Marik¡¯s tutelage for seventy-five years.¡±

    Iago nodded politely. ¡°A pleasure.¡±

    Iago stood taller than his master, his frame lean but not frail, carrying himself with a quiet, disciplined air. His fair skin was dusted with freckles, a soft contrast to the sharp intelligence in his green eyes¡ªan observant, calculating gaze that missed nothing. Though his expression was reserved, there was an unmistakable watchfulness about him as if he were constantly studying his surroundings, filing away every detail for later use.

    His silver hair, fine and slightly tousled, caught the light with an almost ethereal sheen, a striking contrast to the lighter-colored robes he wore¡ªsimilar in design to Marik¡¯s but subtly different, as though to mark him as a student rather than an equal. The fabric draped elegantly over his form, its muted hues reinforcing his understated presence.

    Unlike Marik, Iago carried his tools with practicality in mind. A well-worn grimoire and a finely crafted wand rested securely against his hip, fastened by a harness that functioned almost like a tool belt¡ªwithin reach at a moment¡¯s notice, yet never cumbersome.

    eventy-five years? I barely lasted three months in my first editing job. I thought, but before I could process that, movement to my left caught my attention.

    Two massive figures padded forward, their sheer presence demanding silence. Bears. Two talking bears.

    ¡°I am Kaldi,¡± the larger of the two rumbled, his voice deep and steady. ¡°And this is my younger brother, Dero.¡±

    Dero, the smaller one, still had the roundness of a cub. ¡°Hi,¡± he said, his voice much lighter, almost cheerful.

    I shot a glance at Zeke. He and I knew what the other was thinking most of the time.

    Zeke snorted. ¡°At this point, I¡¯m just rolling with it.¡±

    Marik cleared his throat. ¡°I believe it¡¯s best the rest also introduce themselves?¡± He gestured for all of us to take our seat at a huge round table.

    The table was a breathtaking piece of craftsmanship, carved from a single slab of luminous marble with veins of silver and deep blue running through its polished surface. It reflected the ambient glow of the chamber¡¯s enchanted lights, giving it an almost ethereal shimmer. Arcane symbols were inlaid along its edges, their faint glow pulsing rhythmically, as if responding to the magic in the air. The sheer size of it made it clear that this was a place where important decisions had been made for centuries¡ªa table that had witnessed history unfold time and time again.

    And then, the part I hated the most, introducing myself to strangers, came. But we did so. We took turns at our introductions; some were longer than others¡¯, but we finished.

    The ten of us were from different countries. But somehow, communication was never an issue.

    Hyacinth, one of the girls, pointed it out in the middle of our introductions.

    ¡°If you¡¯re from different countries,¡± she started, ¡°how come you all speak Bisaya?¡± She¡¯s from the Philippines; she mentioned Cebu. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s a great place for tourists, but that¡¯s a totally different story for another time. Hyacinth is here with her twin sister, Amethyst. They were both chosen by different Gems. Hyacinth was chosen by the Gem of Creations; Amethyst, by the Gem of Life.

    Ishthar let out a soft chuckle of amusement. ¡°In Mysteria, we only have one language,¡± she explained. ¡°You speak in a language you know, and we hear you in a language we know.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± I muttered in amazement. ¡°So it¡¯s like a real-time auto-translation. Fascinating.¡± I added quite sarcastically.

    ¡°Don¡¯t geek out now, Mister Linguist.¡± Zeke teased.

    I gave him a mocking face. ¡°If anything, I am insulted. Years of studying languages, and this just hands it to us? I feel cheated.¡± That made him laugh heartily.

    ¡°That explains why you all sound fluent in French,¡± Pierre interjected. ¡°I couldn¡¯t wrap my head around the fact that all of you could speak French that well.¡±

    The group turned toward the speaker. His voice was soft¡ªalmost too soft for an interruption¡ªbut there was a distinct sharpness to it, like the edge of a finely honed blade.

    My gaze landed on him, immediately noting the dark-skinned young man with short, wavy locks that fell in beautiful, effortless curls. His brown eyes, keen and observant, flickered with something meek arrogance as he spoke. He stood taller than me, maybe 14 centimeters taller than me. He¡¯s lean but with enough muscle to hint at strength beneath his calm exterior.

    Something about him¡ªhis posture, his expression¡ªgave the impression of quiet confidence. But then he spoke again, his tone smooth yet laced with an almost absentminded condescension, as if stating a fact he expected everyone else to catch up to. And I already found him insufferable.

    ¡°The fuck is that supposed to mean?¡± I blurted out.

    Pierre shrugged, dismissing my question.

    Zeke shot a look of warning toward my way. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he said, ¡°fucking chill, dude. He probably means nothing.¡±

    I frowned. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± he responded. ¡°Just don¡¯t.¡±

    I rolled my eyes at him as I listened to the others introduce themselves.

    After some minutes, everyone was acquainted. Ishtar and Marik took turns explaining the titles given to us after we accepted the Gems¡¯ powers.

    There¡¯s me, from Portugal, the new Pharaoh of the Heavens; my best friend, who¡¯s originally from Ireland, Zeke is now the King of Fire. The other boys included Viktor from Russia, the new Duke of Supremacy; Andrew from Australia, the new Emperor of Earth; and Pierre from France, the Czar of Changes.

    The other five were the ladies. Gabrielle from Canada, the new Queen of Waters; the twins Hyacinth and Amethyst from the Philippines, the new Duchess of Creations and Angel of Life respectively; Cassandra from Italy, the new Czarina of Senses; and Sakura from Japan, the new Empress of Reflections.

    Marik asked Iago to explain the domains of our powers to us in the simplest way possible; it was still confusing though. Marik and Ishthar would chime in from time to time to add some details, things like our discipline and magical affinity, which made things even more complicated.

    All I gathered at that moment was I was chosen because of my strong magical aptitude, just like the rest of us. The Gem of the Heavens chose me since my magical affinity aligns closely with its domain¡ªsky, wind, and celestial magic. However, despite our magic aptitude and affinity, we have never practiced magic our whole lives, so we need to learn every basic thing about our new abilities with Andora, the best magical mentor Mysteria ever had.

    ¡°Kaldi and Dero will be your guides,¡± Ishthar declared. ¡°They will lead you to the Woods of Silence where Andora is.¡±

    Zeke and I exchanged glances. ¡°The Woods of Silence?¡± I asked. ¡°Sounds . . . ominous.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it sounds,¡± Marik smiled at us. ¡°You will be safe there. No magic can penetrate the Woods of Silence, so no monsters or magical beasts will harm you. Of course, you also cannot use magic while in the Woods. Hence, its name.¡±

    ¡°If we can¡¯t use magic, how are we supposed to train there?¡± Andrew asked, with his confusion painted on his face. To be fair, he asked what we were all thinking.

    ¡°Andora¡¯s home is unique,¡± Iago answered. ¡°It is the only place within the Woods where you can use magic. It¡¯s complicated.¡±

    ¡°Sure is,¡± Pierre blurted out. ¡°No need to trouble yourself with the technicalities. I am already as confused as I can get.¡±

    ¡°Kaldi and Dero are expert navigators,¡± Marik said. ¡°They are the best we know. They will guide you and ensure you find the best food and place to sleep along the way.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, what the fuck?¡± Sakura stood up from her chair. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®find the best food and place to sleep along the way¡¯?¡±

    Dero raised his paw cutely. ¡°The Woods of Silence is far,¡± he said. ¡°Very far. Maybe three or four nights if we are fast.¡±

    Now that got a lot of unwanted reactions.

 Chapter 3: The Weight on Our Shoulders

    ¡°Three or four nights?!¡±

    Sakura wasn¡¯t the only one with objections, but she was certainly the loudest. A ripple of mixed reactions spread across the group, ranging from frustration to sheer disbelief.

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± Gabrielle began, pinching the bridge of her nose, ¡°that after getting yanked into this world without warning, we now have to march through a magical forest for days just to get to where we¡¯re supposed to train?¡±

    ¡°And sleep outside,¡± Amethyst added, looking no more thrilled than her sister. ¡°In a world where we have no idea what¡¯s out there.¡±

    ¡°And eat... what, exactly?¡± Hyacinth''s voice was wary. ¡°Are we foraging? Hunting? I don¡¯t exactly have survival training.¡¯

    ¡°I don''t even camp in my own world,¡± Andrew muttered, arms crossed. ¡°Let alone here.¡±

    Pierre scoffed, shaking his head. ¡°This is absurd. Can we not simply teleport? Surely magic exists that allows for instant travel.¡±

    A few nods of agreement followed, and I found myself glancing at Marik. Of all the people here, he seemed the most likely to have an answer that actually made sense.

    The High Mage chuckled¡ªa soft, knowing sound that made me think he¡¯d heard this all before. ¡°Ah, if only the solution were that simple.¡± He gestured upward, as if drawing our attention to the very air around us. "Teleportation magic is not as convenient as you might believe. It requires precise anchoring, a stable point of arrival, and an immense amount of energy. Even the most skilled mages cannot simply snap their fingers and transport a group of ten across a great distance. It is an art, a science, and a dangerous one at that."

    His deep blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he continued. "Andora¡¯s home is shielded. No teleportation magic can reach it. Even if I were to send you partway, the risk of miscalculation could leave you scattered across the wilderness¡ªor worse, inside a tree."

    The twins exchanged a horrified look.

    "Alright, but why not teleport us as close as possible and let us walk the rest of the way?" Viktor questioned, his tone practical.

    Marik inclined his head. "A reasonable suggestion. However, the Woods of Silence exist on the edge of Mysteria¡¯s magical equilibrium. The closer you get, the more unstable teleportation becomes. One misstep, and you may find yourself lost in a dimension between realms, forever adrift."

    "Yeah, hard pass," Zeke muttered.

    Pierre still looked skeptical. "You expect us to believe there is no easier way?"

    Marik merely smiled. "I expect you to trust that some journeys must be taken the hard way. There is value in the path itself, not just the destination."

    "That sounds like something a teacher would say when they want to make students suffer," I muttered under my breath.

    Zeke snorted. "Right? Next thing you know, we¡¯ll have to climb mountains just to ¡®build character.¡¯"

    Marik raised a brow. "Ah, but you will."

    Silence.

    "What?" Andrew deadpanned.

    "Not yet," Marik continued smoothly, as if he hadn¡¯t just shattered what little patience we had left. "But for now, your journey through the Woods of Silence will teach you far more than you realize. Not just about survival, but about yourselves."

    Gabrielle groaned, tilting her head back. "Great. So we¡¯re going on some deep, personal journey while also trying not to die in an unfamiliar world. Fantastic."

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Dero clapped his paws together, beaming. "It won¡¯t be so bad! We know the best places to rest, and we¡¯ll find food for everyone. We¡¯re very good at it!"

    Hyacinth still looked unconvinced. "I don¡¯t suppose by ¡®best food¡¯ you mean anything... normal? Like, I don¡¯t know, bread?"

    Kaldi rumbled a chuckle. "You will eat well. And you will not be poisoned. That much, we promise."

    Not exactly reassuring, but at least it was something.

    I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Alright. Let¡¯s just get this over with."

    Pierre exhaled sharply, clearly displeased. "So we are truly meant to suffer through this experience?"

    Marik smiled, that infuriating, all-knowing smile of his. "Suffering is a choice. Learning, however, is inevitable."

    Zeke leaned toward me. "That sounded wise, but I think it just means we¡¯re screwed."

    "Absolutely."

    Ishthar stepped forward, her expression turning serious. ¡°Time is not on our side. The enemy will not wait for you to be ready. They would know you have arrived. You must leave soon.¡±

    ¡°Right, about that,¡± Viktor chimed. ¡°Who exactly is the enemy?¡±

    That was a question I knew the rest of us had been wanting to ask.

    Marik sighed, tapping his fingers on the marble table. His expression darkened, the amused glint in his eyes replaced with something more solemn. ¡°They are known as the Vharethi¡ªa race of semi-divine beings from the world of Xyphirath. They are ancient, powerful, and relentless.¡±

    He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. ¡°The Vharethi thrive on magic itself. It is their lifeblood, their very essence. Without it, they wither and fade. Their homeworld, once abundant in magic, was drained completely over countless centuries. Now, they wander from world to world, consuming magic wherever they find it, leaving nothing but lifeless husks in their wake.¡±

    A heavy silence followed his words. I felt a pit form in my stomach.

    ¡°They want to consume Mysteria¡¯s magic,¡± Andrew murmured, putting the pieces together.

    Ishthar nodded grimly. ¡°Mysteria is not just any world¡ªit is the heart of all magic, the source from which magic flows into every other realm. If the Vharethi succeed in devouring Mysteria¡¯s energy¡­¡± She hesitated, searching for the right words. ¡°The balance of the universe will collapse. Magic will dwindle. Worlds that rely on it will suffer. Some may even perish.¡±

    Gabrielle inhaled sharply. ¡°So it¡¯s not just Mysteria at stake.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Ishthar confirmed. ¡°It is all worlds, including your own.¡±

    The realization hit harder than I expected. This wasn¡¯t just some otherworldly battle we¡¯d been dragged into¡ªit had consequences that stretched far beyond Mysteria.

    ¡°But how do they plan to do it?¡± Cassandra asked. ¡°Surely they can¡¯t just waltz in and take all the magic for themselves.¡±

    ¡°They are not so foolish,¡± Marik replied. ¡°The Vharethi are cunning. They infiltrate, they corrupt, they twist the hearts of those who seek power.¡±

    ¡°They already have loyalists among Mysterians,¡± Ishthar added. ¡°Those who have forsaken their own world, promised salvation and glory in the ¡®new era¡¯ the Vharethi claim to bring. Their numbers are growing.¡±

    Pierre scoffed. ¡°And these fools believe them?¡±

    ¡°They do,¡± Marik said simply. ¡°Because the Vharethi have power beyond anything Mysteria has seen before. Their influence is undeniable. And to those who desire strength above all else, their promises are . . . tempting.¡±

    Silence lingered, the weight of the revelation settling over the room.

    ¡°I can only imagine,¡± I finally muttered.

    Because now, I understood. This wasn¡¯t just a fight to protect a foreign world. This was a fight to protect magic itself. And whether we liked it or not, we were already part of it.

    Ishthar¡¯s gaze swept over us, her expression unreadable. Then, in a quieter voice, she asked, ¡°Now that you understand the stakes, will you fight?¡±

    The weight of her question settled heavily over the chamber. No one answered immediately. How could we? We had just learned that an entire race of powerful, magic-devouring beings had set their sights on Mysteria¡ªand, by extension, the rest of the universe. This was so much bigger than any of us had imagined.

    But before anyone could respond, the entire chamber shook.

    A thunderous explosion erupted from somewhere outside, and a deafening crack echoed through the stone walls. Dust rained from the ceiling as another tremor rumbled beneath our feet.

    Marik¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡±

    Kaldi let out a low growl, his fur bristling. ¡°We are out of time.¡±

    ¡°We need to hurry,¡± Dero yelped, fear apparent in his voice.

    Ishthar¡¯s violet eyes turned toward the sealed entrance, where a faint glow pulsed ominously. ¡°They are here.¡±

 Chapter 4: The Enemy Revealed

    The entire chamber trembled again as another explosion thundered from outside. Dust rained from the ceiling. Somewhere beyond these walls, something powerful had been unleashed.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Amethyst¡¯s voice cut through the tension.

    Marik¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Trouble.¡±

    Before any of us could press for details, a sudden burst of golden light flared in the chamber, swirling like a miniature storm of fireflies. The glow condensed into a single point before erupting outward in shimmering sparks, leaving behind a tall, lean elf clad in armor etched with glowing runes.

    ¡°Marik! They¡¯re here.¡± His face was tense, his breath hurried. He hesitated, then added, ¡°Marduk is here.¡±

    The weight of the name settled heavily in the room. I felt a shift in the air¡ªa cold, almost suffocating energy pressing down on us.

    Viktor stiffened. ¡°Who the hell is Marduk?¡±

    Marik¡¯s eyes flicked toward him, his voice as smooth and clipped as ever. ¡°An enemy.¡±

    Not exactly helpful, Marik. I thought.

    Of course. That much was obvious. But before any of us could press for details, Marik turned to Kaldi and Dero, his tone shifting into one of command. ¡°Take them to Andora. Now.¡±

    Kaldi¡¯s ears perked. ¡°You¡¯re not coming with us?¡±

    Dero¡¯s ears twitched. ¡°You mean leave you all here? But¡ª¡±

    ¡°There is no time for argument,¡± Marik interrupted, his voice calm but firm. ¡°Ishthar, Iago, and I will take things from here.¡±

    Zeke took a step forward, looking between them. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be all right? I mean, I get that you guys are powerful and all, but¡ª¡±

    Iago smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, King of Fire. We¡¯re not alone.¡±

    A rumble shook the walls again, but this time, it wasn¡¯t from an explosion¡ªit was the sound of something massive moving outside. Shadows passed beyond the entrance.

    That was when I noticed it¡ªthe faint vibration in the air, a distant hum like a storm on the horizon. There was power gathering beyond these walls, something ancient, something strong.

    ¡°The Vulcans and the Terrans have gathered,¡± Iago gestured toward the door of the chamber. ¡°The fight does not rest on three shoulders alone.¡±

    Vulcans? Terrans? I wanted to ask what the hell those were, but before I could, the doors exploded open, bringing in a gust of smoke and dust.

    The first thing I saw were the wolves. Werewolves.

    They were massive creatures, their fur dark as shadows, their eyes gleaming like molten gold. But what caught my attention were the golden collars¡ªintricate, polished, almost regal¡ªaround their thick necks.

    Standing at the head of the pack was an elf.

    He was the mirror image of Marik. Same sharp features. Same regal stance.

    The resemblance was uncanny¡ªsame sharp features, same high cheekbones, same impossibly graceful posture. The only difference was in the eyes. Marik¡¯s were a deep, piercing blue. This elf¡¯s eyes were darker, like the ocean at midnight, holding something colder, more distant.

    While Marik radiated an air of wisdom and quiet power, this elf exuded something else entirely. Arrogance. Cruelty. Control. His deep blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he surveyed the chamber.

    A slow, smug smile stretched across his lips. Then, in a smooth, almost amused tone, he said, ¡°So . . . your saviors have arrived.¡± The way he said it¡ªmocking, almost playful¡ªmade my skin crawl. He stepped forward, moving lazily¡ªlike he¡¯d already won.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Marik didn¡¯t flinch. If anything, he looked vaguely unimpressed. ¡°Marduk.¡±

    Marduk¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Brother.¡±

    Brother.

    Of course. Because why wouldn¡¯t the powerful High Mage of Mysteria have a long-lost twin who turned to the enemy¡¯s side?

    I stiffened. I wasn¡¯t the only one. A few of us exchanged glances, realization hitting all at once. The enemy¡ªour enemy¡ªwas Marik¡¯s twin.

    Marduk tilted his head slightly, his eyes flicking toward us with barely concealed disdain. ¡°Are these the ones you¡¯ve placed your faith in?¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°I expected more, Marik. They look . . . disappointing.¡±

    Pierre straightened. ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    Marduk chuckled, ignoring him. ¡°Is this truly the prophecy you cling to so desperately? Ten lost children from a world without magic? Tell me, brother¡ªdo you actually believe these fragile little things will save Mysteria?¡±

    Marik remained unfazed. ¡°Belief is not required, Marduk. The future will unfold as it must.¡±

    Marduk sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Still reciting your little wisdoms, I see. Tell me, does it comfort you? Pretending the universe has some grand design?¡± He took another step forward. ¡°You know what I believe, brother? Power wins. It always has. It always will. And the Vharethi offer power beyond anything you or these children can comprehend.¡±

    His gaze swept over us again, filled with cold amusement. ¡°Yet you would place your trust in weaklings instead.¡±

    ¡°Call us weak again,¡± Pierre muttered under his breath. ¡°See what happens.¡±

    Zeke shot him a look. ¡°Dude, not the fucking time.¡±

    Marik ignored Marduk¡¯s taunts, his expression calm as ever. ¡°Your faith is misplaced. The Vharethi do not give power freely. They take. And they will take everything from you when you are no longer useful.¡±

    Marduk chuckled. ¡°And you think your so-called ¡®Guardians¡¯ are any different?¡± His gaze flickered toward Ishthar and Iago. ¡°Or do you still tell yourselves you are fighting for some righteous cause?¡±

    Marik sighed, almost as if this was nothing more than an inconvenience. Then, without breaking eye contact with his twin, he gave a subtle nod toward Iago.

    Iago shook his head, more annoyed than anything. ¡°You talk too much, Marduk.¡±

    And before Marduk could respond, he whisked his hand.

    The world blurred.

    One moment, we were in the chamber, caught between Marik¡¯s stand-off with his twin and a pack of werewolves. The next, the world lurched, and suddenly¡ª

    We were somewhere else.

    The air was damp and cool. The faint glow of torches lined the rocky walls. A tunnel stretched before us, winding into the unknown.

    Kaldi and Dero stood beside us, their expressions tense. The walls of the underground passage stretched in both directions, dimly illuminated by faint light of the torches.

    A long silence followed.

    ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± Andrew muttered.

    Dero¡¯s ears twitched. ¡°Iago sent us here. It is an escape tunnel.¡±

    Pierre exhaled sharply, his jaw tight. ¡°Cowards run. We should go back.¡±

    Hyacinth shot him a sharp look. ¡°Go back? Are you insane?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re fighting because of us,¡± Pierre countered. ¡°Because we are supposedly ¡®important.¡¯ So why are we running while they risk their lives?¡±

    A murmur of agreement rippled through some of the group.

    Kaldi growled, his golden eyes narrowing. ¡°You are not running. You are following the path set before you.¡±

    ¡°But shouldn¡¯t we fight?¡± Gabrielle asked, frustration clear in her voice. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to be the next ¡®Guardians,¡¯ aren¡¯t we? What kind of Guardians abandon their allies?¡±

    Andrew exhaled through his nose. ¡°They chose to stay.¡±

    Amethyst frowned. ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°If they had wanted us to fight, they would have let us.¡± Andrew¡¯s voice was firm, his gaze steady. ¡°And if they thought we were ready, the previous Guardians wouldn¡¯t have given us the choice to stay or go.¡±

    That shut everyone up.

    Because he was right.

    If we were truly meant to fight now¡ªif we were truly capable¡ªwe wouldn¡¯t be here.

    I crossed my arms. ¡°Be honest. How many of you have ever been in a magical battle?¡±

    Silence.

    No one spoke.

    That was all the answer I needed.

    Before anyone could say more, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the tunnel.

    The air shifted. A low, rumbling vibration pulsed beneath my feet.

    And then¡ª

    Pierre wasn¡¯t Pierre anymore.

    A massive tiger stood in his place.

    Golden fur. Black stripes. Piercing amber eyes.

    I blinked. Stared. Tried to make sense of what the hell just happened.

    Then, without thinking, I blurted out¡ª

    ¡°What the fuck???¡±

 Chapter 5: No Plan, No Problem

    ¡°What the fuck???¡±

    The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them.

    We all stood frozen, staring at Pierre¡ªexcept Pierre wasn¡¯t Pierre anymore.

    A massive tiger now occupied his spot, his broad shoulders heaving with every breath. His golden eyes flicked between us, intelligent but unfamiliar. The dim tunnel light reflected off his sleek, striped fur, giving him an almost ethereal glow. His tail lashed once, twice¡ªthen stilled. The silence stretched on, thick and unbroken.

    Then, just as suddenly as it happened, his voice echoed¡ªnot through the air, but inside my mind.

    ¡°Don¡¯t freak out.¡±

    That didn¡¯t help.

    I stumbled back, my pulse hammering. ¡°Holy shit¡ªdid anyone else hear that?!¡±

    The others nodded, looking equally shaken.

    Pierre¡ªor Tiger Pierre¡ªlet out a heavy exhale, his whiskers twitching. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± His voice was calm yet laced with uncertainty. ¡°I was thinking about how we could help Marik, Ishthar, and Iago, and the next thing I knew... this happened.¡±

    A deep, rumbling chuckle came from Kaldi. ¡°It makes sense. You are the Czar of Changes.¡±

    Pierre flicked an ear. ¡°The what?¡±

    Kaldi¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. ¡°You wield transmogrification. You can shift forms¡ªnot just your own, but potentially others¡¯ as well.¡±

    Pierre¡¯s massive paws flexed, his claws scraping lightly against the tunnel floor. ¡°So I¡¯m... what? Some kind of shapeshifter?¡±

    ¡°In a way, yes,¡± Kaldi confirmed. ¡°But uncontrolled shifting means your emotions triggered it. Magic is shaped by will, but for you, heightened emotions act as a catalyst.¡±

    Pierre let out a deep, irritated sigh. ¡°Great. So basically, if I get too excited, I sprout fur and start purring.¡±

    Dero clapped his paws together, his tail wagging. ¡°This is exactly why we must go to Andora! Your abilities are raw, untamed. If you wish to fight¡ªnot just flail around like clueless hatchlings¡ªyou must first learn control!¡±

    That statement sparked immediate resistance.

    ¡°Dero¡¯s right,¡± Cassandra said, arms crossed. ¡°If we charge in now, we¡¯ll be liabilities, not allies.¡±

    ¡°So we just sit here while they fight for us?¡± Zeke¡¯s voice rose, frustration evident. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit. We were chosen for this, weren¡¯t we?¡±

    Gabrielle nodded, her hands curling into fists. ¡°We owe it to them to stand beside them.¡±

    Dero let out a dramatic groan. ¡°You children have no sense of tactics!¡±

    The argument escalated quickly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s settle it with a vote,¡± Hyacinth suggested, crossing her arms. ¡°Do we go back or head to Andora?¡±

    It was a close call.

    ¡°Going back wins,¡± Andrew muttered, rubbing his temples like he already regretted it.

    Kaldi and Dero groaned in unison.

    ¡°You are all impossible,¡± Kaldi grumbled. ¡°Fine. But at least begin understanding what you¡¯re capable of before you run headfirst into danger.¡±

    Dero brightened. ¡°Yes! Yes! Please, if you must make reckless choices, at least do so competently!¡±

    ¡ª

    Zeke went first. He stretched his fingers, took a slow breath, and focused. For a moment, nothing happened¡ªthen, suddenly, fire erupted from his palms. The flames danced between his fingers, flickering in hues of orange and gold.

    His eyes widened. ¡°Holy shit.¡± He grinned, turning to me. ¡°Star, look! Just like when we were kids!¡±

    I arched an eyebrow. ¡°Except now, it¡¯s not just us waving around sparklers.¡±

    The flames wavered as his focus slipped, then extinguished entirely.

    ¡°Damn.¡± Zeke flexed his fingers. ¡°Gotta work on that.¡±

    Gabrielle stepped up next. Lifting her hands, she furrowed her brows. A shimmering tendril of water rose from thin air, swirling in delicate loops around her wrists. The liquid pulsed as if responding to her emotions.

    She exhaled in awe. ¡°It¡¯s like... breathing. I can feel it flow.¡±

    With a flick of her fingers, the water shifted forms¡ªa twisting stream, a floating sphere, then a delicate, crystalline icicle.

    ¡°Show off,¡± Zeke teased. Surprisingly, that made Gabrielle smile.

    Viktor rolled his shoulders. ¡°All right, my turn.¡±

    The second he took off, he was gone¡ªa blur of motion whipping through the tunnel. A gust of wind rushed past us as he reappeared twenty feet away.

    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s fast,¡± Zeke muttered.

    Viktor smirked. ¡°Not just fast¡ªstrong, too.¡± He bent down, gripped a jagged boulder, and lifted it one-handed like it was nothing more than a pebble.

    ¡°All right, Mister Worldwide,¡± Zeke said teasingly, raising his hands in playful surrender.

    Hyacinth narrowed her eyes, focusing hard. A flicker of something unseen pulsed in the air around her, and then¡ªout of nowhere¡ªa delicate glass figurine appeared in her hands. It shimmered as if made from crystal, reflecting the dim tunnel light.

    ¡°I can create anything I imagine,¡± she explained, breathless. She closed her eyes again, and this time, she conjured a tiny silver dagger. ¡°It takes a lot of focus, though.¡±

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    Andrew shook his head. ¡°I think I can bend earth, but considering we¡¯re underground, I¡¯d rather not accidentally collapse the tunnel.¡±

    Amethyst hesitated before reaching for Viktor¡¯s arm, where a faint scratch from his earlier dashing remained. She placed her hands over the wound, whispering under her breath. A soft golden glow surrounded her fingers¡ªand the scratch vanished.

    Her breath hitched. ¡°I actually healed you.¡±

    Dero wiggled his ears. ¡°Healing magic works with intent. The more you practice, the more natural it will feel.¡±

    Sakura sighed. ¡°I can mimic powers and forms, but I have to experience them first. So right now? I¡¯m about as useful as a lamp without a lightbulb.¡±

    Cassandra flicked her wrist, and one of Hyacinth¡¯s conjured daggers hovered midair at her command. ¡°I think this will do just fine.¡±

    ¡°You have telekinesis?¡± Amethyst asked in amusement.

    Cassandra smiled sheepishly. ¡°I can hear your thoughts too,¡± she said. ¡°What?!¡± Every yelled almost in unison. Some sounded amazed, while others sounded worried and some even embarrassed.

    Yeah, I had been silently judging all of them. Perhaps making some tiny rude comments here and there.

    Cassandra looked at me with that all-knowing smirk. And then she let out a gentle amused laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your thoughts are safe with me. I agree with most of them by the way.¡±

    Zeke raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°Excuse me?¡± He said. ¡°What the fuck was that supposed to mean?¡±

    Cassandra giggled. ¡°That¡¯s our little secret,¡± she said, holding up her right index finger to her lips.

    They all continued to experiment with the new skills. I watched it all unfold, arms crossed. The whole thing felt surreal.

    Still, curiosity nagged at me. I hesitantly opened my palm. A light gust of wind stirred against my fingertips, coiling like an unseen presence before vanishing.

    Huh. A secret smile tugged at my lips. Wind magic. Just like I always wanted.

    The others didn¡¯t notice. They were too lost in their own discoveries.

    The thrill of discovering our magic hadn¡¯t even settled before we were forced to decide¡ªagain¡ªwhether to return to the fight or not. The energy in the tunnel shifted.

    Kaldi and Dero still looked as though they were mourning the last shred of our common sense.

    ¡°You will regret this,¡± Kaldi muttered, rubbing his temples with his paws. I thought it looked cute had we not been in dire circumstances. ¡°Every ounce of logic demands you go to Andora, and yet you choose to hurl yourselves into battle like freshly hatched hatchlings!¡±

    Dero groaned dramatically. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re doing! You are all so young and fragile! It¡¯s painful to watch!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out,¡± Zeke said, arms crossed.

    ¡°Yes, what an excellent plan,¡± Kaldi drawled. ¡°¡®We¡¯ll figure it out.¡¯ Brilliant strategy. Tell me, have you considered the possibility that you will die before you ¡®figure it out?¡¯¡±

    Gabrielle shot him a glare. ¡°We¡¯re not just going to sit here while Marik, Ishthar, and Iago fight on our behalf.¡±

    Pierre, who somehow managed to shift back to human form, crossed his arms. ¡°We all know going to Andora is the smarter choice, but¡ª¡± he hesitated. ¡°I think we¡¯d hate ourselves if we didn¡¯t at least try to help.¡±

    Cassandra tapped her fingers against her hip, frowning. ¡°All right. So let¡¯s assume we¡¯re actually doing this. What¡¯s our plan?¡±

    A long silence followed.

    Zeke looked at Viktor. Viktor looked at Gabrielle. Gabrielle looked at Pierre.

    No one had an answer.

    Finally, Andrew sighed. ¡°Right. So, we have no strategy. Excellent start.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we can split up?¡± Amethyst suggested hesitantly. ¡°Some of us can stay back and observe, while others try to help without getting too involved?¡±

    ¡°That sounds like a great way to get picked off one by one,¡± Cassandra pointed out.

    ¡°I mean, technically I could transform into something huge and terrifying to cause a distraction¡ª¡± Pierre offered.

    ¡°And then what?¡± I cut in sharply. ¡°Even if you manage to intimidate a few enemies, how do you intend to hold your ground? What happens if you shift back at the wrong time?¡±

    Pierre shot a sharp look at me, almost indignant. He looked like he wanted to say something cheeky. ¡°Whatever,¡± he groaned, rolling his eyes.

    Zeke clenched his fists. ¡°We just need to do something. If we can¡¯t fight head-on, maybe we can disrupt their movements, mess with their formations.¡±

    Gabrielle nodded. ¡°Or at the very least, buy Marik¡¯s group more time.¡±

    Hyacinth held out her hands, conjuring a small sphere of glowing silver light. ¡°I can create things, but I have no idea how to make weapons or anything useful yet.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t need weapons,¡± Viktor said. ¡°We need distractions, obstacles¡ªthings to slow the enemy down.¡±

    Andrew sighed. ¡°I could probably shift some of the earth under them¡­ but again, tunnel.¡± He gestured at their surroundings. ¡°Unless we want to die via cave-in, I¡¯m not messing with the ground here.¡±

    ¡°I could throw things at people?¡± Cassandra offered dryly, gesturing at the objects she was telekinetically floating.

    Sakura raised a hand hesitantly. ¡°I can copy powers, but since I haven¡¯t encountered much yet,¡± she offered. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to copy powers or forms at this point. I think I will sit this one out instead.¡±

    Amethyst frowned. ¡°So . . . no offense, but we¡¯re basically useless.¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± I admitted, letting out a very audible sigh paired with my rolliest of eye-rolls. ¡°That¡¯s what Kaldi and Dero have been trying to say from the get-go.¡±

    Dero made a strangled noise, flopping onto the ground dramatically. ¡°Oh, stars above, this is an atrocity! You are going to die. You are all going to die.¡±

    Kaldi rubbed his temples. ¡°You are not warriors. You are barely spellcasters. What you are planning to do is reckless.¡± He exhaled sharply, then added, ¡°But . . . if you insist on this suicide mission, at least promise to stay as far from the main battlefield as possible.¡±

    Zeke nodded. ¡°We just need to be enough of a problem that they shift their focus¡ªwithout getting ourselves killed.¡±

    I scoffed. ¡°Right. Because that sounds completely manageable.¡±

    Viktor stretched, rolling his shoulders. ¡°If it makes you feel any better, we already made it this far without dying.¡±

    I gave him an empty stare. ¡°Without dying from what?¡± I asked sharply. ¡°From being summoned into this crazy world that might be a dream and getting whisked away from that chamber to this tunnel?¡±

    Viktor looked at Zeke. ¡°Has he always been like this?¡±

    Zeke shrugged and winced. ¡°Kinda, yeah. He¡¯ll grow on you.¡±

    Viktor shook his head, his eyes wide. ¡°I sure hope so.¡±

    ¡°So what¡¯s the plan exactly?¡± I asked no one in particular.

    After a few sighs and groans, we finally had a strategy.

    Viktor said he¡¯d go crazy with his super speed and super strength and take on as many werewolves as he could. He also asked Hyacinth to create some flash bombs. Thus, she conjured crystal balls that would burst into light upon impact. She also created a few daggers made of silver and gold (just in case Earth legends aren¡¯t as accurate in Mysteria). Cassandra will take care of those. She said something about shooting them at the enemies or whatever.

    Zeke, Gabrielle, and I (begrudgingly) agreed to act as crowd control and do whatever we could to limit the enemies¡¯ movements. Amethyst offered to stay far back and heal anyone who might be injured. Pierre excitedly offered to morph into a rhino and tackle whomever he could. Andrew and Sakura decided to sit this out and offered to watch as lookouts for the others.

    With that, we had our barely-a-plan plan.

    We weren¡¯t going in to fight¡ªat least, not directly.

    But we were going back.

    And despite my better judgment, I followed. ¡°Lord, have mercy,¡± I sighed.

 Chapter 6: A Reckless Return

    The moment we arrived, the air burned with the scent of charred flesh and blood. The battlefield was a wasteland of toppled structures and scorched earth, littered with the remains of battle. Shadows moved in the flickering light¡ªwerewolves, their hulking forms snarling as they clashed against an army of warriors. But it was the sight of our unexpected allies that sent a shiver through me.

    Among them were creatures straight out of myth. Humanoids wreathed in flames, their bodies shifting like molten rock¡ªVulcans, I realized. Beside them, armored elves moved in perfect sync, their swords flashing as they weaved through enemy ranks. And among them¡ªtalking animals, beasts of war covered in enchanted plate¡ªtigers, wolves, and bears, and many others¡ªthat snarled and struck with brutal efficiency, their massive claws and fangs gleaming as they tore through the invading werewolves. The Terrans, I assumed.

    I barely had time to register it all before we were pulled into the fight.

    Viktor moved first, a blur of motion as he darted between enemy lines, striking with bone-shattering speed. His movements were almost too fast to follow¡ªone second he was next to me, the next he was slamming into a werewolf mid-lunge, sending it crashing to the ground.

    Hyacinth flicked her wrist, summoning silver daggers and her light bombs in mid-air. Cassandra quickly sent Hyacinth¡¯s conjured silver daggers flying with a flick of hands, each striking true. With a thought, she sent them spinning, each one finding its mark in a werewolf¡¯s exposed joints. They howled in agony as she danced backward, avoiding their counterattacks with unnatural grace.

    Gabrielle and Zeke fought side by side¡ªfire and water clashing against the enemy. Zeke¡¯s flames curled around his arms before erupting into roaring infernos, forcing the enemy back. Gabrielle raised her hands, twisting water and launching it toward the enemies, knocking them back. But the werewolves kept coming.

    Pierre had shifted, his rhino form charging straight through a pack of them, sending bodies flying.

    For a moment, it seemed like we were actually making a difference.

    Then Marduk turned his gaze on us.

    The air thickened, pressing down like an unseen weight. The battlefield shifted¡ªwarriors faltered, flames dimmed. A chill spread through the air despite the fires raging around us. The battlefield stilled, as if the very world was holding its breath. Then, without warning, an invisible force slammed into us.

    I was thrown back, the wind ripped from my lungs. Viktor, mid-sprint, was caught mid-air and flung like a ragdoll into a pile of rubble. Zeke collapsed to his knees, a strangled gasp escaping him as his own flames extinguished against the suffocating pressure.

    Marduk stood at the heart of it all, his cloak billowing unnaturally, shadows curling around him like living things. Shadows curled around his feet, stretching out like claws. His eyes¡ªglowing pools of darkness¡ªlocked onto us with something between amusement and disdain. His magic wasn¡¯t just powerful¡ªit was crushing.

    Amethyst, standing far behind, stretched out her hands. A golden glow surrounded Zeke and Viktor, and their injuries began to mend¡ªbut she couldn¡¯t stop the overwhelming force pressing down on us.

    ¡°You¡¯re persistent,¡± he mused, his voice like ice. ¡°And yet, you are nothing more than insects before me.¡±

    With a flick of his wrist, the world turned upside down.

    The ground cracked open, shadows pouring out like liquid, taking the shape of spectral beasts with glowing red eyes. They lunged at us, incorporeal yet striking with deadly precision.

    Zeke barely managed to throw up a wall of fire, but the shadows twisted around it like they were alive, slipping through the cracks and slamming into him. He let out a choked cry as he was thrown backward.

    Hyacinth¡¯s daggers shattered mid-air before they could even touch Marduk. Gabrielle¡¯s water froze solid in an instant, falling uselessly to the ground. Cassandra gritted her teeth, stepping forward¡ªonly to be stopped as an unseen force wrapped around her throat, lifting her off the ground.

    Panic clawed up my throat.

    This wasn¡¯t a battle.

    This was slaughter.

    And then¡ªMarik moved.

    He raised his staff, and the very air around him shifted. The oppressive magic pressing down on us shattered like glass. A pulse of raw energy radiated outward, forcing Marduk¡¯s magic to recoil.

    Stolen story; please report.

    Marik¡¯s aura flared, a radiant shield against the darkness. In that moment, he was an unstoppable force. His staff ignited with energy, a blinding light seeping from the ethereal patterns on his robe.

    I could feel it.

    This was magic beyond anything I had ever seen before.

    Marduk¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You would dare¡ª?¡±

    Marik didn¡¯t let him finish.

    He raised his staff skyward, and suddenly, the battlefield was no longer dark.

    A massive magic circle formed above us, spinning with intricate, interwoven patterns. The air crackled as the circle expanded, its energy humming with an intensity that made the ground tremble. Then, Marik swung his staff downward, the magical orb hitting the ground.

    The circle exploded. A torrent of pure, unfiltered energy erupted from the heavens, cascading down in a massive pillar of light. It engulfed Marduk and his werewolves before they could react, their howls of agony lost in the roar of magic.

    I shielded my eyes as the battlefield was drowned in brilliance. When the light finally faded¡ª

    They were gone.

    Banished.

    The battlefield was silent.

    We had won.

    But there was no victory in my chest¡ªonly exhaustion.

    ¡ª¡ª

    We gathered back at the round table in the chamber, but no one spoke.

    The healers worked tirelessly, mending the wounded, but the weight of what had happened hung over us like a storm cloud.

    Those of us who had insisted on fighting stood together, yet we felt small.

    Viktor winced as he sat down, pressing a hand to his ribs. He hadn¡¯t said a single remark since we returned. Zeke clenched his fists, his flames flickering weakly in his palms before snuffing out. Gabrielle sat with her arms wrapped around herself, staring at the floor.

    Pierre opened his mouth, probably to say something cocky, but nothing came.

    Kaldi¡¯s tail lashed as he paced in front of us, his ears pinned back. ¡°You nearly died.¡± His growl was low and tight with anger. ¡°Do you understand that? You almost died because of your reckless bravado! Children! You are all so young and fragile! I nearly had a heart attack just watching you! This is why I told you to go to Andora first! But nooo, you had to be heroes!¡±

    No one argued.

    But then Ishthar spoke.

    ¡°You were arrogant.¡± Her voice was cool, but the disappointment in her eyes cut deeper than any reprimand. ¡°You didn¡¯t just risk your own lives,¡± she continued, stepping forward. ¡°You risked ours. Do you think we could have saved you if Marik hadn''t been there? If he had hesitated for even a second?¡±

    I swallowed hard.

    ¡°I fought alongside the previous generation of Mystic Knights¡ªyour predecessors,¡± Ishthar went on, her violet eyes sharp as blades.,¡± Ishthar went on, her violet eyes sharp as blades. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what happens to those who overestimate their strength. They don¡¯t get second chances. They die.¡±

    Her words struck like blows, and I found myself unable to meet her gaze.

    Then, she turned her attention to Marik. ¡°Say something.¡±

    Marik, who had been silent until now, exhaled slowly. He was leaning against the stone wall, arms crossed over his chest. He wasn¡¯t looking at us, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed the storm in his mind.

    ¡°You fought well,¡± he finally said.

    A few of us looked up at that.

    ¡°But fighting well means nothing if you die before accomplishing anything.¡±

    The truth of it settled heavily in my chest.

    I exhaled, feeling the weight of our foolishness.

    ¡°We get it,¡± Pierre muttered. ¡°We weren¡¯t ready.¡±

    Marik studied him, then nodded. ¡°No, you weren¡¯t.¡±

    His words stung more than any wound.

    Then Iago, who had remained quiet the whole time, finally spoke.

    He leaned against the table at the center of the chamber, tapping his fingers against the surface in thought. ¡°You¡¯re all lucky,¡± he said plainly. ¡°This wasn¡¯t a lesson that cost you your lives. You should be grateful for that.¡±

    His eyes flicked to each of us, calculating, assessing. ¡°Marduk was testing you. You realize that, don¡¯t you? He was playing with you. And if Marik hadn¡¯t been there to end it¡ª¡±

    He didn¡¯t need to finish the sentence.

    ¡°Now,¡± Iago continued, his voice regaining its usual composed tone, ¡°the question is, what do we do with this lesson? We don¡¯t have the luxury of sulking.¡±

    A pause.

    Then Gabrielle whispered, ¡°Then what now?¡±

    Marik leaned back, his expression unreadable.

    ¡°Now?¡± he echoed.

    He met each of our gazes, the weight of his experience pressing down on us.

    ¡°You do as you were told and head to the Woods of Silence.¡±

 Chapter 7: Into the Unknown

    The doors groaned open, and for the first time, we stepped outside.

    I barely breathed.

    The first thing I noticed was the sky. It stretched endlessly above, a deep indigo expanse streaked with ribbons of violet and silver. Constellations dotted the heavens, unfamiliar and foreign. The longer I looked, the stars shifted like living patterns written across the heavens. The air itself was thick with magic, humming in my bones.

    A river cut through the land ahead, its waters glowing with soft, ethereal blue light, pulsing as if it carried liquid magic. Beyond it, rolling fields of strange flora stretched for miles, dotted with enormous trees whose branches shimmered with golden leaves. In the distance, floating islands drifted lazily across the horizon, waterfalls spilling from their edges only to disappear into nothingness before reaching the ground.

    I exhaled, my breath catching in my throat. We weren¡¯t on Earth anymore.

    No one spoke.

    This was the world we were supposed to save. Yet, standing here now, I had no sense of its borders, no understanding of what that even meant.

    Hyacinth was the first to break the silence, whispering, ¡°We were in a temple this whole time¡­¡±

    It was obvious, but hearing it out loud made it real. ¡°This is . . . ¡° Gabrielle''s voice trailed off.

    There was no word for it.

    We had been in Mysteria for a mere day now. Before now, we had only known stone corridors and glowing halls¡ªthe Plane of Consciousness, the Speaker¡¯s Chamber, the tunnel where we had barely escaped with our lives. But this? This was something else entirely.

    And we had no idea what waited beyond the horizon.

    Zeke let out a low whistle. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I expected, but it wasn¡¯t this.¡±

    Pierre folded his arms. ¡°Floating islands. Magic rivers. Talking animals.¡± He glanced at the bear brothers standing nearby. ¡°No offense.¡±

    Kaldi snorted. ¡°None taken.¡±

    Dero, his younger brother, grinned. ¡°If anything, I should be offended that you don¡¯t find me more impressive.¡±

    Pierre raised a brow. ¡°You¡¯re just a bear.¡±

    Dero gasped, pressing a paw to his chest. ¡°Just a bear?¡± He turned to Kaldi. ¡°Brother, did you hear that? He wounds me.¡±

    Kaldi rolled his eyes. ¡°Ignore him. He¡¯s always like this.¡±

    Dero only grinned wider. ¡°I can be worse.¡±

    I thought that was cute. I thought that was something I would have said had I been Dero.

    Pierre shook his head, muttering something about melodramatic wildlife, but before he could continue, Kaldi cleared his throat.

    ¡°All right, listen up.¡± Kaldi¡¯s tone shifted, more serious now. ¡°You already know us, so we¡¯ll skip the introductions. What matters is that Dero and I will be guiding you to Andora¡¯s camp. It¡¯s a three-to-four-day journey, depending on how quickly we move.¡± He paused, as if remembering something and sighed. ¡°And depending on how many unnecessary stops we make,¡± Kaldi added pointedly, shooting a look at his brother.

    Dero feigned innocence. ¡°I would never delay a journey.¡±

    Kaldi ignored him. ¡°You¡¯re all still new to this world. Mysteria is full of wonder, but don¡¯t let that distract you. This place isn¡¯t safe. There are creatures here who would rip you apart if given the chance, and there are worse things than monsters in the wild.¡±

    A shadow passed over his expression.

    Gabrielle frowned. ¡°Like what?¡±

    Kaldi hesitated. ¡°You¡¯ll understand soon enough.¡±

    That didn¡¯t sit well with me, but I let it go for now.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t Ishthar, Marik, or Iago coming with us?¡± Viktor asked, arms crossed.

    ¡°They have other matters to attend to,¡± Kaldi replied. ¡°Your fight with Marduk wasn¡¯t just some minor skirmish. It had consequences. They¡¯re handling the fallout.¡±

    Which meant whatever they were dealing with was too important to leave behind just to escort us. A reminder that even after all that had happened, we were still the least experienced ones here.

    Ishthar had given each of us a magical bag¡ªan enchanted satchel that was far more spacious than it appeared. It was bigger on the inside, defying the laws of space like something out of Doctor Who¡¯s TARDIS. No matter how much we packed into it, the bag never grew heavier, nor did it bulge beyond its usual size.

    Marik had stocked them with essentials: water skins that never ran dry, lightweight tents enchanted for quick assembly, and enough provisions to last several days. Alongside these were scrolls and grimoires¡ªsome detailing the history of Mysteria, others meant to guide us in unlocking the powers we had yet to master.

    ¡°Then we better not slow you down,¡± Cassandra said, adjusting the strap of her sachel. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡±

    Kaldi nodded. ¡°Good. Stay close. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    And with that, we began our journey.

    ¡ª¡ª

    The first day passed without trouble.

    We traveled through open fields, the land shifting beneath us in ways that didn¡¯t seem natural¡ªhills that seemed lower in the afternoon than they were in the morning, paths that felt slightly different when we glanced away. Mysteria itself was alive, its magic woven into every inch of the world.

    As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Kaldi led us to a resting spot near a quiet river. It was safe, he assured us. No creatures hunted here.

    That night, we sat around a fire, listening as Dero spun stories about Mysteria¡¯s past. He spoke of great wars fought in the sky, of cities that once floated above the clouds before falling to ruin. He told us about Andora, the enigmatic woman we were supposed to meet.

    ¡°They say she¡¯s the only one who understands the Woods of Silence,¡± Dero murmured, eyes gleaming in the firelight. ¡°She¡¯s lived on the border for decades, studying them. No one else dares to.¡±

    Hyacinth frowned. ¡°What¡¯s so terrifying about them?¡±

    Dero¡¯s grin faded slightly. ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±

    A chill settled over us after that.

    The second day was harder.

    The terrain grew rougher, the air heavier. We passed through what looked like the ruins of an old battlefield¡ªbroken weapons buried in the dirt, armor rusting beneath overgrown vines. No one spoke as we moved through it.

    Just before the sun was about to set, we reached the river Dero had been going on and on about. It was wide, its surface slow-moving, mist hovering above the water like frozen breath.

    ¡°The Frozen River,¡± Dero said.

    ¡°But it¡¯s not actually frozen,¡± Zeke muttered.

    ¡°No,¡± Dero said grimly. ¡°It¡¯s called that because once you step in, you never come back out.¡±

    A ripple broke the surface of the river. Then another.

    The waters swirled, darkening as something beneath began to rise. Slowly, a figure emerged¡ªnot stepping onto land, but lifted by the current itself. His lower body remained submerged, yet he hovered above the surface, unmoving, as if the river itself carried him.

    Then, the water churned.

    A column of liquid rose beneath him, twisting like a living thing. It spiraled upward, a vortex of churning torrents and shifting currents, forming a throne of undulating waves, whispering with an eerie hush. The river bowed to him, shaping itself to his will, wrapping around his form in a violent yet eerily controlled storm of liquid power.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    For a moment, it looked like a hurricane had been plucked from the sky and turned upon its side¡ªa whirling pillar of water, spinning but never spilling, roaring but never overflowing. The surface of the river trembled as though in reverence, its mist curling toward him like wisps of breath drawn to a god.

    And then he spoke, his voice a rasping whisper that carried through the heavy air.

    ¡°How strange,¡± he said, his voice layered and warbling, as if multiple voices spoke at once. ¡°So young. So brave.¡±

    The words sloshed unnaturally, like they were bubbling up from deep water rather than formed by human tongues. Another figure parted its lips, but the voice came before the movement, a delayed echo in the air.

    ¡°Trespassers,¡± he said, his black, abyss-like eyes locking onto us. ¡°You dare cross our waters?¡±

    Kaldi growled low in his throat. ¡°Ondari.¡±

    ¡°Ondari?¡± Gabrielle repeated, eyes narrowing.

    ¡°They¡¯re waterfolk, but not the kind you¡¯d want to meet,¡± Kaldi said, his voice dark with warning. ¡°They belong to the rivers. Not the seas, not the lakes¡ªjust the rivers. Their domain is the flowing waters, and once you step into them, you are theirs.¡±

    Dero nodded. ¡°They hunt in the currents. Dragging travelers down, filling their lungs with water before they even know they''re drowning. And this tribe,¡± his voice hardened, ¡°this tribe has chosen to ally with the Vharethi.¡±

    Gabrielle took a step forward, standing tall. ¡°I am Queen of Waters. This river is mine to command.¡±

    Laughter. Cold, mocking, rippling through their ranks. More of them emerged, bodies still submerged in the river, with only their heads on the surface, their teeth flashing in the dimming light.

    The Ondari perched atop the swirling waters, effortless, unshaken. His body gleamed like polished obsidian, smooth yet lined with deep scars that cut across his skin like ancient battle marks. Webbed fingers flexed at his sides, the faintest flicker of movement sending ripples through the towering water beneath him.

    ¡°You are queen of nothing here,¡± the leader sneered. ¡°Your rule ends at the river¡¯s edge. We do not bow to you.¡±

    Gabrielle¡¯s hands clenched. The river surged at her command, the currents splitting apart, parting the waters like an open path.

    I wanted to cheer, ¡°Yey, go Moses!¡± But I knew it wasn¡¯t the right time.

    But as the water split, the Ondari lurched toward us¡ªonto dry earth, their movements unhindered, as if the water loss meant nothing.

    Gabrielle¡¯s breath caught.

    They didn¡¯t need water.

    The realization struck as the Ondari grinned, their black eyes glinting with malice.

    ¡°You think we are like the feeble merfolk of the oceans and the lakes?¡± the leader taunted. ¡°We are not bound to the water. We walk as easily as we swim.¡± His lips pulled back too wide, revealing jagged teeth glistening in the moonlight. ¡°We could break you apart,¡± he gurgled, the words wet and sloshing. ¡°Drown you in yourselves.¡±

    Gabrielle¡¯s jaw tightened. She let the river collapse back into place, her attempt to control the battlefield undone.

    The Ondari laughed again, their voices curling in the air like a slow-building storm.

    A rush of water. The sound of bodies moving. Taunts, threats, voices overlapping.

    Too loud.

    Too much.

    My fingers twitched. My breath came faster. My chest tightened.

    The noise. The movement. My senses screamed.

    Then¡ª

    Silence.

    A deep, unnatural silence.

    Lightning split the sky.

    A massive bolt struck the river, sending shockwaves through the water. Several Ondari screamed as the current seized them, their bodies convulsing before they collapsed.

    I saw Gabrielle from the corner of my eye redirecting the water away from us. Protecting us from the electro-charged currents of the Frozen River.

    And then, the cold.

    It spread from my bones, from my breath.

    Frost spiderwebbed across the surface of the water. Then deeper. Then farther.

    The Frozen River actually froze¡ªnot just its surface, but all the way through. The mist turned to glittering frost in the air. The remaining Ondari stood trapped in ice, their bodies locked mid-movement, their black eyes wide in shock.

    Their leader struggled against the ice, but I met his gaze, my vision tinged with blue-white light.

    ¡°Let us pass,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Or I will end every last one of you.¡±

    The Ondari leader bared his needle-like teeth but did not challenge me. Slowly, his chin lifted, his voice quiet but venomous.

    ¡°Go. But know this¡ªwe do not forget.¡±

    ¡°Neither do I.¡± I took a step forward before my vision blurred. The cold in my veins turned to weakness, and the world tilted.

    Then¡ªnothing.

    ¡ª¡ª

    Cold.

    The moment I woke, I felt it. Not on my skin¡ªbut inside. Coiling through my ribs, sinking into my lungs. It was like ice had replaced my blood, and with every sluggish heartbeat, it spread further.

    I inhale sharply. White mist curls from my lips. My breath. It shouldn¡¯t be visible, should it?

    What happened?

    My fingers twitch, numb but tingling, like they¡¯ve been burning moments ago. But that doesn¡¯t make sense. I don¡¯t use fire. I don¡¯t use anything.

    Then I remember¡ª

    The lightning. The river. The Ondari screaming before everything froze solid.

    My stomach lurches. I barely register the sharp inhale that escapes me. That was . . . me?

    No. That can¡¯t be right. That wasn¡¯t¡ª

    Sounds reached me first¡ªthe soft crackling of fire, the murmur of voices, the rustle of wind through grass. The smell of burning wood mixed with something warm and savory. My body ached, my limbs sluggish and unresponsive. Cold still clung to me, though a thick blanket had been draped over my shoulders.

    I blinked blearily. The night sky stretched above, the indigo expanse speckled with shifting constellations. I was lying on a bedroll, tucked between the fire and the towering form of Kaldi, who sat cross-legged nearby, watching the dark.

    Then, a familiar face leaned over me.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Zeke¡¯s voice was a mix of excitement and relief. He grinned, his light brown eyes practically glowing in the firelight. ¡°Dude, you should¡¯ve seen yourself back there. That was insane! Lightning straight from the sky, then boom¡ªinstant frozen river!¡± He clapped his hands together for emphasis. ¡°You took out, like, half of them in one shot!¡±

    I groaned, trying to sit up. My body protested, a dull ache weighing me down.

    ¡°Careful,¡± Zeke said quickly. ¡°You¡¯re still kinda out of it. That magic drained you bad. I had to carry you back, and let me tell you, Star, you are heavier than you look.¡±

    I blinked at him. ¡°You . . . carried me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, for a while,¡± Zeke admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Then Kaldi offered to take over, and I wasn¡¯t about to argue with a giant bear, so . . . ¡° He gestured vaguely. ¡°But still! That was amazing. I mean, I knew you were the big magic guy, but I didn¡¯t expect you to just¡ª¡± He mimed an explosion with his hands.

    ¡°Neither did I,¡± I muttered, my voice hoarse.

    I hadn¡¯t meant to unleash that power. The noise, the movement¡ªit had been too much, overwhelming my senses until something inside me just¡­ snapped. The magic had acted on instinct.

    Before I could dwell on that, a movement at the edge of my vision caught my attention. Amethyst approached, carrying a small bowl between both hands, steam curling in the night air.

    ¡°You should eat,¡± Amethyst said, kneeling beside me. In her hands was a bowl of steaming soup. The scent of herbs and something mildly sweet drifted toward me. She held it out. ¡°Here.¡±

    I took it carefully, feeling the warmth seep into my fingers. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Amethyst nodded. ¡°Hyacinth conjured it¡ªthe bowl and the spoon. The soup is real, don¡¯t worry.¡± She gave a small, tired smile. ¡°You did well back there.¡±

    I glanced down. Sure enough, the bowl shimmered faintly with residual magic. Even the spoon had an elegant design, its handle carved with swirling patterns. I huffed a quiet laugh. ¡°Fancy.¡±

    Amethyst smirked. ¡°She has standards.¡±

    Zeke snorted. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen her face when she realized we¡¯d be eating with our hands if she didn¡¯t.¡±

    I took a careful sip of the soup, the warmth spreading through me. My body felt marginally less drained, though exhaustion still lingered at the edges.

    Then, I heard them.

    Raised voices.

    I exhaled, trying to sit up, but my body protested. Zeke was quick to support me, steadying my shoulder.

    ¡°Easy, man. You kinda froze an entire river. Maybe pace yourself.¡±

    Across the camp, tension simmered. Gabrielle and Viktor.

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying, we weren¡¯t ready for this,¡± Gabrielle said sharply, pacing near the fire. ¡°We¡¯ve been here for what¡ªtwo days? And already we¡¯re in fights we don¡¯t fully understand, against enemies we¡¯ve never even heard of.¡± She gestured toward me. ¡°Czak collapsed. What if next time it¡¯s worse?¡±

    Viktor crossed his arms. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to think like that.¡±

    Gabrielle turned on him, her sapphire eyes flashing. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to ignore it either! We don¡¯t know what we¡¯re doing.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re learning.¡±

    ¡°Are we?¡± Gabrielle exhaled sharply, frustration clear in every movement. ¡°We didn¡¯t even know the Ondari could walk on land. We didn¡¯t know the land shifts. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s coming next.¡±

    ¡°We won,¡± Viktor countered. ¡°That¡¯s what matters.¡±

    Gabrielle let out a humorless laugh. ¡°Did we? They let us go. That¡¯s not the same as winning.¡±

    Viktor¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°So what do you suggest? That we just stop?¡±

    Gabrielle hesitated. She didn¡¯t have an answer for that.

    Andrew, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. ¡°We¡¯re all feeling the weight of this,¡± he said, his voice measured, calm. ¡°Gabrielle¡¯s right¡ªwe were unprepared. Viktor¡¯s right¡ªwe can¡¯t stop moving forward. Both things can be true.¡±

    Gabrielle¡¯s expression softened, but only slightly.

    ¡°We need to find a balance,¡± Andrew continued. ¡°Being cautious doesn¡¯t mean being afraid. We need to be smart about this.¡± He glanced around at all of us. ¡°And we need to trust each other.¡±

    A heavy silence settled over the group.

    Gabrielle exhaled, rubbing her temple. ¡°I just . . . I don¡¯t want any of us to die.¡±

    No one responded immediately. Because none of us could promise that wouldn¡¯t happen.

    Finally, Viktor sighed. ¡°Neither do I.¡±

    The fire crackled between us. The tension wasn¡¯t gone, not entirely. But for now, it was enough.

    Zeke clapped his hands together. ¡°Okay! Well. That was sufficiently heavy.¡± He forced a grin. ¡°Anyone wanna hear a joke?¡±

    No one answered.

    Zeke groaned. ¡°Tough crowd.¡±

    For the first time since waking, I managed a small smile.

    We weren¡¯t all handling this the same way. Some of us were afraid. Some of us were stubborn. Some of us tried to push past it with humor. But in the end, we were still here.

    And tomorrow, we¡¯d keep moving forward.

 Chapter 8: The Edge of Silence

    Morning came quietly, slipping through the trees in thin beams of silver light. The embers of last night¡¯s fire still smoldered, curling faint wisps of smoke into the dawn air. No one spoke at first. The weight of last night¡¯s argument still hung over us.

    I shifted under my blanket, the ache in my limbs a dull reminder of the power I had unleashed. My head was clearer now, but exhaustion still clung to me like a second skin. Across the fire, Gabrielle sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, staring at nothing.

    Zeke crouched beside me, wordlessly offering a waterskin. I took it, the cool liquid soothing the dryness in my throat.

    ¡°How do you feel?¡± he asked quietly.

    I considered lying¡ªtelling him I was fine, that I wasn¡¯t still reeling from whatever I had done back at the river. But the concern in his eyes made me hesitate.

    ¡°Weak,¡± I admitted. ¡°Like something¡¯s been . . . drained out of me.¡±

    Zeke exhaled through his nose, glancing toward Kaldi, who was rolling up his sleeping mat. ¡°You nearly froze a whole river, Star. I¡¯d be surprised if you didn¡¯t feel drained.¡±

    I didn¡¯t respond.

    Kaldi clapped his paws together, shaking off stray twigs. ¡°We need to move early today. The road ahead isn¡¯t difficult, but we shouldn¡¯t waste daylight.¡±

    No one argued.

    We packed up camp in near silence. The tension between us lingered, unspoken but tangible. Hyacinth gave Gabrielle a small smile as she passed, but Gabrielle barely acknowledged it. Viktor and Pierre avoided looking at each other. Dero, normally the most talkative, simply handed out portions of dried meat without a word.

    As we started walking, the morning air was cool against my skin. But beneath it, something else was stirring¡ªsomething subtle, yet deeply unsettling.

    I didn¡¯t realize what it was until we had been walking for nearly an hour.

    The world was too quiet.

    At first, it was small things.

    There were fewer birds in the trees. The rustling of unseen creatures that had accompanied us every night before was gone. Even the wind, which I could always feel through my fingers, had stilled.

    No one spoke of it at first, but I could see the unease settling over the others.

    ¡°Does something feel . . . off to anyone else?¡± Sakura finally asked.

    No one answered, but I knew they felt it too.

    The trees around us seemed darker than before, their towering forms casting long, unmoving shadows. The further we walked, the more distant everything felt. Even the sky, vast and endless above us, seemed muted.

    Dero, who usually filled the silence with stories, had yet to say a single word that morning.

    Something was changing.

    It wasn¡¯t until Hyacinth tried to summon something that we understood just how much.

    She had done it absentmindedly, cupping her hands as she always did when she wanted to conjure something small¡ªan umbrella, just for laughs, she said. A tiny flicker of energy glowed between her fingers¡ªthen vanished instantly.

    She frowned and tried again. Nothing.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± she muttered, shaking her hands as if trying to wake them up.

    Amethyst furrowed her brows and lifted her hand, attempting a basic healing spell. A faint glow shimmered on her palm for barely a second before fading.

    Andrew inhaled sharply, raising his hand toward a boulder by the road. I wasn¡¯t sure what he wanted to happen, but the boulder did nothing.

    His expression darkened. Still, nothing.

    Viktor flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just spells that don¡¯t work¡ª¡± He clenched his fists, ready to test his strength against a fallen log ahead. But as he stepped forward, there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

    When he brought his fist down, the log barely cracked.

    A muscle in his jaw twitched. ¡°That¡¯s . . . not right.¡±

    Dero finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual. ¡°Magic is fading here.¡±

    Kaldi nodded solemnly. ¡°The closer we get, the weaker it becomes.¡±

    Gabrielle clenched her jaw. ¡°How much worse is it going to get?¡±

    Kaldi met her gaze, and for the first time since we had met him, there was no trace of amusement in his expression.

    ¡°Much worse.¡±

    A silence stretched between us. Then Cassandra, who had been walking near the back, sighed and adjusted the strap of her bag.

    ¡°We should¡¯ve seen this coming,¡± she murmured.

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    Pierre frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Cassandra reached into her bag, pulling out a worn scroll. ¡°I read about this last night. The Woods of Silence. The name isn¡¯t just poetic¡ªit¡¯s literal.¡±

    She unrolled the parchment, scanning the old script. ¡°The Woods aren¡¯t just a place where magic is weak. It¡¯s where magic ceases to exist. No spells, no enhanced abilities, nothing. The deeper we go, the less we¡¯ll be able to rely on it.¡±

    Amethyst crossed her arms. ¡°So we¡¯re just supposed to¡­ function without magic?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Cassandra replied. ¡°And it¡¯s not just that. This says that the Woods reject magic entirely. If we try to force it, it might turn against us.¡±

    A chill ran down my spine.

    Zeke¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Turn against us how?¡±

    Cassandra hesitated, glancing at the scroll again. ¡°The records don¡¯t say. Just that any who tried to bring magic into the Woods either lost control of it¡­ or never came out.¡±

    Hyacinth exhaled sharply. ¡°Well, that¡¯s comforting.¡±

    Viktor ran a hand through his hair. ¡°So what¡¯s stopping us from going around it?¡±

    Cassandra pointed to a rough sketch on the scroll. ¡°Because it spans hundreds of kilometers in every direction. Besides, our destination is in the heart of the Woods itself.¡±

    A heavy silence settled over the group.

    ¡°Then we go forward,¡± Kaldi said at last.

    By the time we made camp on the third night, the world was almost silent.

    The fire struggled to stay lit, flickering weakly as if the air itself was resisting it. The wind had vanished completely. Even our own footsteps had begun to sound muted.

    That night, we barely spoke.

    Gabrielle sat staring at her hands, as if willing the water to respond to her again. Hyacinth poked at the fire, frustration evident in the way she kept tapping the embers. Zeke sat beside me, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the camp.

    Cassandra, who had been quiet most of the journey, suddenly said, ¡°I read something about this place.¡±

    We all turned to her.

    She had a scroll in her lap, though I wasn¡¯t sure how useful it was anymore, given the failing magic. Still, she unfolded it carefully, scanning the old text.

    ¡°The Woods of Silence,¡± she read aloud. ¡°An anomaly in the heart of Mysteria, where magic ceases to exist. Not even the gods have dominion here.¡±

    That sent a shiver through all of us.

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®not even the gods¡¯?¡± Pierre asked, voice lower than usual.

    Cassandra¡¯s fingers hovered over the text. ¡°No one knows why it exists, but according to this, even divine magic doesn¡¯t work inside. It¡¯s a void. A place where the rules of the world unravel.¡±

    Andrew exhaled sharply. ¡°Sounds . . . welcoming.¡±

    ¡°It also says,¡± Cassandra continued, ¡°that people who enter the Woods hear things. Voices. Whispers. Sometimes their own thoughts become unbearable.¡±

    ¡°So much for being the Woods of Silence,¡± I said grimly, rather sarcastically.

    A heavy silence fell over us after that.

    ¡°Terrific,¡± Gabrielle broke the silence. ¡°Not only are we walking into a magic-less wasteland, we might go crazy too.¡±

    Dero let out a quiet sigh. ¡°Andora¡¯s camp is the only exception. Within its borders, magic can exist, but beyond that . . . ¡± He shook his head. ¡°You will feel its absence more than you expect.¡±

    No one had anything to say to that.

    And so, we waited.

    Waited as the fire dimmed. Waited as the night pressed in. Waited for the last remnants of magic to slip away.

    ¡ª¡ª

    Dero had gone out at dawn to forage, returning with a bundle of fruits and leafy greens. With our magical satchels losing their effectiveness, he said it was best to rely on whatever we could find.

    Not everyone was thrilled.

    Gabrielle poked at a strange purple fruit with a wary expression. ¡°Are we sure these aren¡¯t poisonous?¡±

    ¡°If I wanted to poison you, Gabrielle,¡± Dero said, sighing, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do it with breakfast.¡±

    She still hesitated before taking a cautious bite. Her nose wrinkled immediately. ¡°Tastes like overripe melon and . . . onions.¡±

    Pierre dropped his half-chewed fruit onto a leaf. ¡°I¡¯d rather starve.¡±

    ¡°We might have to get used to it,¡± Hyacinth muttered, chewing with far less enthusiasm than usual. ¡°I swear, when we get to Andora¡¯s camp, I¡¯m demanding something fried. Or at least salted.¡±

    ¡°Does she even have food?¡± Viktor asked, rubbing his temples. ¡°Please tell me she has food.¡±

    Kaldi let out a short chuckle. ¡°She does. But whether it¡¯s to your liking . . . well, that¡¯s another matter.¡±

    Viktor groaned and slumped back. ¡°Great. We¡¯re going to eat more weird forest plants.¡±

    Sakura popped a berry into her mouth, eyeing the rest of us. ¡°At least it¡¯s something. We don¡¯t know how long it¡¯ll take to get to Andora.¡±

    I picked at my own portion, stomach twisting. Whether it was the lingering exhaustion or the creeping unease settling over me, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to eat much.

    Breakfast was quick and uneventful, and soon we were on the move again. The unease lingering in our chests only grew as we walked.

    As we walked, the world seemed to change around us.

    The trees grew taller, their branches weaving together like iron cages overhead. The rustling of leaves and distant bird calls faded, swallowed by an unnatural stillness. Even the wind, which had been a constant companion through our journey, had vanished entirely.

    No one spoke.

    The path beneath our feet narrowed, twisting between dark trunks that loomed higher with every step. Shadows stretched impossibly long, creeping toward us like fingers reaching from the depths of something unseen.

    A feeling of wrongness pressed against my skin.

    Magic had been fading since yesterday, but here, on the very edge of the Woods of Silence, I felt its absence like a weight in my chest. It wasn¡¯t just weakened¡ªit was gone.

    A hollow space where something vital should have been.

    And then, we saw it.

    A massive stretch of trees loomed before us, their trunks impossibly tall, their branches twisting together like woven iron. Shadows pooled between them, swallowing what little light reached this place.

    No sound. No movement. No magic.

    The very air was thick with something indescribable.

    I swallowed hard, my breath coming slower, as if the air itself had thickened. A hollow weightlessness coiled in my chest¡ªlike something vital had been stripped away, leaving only an absence behind.

    I had only been in Mysteria for a few days, yet I had always felt the presence of magic around me, as real and constant as the wind against my skin. It was something I could reach for, something that whispered against my fingers like threads waiting to be woven into shape. But here, at the edge of the Woods of Silence, there was nothing. No current, no pulse, no unseen threads slipping through my grasp. Just stillness.

    For the first time since arriving in this world, I was truly alone in my own skin.

    Kaldi stepped forward, turning to face us.

    His voice was quiet. Reverent.

    ¡°Welcome,¡± he said, ¡°to the Woods of Silence.¡±

 Chapter 9: Into the Woods of Silence

    The Woods of Silence was nothing like I expected.

    At first, the loss of magic was a dull, sinking sensation¡ªa quiet absence that hummed beneath my skin. But the further we walked, the more I felt it. The air was thick, smothering, and the silence was unnatural, like the world itself was holding its breath. No wind, no rustling leaves, not even the distant hum of insects. Just . . . nothing.

    We had only known magic for a few days, but already, it felt like something had been ripped away. My fingers twitched, reaching for spells that weren¡¯t there, for currents of energy I could no longer feel. I wasn¡¯t the only one.

    Gabrielle walked stiffly, rubbing her fingers together, as if trying to summon a drop of water between them. Zeke kept snapping his fingers, expecting sparks that never came. Amethyst¡¯s hands hovered near her chest, as though preparing a healing spell. Nothing worked. It was a stupid instinct, and yet, none of us could seem to shake it.

    We trudged forward in silence.

    The trees around us were tall and gnarled, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers toward the sky. The further we went, the heavier the air became. It wasn¡¯t just the quiet. It was the way everything felt wrong.

    Pierre whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡±

    Neither did I. For the first time, I agreed with Pierre.

    Kaldi and Dero marched at the front, their massive forms cutting a steady path through the undergrowth. They didn¡¯t seem as unsettled as the rest of us, but then again, they never had magic to begin with.

    I kept my eyes ahead, forcing myself to focus on one step at a time. But something about the trees, the way they bent and shifted in the dim light, made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

    Then it happened.

    A sharp whistle sliced through the air.

    Everything erupted at once.

    Figures burst from the trees, silent as shadows. I barely had time to react before something slammed into my side, knocking the breath out of me. I hit the ground hard, my hands scraping against the dirt.

    Panic surged. My mind screamed for magic¡ªlightning, wind, ice, anything¡ªbut there was nothing. Just empty air.

    The fight was chaos.

    Viktor roared, throwing a wild punch at an attacker, but they dodged easily, striking back with brutal precision. Gabrielle stumbled back as someone lunged at her, instinctively raising a hand¡ªfor magic that wasn¡¯t there.

    The realization hit like a punch to the gut.

    We weren¡¯t fighters. Not really.

    We had never been in a real battle before.

    The mercenaries¡ªwhoever they were¡ªfought like they had done this a thousand times. We fought like desperate children.

    Zeke was the first to fall. A swift kick to his legs sent him sprawling, gasping for breath. Pierre, in an attempt to shift, was struck before he could even react.

    I tried to scramble to my feet, but a hand snatched my wrist and yanked me forward. A blade glinted in the dim light. I barely twisted away in time.

    I should have been thinking about strategy. Instead, all I could think about was how helpless I felt.

    No lightning. No ice. No wind. Just my own weak body, useless against a trained warrior.

    Kaldi and Dero were the only ones holding their ground. The massive bears barreled through attackers, their roars shattering the eerie silence. Dero threw a mercenary to the ground, while Kaldi swung a massive paw, sending another flying.

    But even they couldn¡¯t protect all of us.

    A mercenary grabbed Cassandra from behind, yanking her back. I saw the panic in her eyes, saw the way she tried to summon her telekinesis¡ªonly for nothing to happen.

    She struggled. I tried to reach her.

    I didn¡¯t make it in time.

    Cassandra¡¯s scream cut through the air.

    I turned just in time to see her dragged backward, a mercenary¡¯s arm locked around her throat.

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    ¡°Let her go!¡± I roared, but the words felt empty. What could I do without magic?

    I staggered forward, but someone barreled into me from the side, knocking me back to the ground. I twisted just in time to avoid a knife plunging toward my ribs, grabbing my attacker¡¯s wrist with both hands. My muscles strained. The blade wobbled closer.

    ¡°Somebody!¡± I choked out. ¡°Help her!¡±

    The mercenary pinning me suddenly jerked back with a choked gasp. His body crumpled ¡ª a dagger buried between his ribs.

    More figures appeared from the shadows ¡ª cloaked and swift. One leapt between Cassandra and her captor, a blade flashing. Another knocked two mercenaries to the ground with brutal precision.

    I barely understood what I was seeing. These strangers moved like dancers ¡ª fluid, efficient, terrifying. The mercenaries broke apart in panic, vanishing into the trees.

    And suddenly, the tide shifted. It was over in seconds.

    Within moments, the ambush was over. Our attackers vanished into the trees, retreating like ghosts.

    And we were left there, gasping, stunned, and utterly defeated.

    I pushed myself onto my knees, my chest heaving. My hands trembled against the dirt. The world spun around me. We lost. We would have died if these strangers hadn¡¯t intervened.

    I looked up.

    Our rescuers stood before us, cloaked figures, their faces covered with masks.

    One of them stepped forward, their voice calm, almost casual. ¡°You are safe now.¡±

    Zeke coughed. ¡°Who . . . who are you?¡±

    ¡°Names don¡¯t matter,¡± the masked figure said. ¡°Only your survival does.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I offered, ¡°for saving us.¡± I let out a heavy sigh of relief. ¡°We all could have died without your help.¡±

    Everyone was still in shock, in sheer horror and panic. I could see the girls still shaken. Viktor and Pierre are quiet with what I assumed was disappointment in themselves. Andrew was the only one who appeared calm.

    ¡°We have been watching you. Making sure you get to Andora safely.¡± One of our cloaked saviors started. ¡°Saving Mysteria is a huge task for children like yourselves. We are happy we could help you.¡±

    Silence stretched between us.

    I dragged myself to my feet, legs shaking. Around me, the others moved in dazed silence.

    Gabrielle knelt beside Pierre, clutching his arm as she checked his bruises. Her fingers twitched again, as though she still believed she could summon water to soothe the swelling. When nothing happened, she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

    Amethyst hovered near Zeke, her hands trembling over his scraped forehead. No magic flowed from her fingers. No soft glow of healing light. Her face was pale, her breath shallow.

    ¡°I can¡¯t¡ª¡± she whispered. ¡°I can¡¯t fix this.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re okay,¡± Zeke muttered weakly, patting her arm. ¡°We¡¯re okay.¡±

    But we weren¡¯t. Not really.

    Viktor stood off to the side, fists clenched at his sides, glaring at the ground like he was daring it to fight him too. Pierre¡¯s face was blank, but his fingers dug into the dirt as if clinging to something solid would stop him from spiraling.

    Even Kaldi and Dero looked different¡ªstill fierce, but winded, their fur slick with sweat. I realized with a jolt that they¡¯d been fighting for us ¡ª while we had just flailed like fools.

    I swallowed hard, my chest tight.

    We were supposed to be important. Chosen. Tonight, we¡¯d been nothing but children stumbling in the dark.

    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± I asked, still struggling to my feet.

    ¡°That¡¯s all you need to know,¡± they said simply.

    And that was the end of it.

    They didn¡¯t explain. They didn¡¯t stay. They simply gestured for us to follow.

    So we did.

    ¡ª¡ª

    The walk after that was quiet. But this time, it wasn¡¯t just the unnatural stillness of the woods.

    It was us.

    None of us spoke. None of us even looked at each other. We had never felt so small.

    We were supposed to be important. Chosen.

    And yet, tonight, we had been nothing more than helpless fools.

    I clenched my fists, staring down at the ground as we walked. I had thought magic was something beyond myself¡ªsomething separate. But now, stripped of it, I wasn¡¯t sure if there was anything left of me at all.

    Our saviors seemed more prepared. One of them acted as a porter. He carried a huge bag of supplies. They distributed water and food while we walked, saying something we needed to regain our energy before we arrived.

    They led us through the woods until we reached Andora¡¯s camp. Only that it wasn¡¯t a camp. It was a fucking fortress of stone and iron.

    It loomed out of the trees like a sleeping beast.

    Massive stone walls stretched as far as I could see, their jagged edges rising high enough to scrape the sky. Sharp iron spikes crowned the top, like teeth. Glyphs glowed faintly across the surface¡ªprotective wards humming faintly against the emptiness of the Woods.

    A pair of massive iron gates stood at the front, covered in intricate sigils that pulsed with faint blue light. They were ancient symbols¡ªcomplex and layered¡ªfar beyond anything I could read.

    ¡°This . . . this is Andora¡¯s camp?¡± Zeke muttered, voice tight with disbelief.

    ¡°More like a fortress,¡± Gabrielle murmured, her eyes wide.

    I couldn¡¯t stop staring. After everything¡ªthe fear, the helplessness¡ªthis fortress felt like the first safe place we¡¯d seen since arriving in Mysteria.

    I could feel magic here. Not my own, but something woven into the very walls¡ªstrong and steady.

    For the first time since entering the Woods, I felt like I could breathe again.

    The gates groaned open, and we stepped inside. The air felt warmer here, safer. Talking animals bustled about the courtyard beyond, some were hauling supplies, other were reinforcing the walls. Even without magic, they moved with purpose, as if expecting an attack at any moment.

    Then, a voice called from above.

    ¡°Well, well,¡± she drawled, her voice laced with amusement. ¡°Look what the bears dragged in.¡±

    Andora.

 Chapter 10: Andora

    I barely noticed her at first.

    When the masked rescuers ushered us into the fortress courtyard, I was too drained to care who this strange woman was. But when the rescuers¡¯ leader exchanged a look with her¡ªsharp and knowing¡ªI couldn¡¯t help but take notice.

    She stood at the top of the stone steps, framed by flickering torchlight. Her silver hair cascaded down her back like liquid moonlight, glinting faintly with every movement. Her skin was pale¡ªnot the soft fairness of someone sheltered, but cold and unblemished, like carved marble. And her eyes, those golden-yellow eyes seemed to burn with a quiet fire, sharp and unyielding.

    She was beautiful¡ªin the way a winter storm is beautiful: distant, fierce, and dangerous.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re still playing the hero,¡± she said, her voice smooth yet edged like a blade. Her gaze locked onto the masked figure at the head of our rescuers.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± the masked leader replied dryly. His voice was calm, but there was a tension in his stance¡ªlike he was waiting for her to strike.

    Andora folded her arms. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you weren¡¯t followed.¡±

    ¡°I know how to cover a trail,¡± the man shot back. ¡°I¡¯ve done this before.¡±

    ¡°Too many times,¡± she countered. ¡°And one day you¡¯ll pay the price.¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± the masked leader said, his tone softer now. ¡°But not today.¡±

    They stood there a moment longer, locked in some silent battle neither of them seemed willing to end. Finally, Andora exhaled through her nose and turned her gaze to us.

    ¡°Well,¡± she said, her eyes scanning the group, ¡°I see you¡¯ve all managed to stay alive¡ªbarely.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re grateful,¡± I said, though my voice felt small.

    ¡°You should be,¡± she answered, before turning back to the masked figure. ¡°You¡¯ve done your part. Leave them to me now.¡±

    The masked leader didn¡¯t move. ¡°You know what¡¯s coming,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t let your pride get in the way.¡±

    Andora¡¯s expression flickered¡ªsomething raw beneath her hardened stare¡ªbut she quickly masked it.

    ¡°Go,¡± she said.

    The man hesitated a moment longer, then turned to leave. His gaze lingered on me before he spoke again.

    ¡°Get some rest,¡± he said. ¡°You''ll need it.¡±

    His words sounded more like a warning than advice.

    ¡ª¡ª

    The fortress swallowed us whole. Cold stone walls stretched high above us, torches flickering faintly against their rough surface. The air was heavy¡ªnot with smoke or dust, but with purpose. People moved with quiet urgency, their faces hard and grim. Swords were sharpened, armor polished, orders barked with clipped efficiency.

    This wasn¡¯t just a fortress¡ªit was a war camp.

    We trudged behind Andora, our boots scuffing against the floor. No one spoke. We didn¡¯t need to. The silence gnawed at us, a reminder of how powerless we had been.

    I kept thinking back to the Woods, to the Ondari, to the masked rescuers who had to save us because we couldn¡¯t save ourselves.

    If this was how we fared against magicless enemies, I thought grimly, how would we survive what¡¯s coming?

    The warmth of the chamber barely registered. There was food¡ªwarm bread, roasted meat, steaming soup¡ªbut no one ate much.

    Pierre stared at his drink like it held the answers we¡¯d been chasing. Gabrielle sat stiffly, barely touching her food. Zeke winced as Amethyst¡¯s palms glowed over the scrapes on his arms, her trembling hands betraying the steady rhythm of her magic.

    ¡°I should¡¯ve done more,¡± Gabrielle muttered suddenly. ¡°I should¡¯ve¡ª¡±

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t,¡± Amethyst cut in softly. ¡°None of us could.¡±

    ¡°We weren¡¯t chosen because we¡¯re special,¡± Viktor muttered at last. ¡°We were chosen because we agreed. Because we accepted the Gems¡¯ invitation.¡±

    No one argued.

    I barely ate at all. My mind kept drifting¡ªto the masked figure¡¯s warning, to Andora¡¯s hard stare, to the bitter truth that we had been spared, not victorious.

    After dinner, if you could call that dinner, we were shown to our chambers. Each of us had a chamber of our own to sleep in.

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    I asked a talking bunny where I could clean myself up, and he showed me the way to another chamber.

    The chamber was far warmer than the rest of the fortress. Steam clung to the air, swirling lazily in the torchlight. The stone walls were smoother here, polished and dark like wet obsidian. Carved channels in the floor carried steaming water to a large, sunken pool in the center¡ªa manmade hot spring. The water shimmered faintly, its surface rippling from some unseen current. The air smelled faintly of minerals¡ªearthy and sharp, yet oddly soothing.

    In the pool were Viktor and Pierre.

    Viktor leaned back against the pool''s edge, his arms stretched wide along the stone. His broad shoulders were still red from the cold outside. Pierre sat nearby, half-submerged, eyes closed and head tilted back, like he was soaking in more than just the heat.

    ¡°Czak?¡± Viktor guessed.

    ¡°Hmmm.¡± I confirmed. I didn¡¯t have the energy to use my words.

    ¡°The girls are in another chamber,¡± Viktor said, eyes still closed. ¡°I think they¡¯re glad to get away from us for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Zeke and Andrew already left,¡± Pierre added lazily. ¡°Didn¡¯t stick around long.¡± He cracked one eye open, glancing at Viktor. ¡°Guess we¡¯re the only ones who know how to relax.¡±

    Viktor chuckled and stood, shaking the water from his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t stay too long,¡± he warned, stepping out of the pool. ¡°We¡¯ve had enough near-death experiences lately.¡±

    Pierre gave a lazy wave, clearly planning to ignore the advice. Viktor grabbed his towel and trudged out, leaving me alone with Pierre.

    The silence that followed was awkward¡ªnot the tired kind we¡¯d all been living in since our failures, but sharp and uncomfortable. I shifted from foot to foot, feeling out of place.

    Pierre glanced at me briefly, then turned his gaze back to the water. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words never came. His lips parted once, then closed again. His gaze flickered to me one more time before settling on the pool¡¯s surface.

    I didn¡¯t ask. If Pierre had something to say, he could say it. Knowing him, however brief, it was probably some smug jab I didn¡¯t have the patience for. Not tonight.

    I grabbed a towel, muttered something about getting some sleep, and walked out.

    I couldn¡¯t tell if Pierre had been trying to pick a fight or if he was actually holding back. Either way, I didn¡¯t care. I was too tired¡ªtoo frustrated¡ªto bother figuring it out.

    Right now, all I wanted was to forget this day ever happened.

    ¡ª¡ª

    The next morning, Andora called us to meet her.

    ¡°I am Andora,¡± she said, her voice crisp yet calm. ¡°But you already know that.¡± She continued. ¡°You have many questions¡ªand you¡¯ll have your answers in time.¡±

    Her golden eyes swept across us, lingering briefly on Zeke. He met her stare without flinching, but I noticed the way his shoulders tensed.

    ¡°I was born long before the Gems were,¡± she explained. ¡°I have seen empires rise and fall. My sister held the mantle Czarina of Senses. She was a great warrior, yet a far greater fool.¡±

    Her voice faltered slightly, her gaze drifting downward¡ªjust for a second. Then her sharp focus returned.

    ¡°I have spent centuries keeping the records of this world¡ªits magic, its victories, and its failures.¡± She gestured toward a nearby corridor. ¡°I also keep what remains of the Mystic Knights¡¯ weapons. The relics you will one day inherit.¡±

    Weapons. I felt my stomach twist. I had barely kept my magic under control when I froze that river¡ªwhat use was a sword in my hands?

    ¡°You were not chosen,¡± Andora said, her tone firm. ¡°Let¡¯s make that clear.¡± She paused for a moment, her eyes scanned all ten of us slowly. ¡°You were called, and you answered. Foolishly. You, who without magic, answered the call to save a world full of magic, of things beyond your understanding.¡±

    That cut deep. Something I never realized. I only answered the call because I was sick of the mundane life I lived on Earth. Besides, I thought, at first, that it was just a dream. Maybe it is a dream. Maybe it¡¯s time for me to wake up soon.

    A thought hit myself.

    I slapped my cheeks, quite stronger than I planned.

    ¡°You¡¯re not dreaming,¡± Andora shot a stern look at me. ¡°And it is too late for you to back out now.¡±

    I felt a surge of embarrassment run down my system as I saw Zeke and Amethyst giggled beside.

    ¡°What is so funny?¡± Andora turned to Zeke and Amethyst sharply.

    Both of them fell silent, but I could hear the restrained laughter. I almost laughed myself.

    ¡°Follow me.¡± Andora said dryly as she turned away, leading us to yet another chamber.

    ¡ª¡ª

    The stone chamber was empty, save for a single table. On the table was a crystal sphere, about the size of a grapefruit. The sphere contains shifting particles inside, like tiny grains of metallic dust suspended in liquid.

    Andora circled the table like a hawk watching prey. ¡°Before I train you, you must understand what you¡¯re capable of. Magic is not a gift¡ªit¡¯s a weapon. A tool. A curse, in the wrong hands.¡±

    Her gaze hardened. Your magical affinity, that much is obvious. What we need to know is your discipline that shapes your power.¡±

    ¡°Discipline?¡± I echoed.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she answered. ¡°Simply, a specific way your magic manifests. A discipline is not simply a set of spells or abilities,¡± she continued, opening her palms where glowing glyphs appeared and danced. ¡°It is the foundation of how your magic interacts with the world. It defines what your power excels at and how it naturally flows. Knowing your discipline will help you understand your strengths¡ªand your limits. Understanding these will help you master powers.¡±

    I felt the tension rise in the room. Amethyst shifted uncomfortably. Viktor¡¯s jaw clenched. Gabrielle¡¯s fingers drummed restlessly against her arm.

    ¡°What if . . . ¡± Cassandra¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°What if we¡¯re not . . . strong enough?¡±

    Andora¡¯s expression didn¡¯t soften. ¡°Then you¡¯ll die. And Mysteria with you.¡±

    The silence stretched too long after that.

    ¡°Now,¡± Andora said, turning to face us. Her eyes locked onto Zeke.

    ¡°Which of you,¡± she asked coldly, ¡°is the King of Fire?¡±

    The air shifted¡ªcolder, heavier¡ªlike a storm gathering on the horizon.

    Zeke blinked. ¡°Uh . . . me?¡±

    Andora¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. Her golden eyes flashed with something sharp¡ªanger, maybe¡ªor worse, expectation.

    ¡°Well, then,¡± she muttered darkly, ¡°this should be interesting.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know what unsettled me more¡ªthe way she looked at Zeke like he was already a disappointment . . . or the way Zeke didn¡¯t look surprised at all.

 Chapter 11: The Resonance Test

    The air felt heavy, like a storm was brewing¡ªor maybe that was just me. The others shuffled around the table at the center of the room, where a crystal sphere sat in a perfect circle. It was smooth, clear, and filled with swirling metallic dust that glittered faintly.

    Andora stood beside the table, her crimson robes pooling like liquid fire at her feet. Her sharp eyes swept over us.

    ¡°This sphere,¡± she said, her voice low yet commanding, ¡°will reveal your magical discipline. Each discipline leaves a distinct mark¡ªa signature that defines the way you interact with magic.¡±

    She reached to the sphere, resting her fingertips gently on its surface. The swirling dust froze¡ªperfectly still¡ªbefore curling into intricate runes and sigils that danced like constellations. For a brief moment, the sphere rose an inch above the table, pulsing softly before settling back down.

    ¡°Each of you will manifest something different,¡± she continued. ¡°Abjuration forms protective rings, Conjuration shapes tools or weapons, Alteration twists the particles into changing patterns . . . ¡± She gestured at the sphere as she listed the results¡ªstable rings, flowing constellations, chaotic bursts¡ªbefore finally pausing.

    ¡°And you, King of Fire¡ª¡± she said sharply, ¡°have you any idea what awaits you?¡±

    Zeke¡¯s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

    ¡°Great things are expected from your title,¡± Andora explained. ¡°The one who held that name led the generation of Mystic Knights before yours. You go first.¡±

    Zeke stepped forward. Unease written clearly on his face. He wanted to argue, but he didn¡¯t.

    He rolled his shoulders back and stepped forward. ¡°All right, let¡¯s do this.¡±

    His palms pressed against the sphere. For a moment, nothing happened ¡ª then a burst of heat flared against my face as the particles ignited in a swirling blaze.

    The dust twisted into a burning sword, flames flickering along its jagged edge. The sword flickered, broke apart, then reshaped into a whip of fire, then a massive shield of glowing embers. The shapes were sharp, wild¡ªpowerful but unstable, like they might scorch the room if Zeke¡¯s focus slipped.

    ¡°Whoa,¡± Zeke muttered, eyes wide.

    ¡°Enough,¡± Andora warned.

    He pulled his hands back, and the flames dimmed.

    ¡°Conjuration,¡± she said. ¡°And a potent enough to conjure solid weapons.¡±

    Zeke exhaled, still staring at the glass. ¡°Potent, huh?¡± He grinned as he stepped back beside me. ¡°You hear that? I¡¯m potent.¡±

    I rolled my eyes as I let out a groan. ¡°Congratulations on being dangerously flammable.¡±

    Amethyst went next.

    She pressed her fingertips against the sphere, and it immediately began to pulse¡ªslow, steady beats, like a heartbeat. The particles glowed gold . . . but then something snapped.

    Cracks of lightning danced across the glass. The sphere flared, light sparking wildly as the gentle rhythm turned frantic. Amethyst gasped and pulled her hand back, shaking her fingers like they¡¯d been burned.

    ¡°Evocation,¡± Andora began, but her gaze lingered on the faint crack that now spiderwebbed across the sphere¡¯s surface. ¡°and Disruption.¡±

    ¡°Wait, two?¡± Amethyst asked, voice tight. ¡°Is that . . . bad?¡±

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Andora said, but her tone carried a weight Amethyst clearly didn¡¯t find comforting. ¡°Uncommon. But not bad.¡±

    Amethyst swallowed hard and walked back to us, keeping her hands folded tightly in front of her.

    Hyacinth followed.

    When she took her turn, the particles didn¡¯t react at all. The silence dragged on until I swore I could hear my own breathing.

    ¡°...Did I break it?¡± she asked, deadpan.

    Then¡ªwithout warning¡ªthe particles vanished. Gone. Like the sphere had been emptied out completely.

    ¡°That can¡¯t be good,¡± Zeke muttered.

    Before anyone could answer, the particles reappeared¡ªdistorted, like ripples distorting a reflection. The patterns flickered, dancing between forms like they couldn¡¯t quite decide what they wanted to be. But only for a moment. The particles gathered in a swift motion, forming a sword. And then it shifted again. This time to a shield. And then a bow.

    ¡°Curious,¡± Andora said slowly, almost to herself. ¡°Planar magic, a magic that bridges the spaces between combined with Conjuration.¡± She chuckled.

    ¡°I also get two?¡± Hyacinth remarked.

    Amethyst, her twin sister, just got two disciplines. It¡¯s not really a surprise that she also got two.

    Andora nodded, and Hyacinth happily giggled back to us and stood beside her sister.

    And then, it was Viktor¡¯s turn.

    Viktor rolled his shoulders like a boxer loosening up before a fight. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±

    He pressed his palm flat against the sphere. The particles inside reacted instantly, twisting into jagged, spike-like shapes that bristled and shifted like they couldn¡¯t stay still. For a second, they aligned into rows of sharp points¡ªa crown of thorns¡ªbefore liquefying into spiraling coils. The shapes kept warping, alternating between rigid and fluid, restless and unstable.

    ¡°...It won¡¯t stop moving,¡± Viktor muttered.

    ¡°That¡¯s normal for your type of magic,¡± Andora said, studying the sphere carefully. ¡°Alteration thrives on constant change. Always adapting.¡±

    The particles briefly coiled around each other like twin serpents¡ªthen burst apart into jagged splinters again.

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    ¡°Yours is focused on enhancement¡ªstrengthening what¡¯s already there,¡± Andora added. ¡°Your power won¡¯t create something from nothing, but what¡¯s already inside you¡± She met his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s only going to grow stronger.¡±

    Viktor flexed his fingers, staring at them like he might see something new. ¡°So... what? I¡¯m just a better version of myself?¡±

    ¡°A dangerously better version,¡± Andora warned. ¡°If you lose control, you might push your body too far.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± Viktor¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°Sounds like my kind of magic.¡±

    Andora gestured for Viktor to return to our ranks. She then shot a glance at Andrew.

    Andrew stepped forward without a word. His face was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders was obvious.

    The moment his fingertips brushed the sphere, the particles inside seemed to stick. They clung stubbornly to the glass, sluggish and heavy. Instead of swirling or flaring, they twisted into tight spirals ¡ª dense, layered coils that wrapped around the core like chains.

    The patterns never changed, never broke apart. They just . . . held. Solid. Unyielding.

    Andora exhaled softly. ¡°Interference,¡± she said. ¡°Your magic doesn¡¯t flow like most others . . . it reinforces. Strengthens what¡¯s already there.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°So . . . what? I just sit there like a brick wall?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more than that,¡± Andora said firmly. ¡°You can stabilize magic, even magic that doesn¡¯t belong to you. Spells will struggle to break through you . . . or past you. What you hold? It lasts.¡±

    Andrew let out a breath¡ªnot quite relief, not quite frustration. ¡°Good.¡± He turned away, muttering half to himself, ¡°I know what those words mean... just not together.¡±

    I snorted and gently elbowed him as walked past me. I liked that funny self-deprating remark. He gave me a knowing smile as if understanding that our humor are similar.

    ¡°Queen of Waters,¡± Andora called before I could say something to Andrew. ¡°You¡¯re next.¡±

    Gabrielle approached the sphere with quiet focus, her face calm but serious. She barely touched the glass before the particles rippled outward like rings in a pond¡ªprecise, steady patterns that overlapped and wove together like armor.

    The rings shifted, layering over one another until the sphere glowed softly, pulsing in slow, rhythmic beats. The air felt . . . calmer. Even my own anxious energy seemed to quiet in the presence of her magic.

    ¡°Abjuration,¡± Andora said with a faint smile. ¡°Your magic excels at protection¡ªat keeping others safe.¡±

    Gabrielle exhaled, her fingers still resting against the sphere. She seemed reluctant to pull away.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be a natural guardian,¡± Andora continued. ¡°But remember, protection doesn¡¯t always mean control.¡±

    Gabrielle¡¯s hand twitched slightly before she let go. Her face was composed, but I caught the flicker of doubt in her eyes.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she murmured as she rejoined us. ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Andora exclaimed. ¡°The Czarina of Senses,¡± she called Cassandra to move forward. ¡°I wonder what discipline you have. Will you be the same as my sister?¡±

    Cassandra¡¯s fingers barely brushed the glass when the particles inside began to shift¡ªslow, delicate lines forming thin, glowing webs that stretched from the core to the inner surface. They glistened like strands of silver thread, curling and crossing in intricate patterns.

    The lines shifted constantly, reshaping into constellations¡ªfamiliar stars one second, then twisting into unrecognizable formations the next. It felt like watching a puzzle assemble itself only to scatter again.

    ¡°It¡¯s . . . beautiful,¡± Cassandra murmured, her gaze fixed on the sphere.

    ¡°Perhaps you won¡¯t be as much of a fool as my sister,¡± Andora mused, smiling.

    ¡°What does these patterns mean?¡± Cassandra asked.

    ¡°Divination,¡± Andora chuckled. ¡°Your magic sees what others can¡¯t¡ªglimpses of the past, present, or future.¡±

    Cassandra¡¯s fingers curled slightly. ¡°But it¡¯s never clear, is it?¡±

    ¡°Rarely,¡± Andora admitted. ¡°Divination offers fragments, whispers of what might come to pass. The challenge is knowing what to trust.¡±

    Cassandra¡¯s eyes stayed on the swirling lines a moment longer. Then she pulled her hand back like she was tearing herself away from something too distant to reach.

    ¡°...I thought it would be louder,¡± she whispered, almost to herself, as Andora gestured her move back to us and waved at Sakura to move forward.

    Sakura stepped forward silently, her face calm as always. She placed her hand on the sphere . . . and the room seemed to breathe.

    The particles didn¡¯t swirl or blaze¡ªinstead, they began to hum. A low, vibrating sound filled the air, rising and falling in quiet rhythm. The particles themselves barely moved, but the sound seemed to carry something deeper¡ªlike faint words whispering just out of reach.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Sakura asked, a little panic drawn on her face.

    ¡°What is it? Is it? Is it? Is it?¡± The sphere echoed. The sound of Sakura¡¯s voice filled the chamber, repeating the words until the sound faded.

    Andora tilted her head, her expression sharpening. ¡°...Invocation.¡±

    The hum deepened. I swore I felt something brush past me¡ªlike a distant presence stirring on the edge of my thoughts.

    Sakura¡¯s fingers twitched, and her face briefly flickered with unease before she let go. The hum faded at once.

    ¡°Your magic calls out,¡± Andora said softly. ¡°To spirits, to names, to things that answer when they shouldn¡¯t.¡±

    Sakura froze. I couldn¡¯t tell whether she was scared or amused.

    ¡°You need not worry, child,¡± Andora assured, ¡°we will help you master your gift.¡±

    Sakura nodded and went back to our ranks without being told.

    Next was either myself or Pierre. I wanted to step forward. Planning to actually. But Pierre was quicker.

    Pierre sauntered forward, flashing the group a grin. ¡°All right, let¡¯s see what I get.¡±

    The moment his hand touched the sphere, the particles inside flattened into a thin, glassy layer¡ªlike liquid metal coating the entire inner surface. The silver sheen rippled, forming patterns like honeycombs, shifting his reflection into different shapes: his face warped, stretched, and split into twisted of himself.

    Pierre grimaced. ¡°Ugh. I look like I fell out of a funhouse mirror.¡±

    ¡°Transfiguration,¡± Andora said, her gaze steady. ¡°You mask what¡¯s real, create something false to hide what¡¯s underneath.¡±

    Pierre¡¯s reflection twisted again, morphing into an exaggerated version of himself¡ªsharper jaw, broader shoulders, eyes gleaming like gemstones.

    Pierre snorted. ¡°I mean... I do look good.¡±

    Andora¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Be careful with that magic.¡±

    Pierre¡¯s smirk faltered. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because change isn¡¯t just about deceiving others,¡± Andora said quietly. ¡°If you rely on it too much, you might forget what¡¯s real yourself.¡±

    Pierre¡¯s grin didn¡¯t quite return as he stepped back.

    And then it was my turn.

    I swallowed hard and stepped forward. The sphere felt cold under my fingers¡ªcolder than it should have. The swirling dust inside paused¡ªperfectly still.

    Then, without warning, the particles began to move.

    They didn¡¯t pulse or spark like the others. Instead, they danced¡ªdelicate threads twisting into runes and sigils that traced along the inner surface. The markings shifted constantly, folding and breaking apart like living diagrams. Some looked like constellations; others resembled spell diagrams I couldn¡¯t even begin to understand.

    The sphere trembled, then rose from the table, hovering an inch in the air. My breath caught as a cold wind swept through the room, brushing against my face like unseen fingers. The runes kept shifting, like a puzzle constantly being solved and rearranged.

    The sphere slowly settled back onto the table. My fingers were still cold when I let go.

    ¡°Finally,¡± Andora whispered, almost to herself. ¡°Someone like me.¡±

 Chapter 12: Someone Like Me?

    ¡°What did you mean by that?¡± I asked. My voice felt small in the vast hall. ¡°When you said, ''Finally, someone like me'' . . . what did you mean?¡±

    Andora smiled faintly. It wasn¡¯t her usual sharp grin¡ªthis one was softer, almost relieved.

    ¡°Your discipline,¡± she said, ¡°is called Wisdom. It¡¯s . . . uncommon.¡± She paused, like she was picking her words carefully. ¡°Wisdom isn¡¯t about power¡ªnot directly. It¡¯s about understanding the mechanics of magic itself. You don¡¯t just use spells¡ªyou shape them, alter them, create new ones. And you feel magic differently from the rest of us. It¡¯s why your sphere showed runes and diagrams instead of something physical. Wisdom is the discipline of creation, adaptation . . . and risk.¡±

    I swallowed hard. ¡°Risk?¡±

    ¡°Magic doesn¡¯t always behave the way we expect,¡± she said. ¡°Most disciplines rely on established methods, but Wisdom bends those rules. If you don¡¯t fully understand what you¡¯re doing . . .¡± Her gaze sharpened. ¡°It can go very wrong.¡±

    I thought back to the lightning strike, the frozen river, and the sharp cold I¡¯d felt spreading through my chest afterward. That hadn¡¯t felt like power¡ªit had felt like I¡¯d barely stopped something from spiraling out of control.

    ¡°But you¡¯re like me?¡± I asked.

    Andora¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Yes. My discipline is Wisdom as well.¡±

    That surprised me¡ªsomehow, I¡¯d imagined her wielding something louder, something more forceful. But that sort of explains why only she was able to use magic within the Woods of Silence, or at least create a fortress where magic exists within a realm that rejects it.

    Before I could ask more, Cassandra spoke up.

    ¡°Wait . . . what¡¯s the difference between Wisdom and Divination?¡± she asked. ¡°I thought my powers were about insight and understanding too?¡±

    ¡°Divination is about discovering what is,¡± Andora explained. ¡°The past, the present, possible futures¡ªDivination reveals what already exists. Wisdom, on the other hand . . . shapes what could be. It creates new paths, new spells, new outcomes. Divination observes. Wisdom acts.¡±

    Cassandra frowned, clearly turning the words over in her head. ¡°So . . . my magic won¡¯t change anything?¡±

    ¡°It can,¡± Andora corrected her. ¡°Divination can guide you toward the right choices. It¡¯s just . . . less direct.¡±

    Cassandra didn¡¯t seem convinced.

    ¡°And my Alteration?¡± Viktor asked.

    ¡°Alteration enhances what¡¯s already there,¡± Andora said. ¡°Your strength and speed aren¡¯t new powers¡ªthey¡¯re your natural abilities, amplified to impossible levels.¡± She gave him a meaningful look. ¡°You¡¯ll need to be careful with that. Pushing too far can destroy what you¡¯re trying to improve.¡±

    Viktor¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°So if I¡¯m not careful . . . I could break myself?¡±

    ¡°Or others,¡± Andora said bluntly. ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯ll learn control.¡±

    Zeke shot Viktor a concerned look but didn¡¯t comment. Instead, he raised his hand.

    ¡°Okay, so my Conjuration makes fire constructs¡ªbut what about Hyacinth? You looked at the particles in the sphere like they¡¯re . . . weird.¡±

    Andora¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Hyacinth¡¯s Conjuration is special,¡± she said. ¡°Most Conjurers create based on logic¡ªthey build with clear mental blueprints. But Hyacinth¡¯s creations seem to come from her imagination itself. She¡¯s less restricted¡ªbut that freedom makes her ability harder to master.¡±

    Hyacinth interjected. ¡°But what about my Planar magic?¡±

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    ¡°Hmmmm,¡± Andora thought for a moment. ¡°That one is rather curious. Tell me, have you every conjured anything before you got here?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Hyacinth answered. ¡°I have conjured dinnerware, umbrella, some pillows, and . . . ¡±

    ¡°And where did you based them off from?¡± Andora asked further.

    ¡°My imagination?¡± Hyacinth said, her tone was rather unsure.

    Andora let out a soft laugh. ¡°Were they your own creations of something you have seen from the past?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Hyacinth responded gently, ¡°things I have seen in the past.¡±

    ¡°From your world,¡± Andora hinted. ¡°I am guessing those were not conjured but summoned.¡±

    And before Hyacinth could ask further, her sister interrupted. ¡°And what about my healing?¡± Amethyst asked.

    ¡°You just don¡¯t heal,¡± Andora said. ¡°Your gift combines Evocation and Disruption. You don¡¯t just mend injuries¡ªyou channel protective and restorative energy. You can strengthen others, heal them, but you can also harm them. Your power isn¡¯t just your own¡ªyou¡¯re calling on something greater.¡±

    Amethyst blinked. ¡°Wait . . . something greater?¡±

    Andora¡¯s gaze lingered on her. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that when you¡¯re ready.¡±

    Amethyst exchanged a nervous glance with Hyacinth.

    ¡°And my earth magic?¡± Andrew asked.

    ¡°Interference,¡± Andora said simply. ¡°You don¡¯t create stone or soil¡ªyou manipulate what¡¯s already there. Interference magic strengthens and controls elements outside your body.¡±

    Andrew furrowed his brow. ¡°So . . . I can¡¯t create stone walls or pillars?¡±

    ¡°Not unless there''s already stone nearby,¡± Andora clarified. ¡°Your strength lies in control, not creation. You can make the ground split open, you can make the earth quake, you send boulders flying, but you cannot conjure earth and rocks from thin air.¡±

    ¡°And my water magic is the same?¡± Gabrielle asked.

    Andora nodded. ¡°Yes, but your connection to water runs deeper. It¡¯s tied to your emotions, your will. You can create wards, enchantments, seals, curses, purify an area, item, or creature.¡±

    Gabrielle straightened at that. Her shoulders squared like she was still holding onto the power she¡¯d claimed back at the river. ¡°But I was able to split the Frozen River?¡±

    ¡°Just because your discipline is Abjuration does not mean you cannot manipulate waters,¡± Andora explained. ¡°Your discipline is your strongest approach to how you use magic. It is not your only approach.¡±

    Pierre crossed his arms. ¡°What about me? I just . . . change.¡±

    ¡°Your shapeshifting is Transfiguration,¡± Andora said. ¡°It¡¯s flexible, but temporary. You alter your form by overlaying a new shape over your real one. The more extreme the change, the harder it is to hold.¡±

    Pierre scowled. ¡°So I can¡¯t turn into a dragon?¡±

    ¡°You can,¡± Andora said dryly. ¡°But it will take its toll. You may hold that form for long, but we don¡¯t know how long before you collapse.¡±

    Pierre¡¯s scowl deepened.

    ¡°And my copying ability?¡± Sakura asked quietly.

    Andora¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Your discipline is Invocation. Each time you mimic someone¡¯s abilities, someone¡¯s form, you¡¯re calling on their essence¡ªtheir identity¡ªand weaving it into your own magic. Your own self. It¡¯s not just copying. You¡¯re . . . borrowing their presence.¡±

    Sakura¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Their presence?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and that¡¯s why it might so . . . heavy sometimes,¡± Andora said. ¡°You''re carrying part of their spirit when you use their power.¡±

    Sakura¡¯s face paled, and her fingers tightened around her sleeve.

    ¡°That¡¯s . . . a lot,¡± Zeke muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

    ¡°It is,¡± Andora agreed smiling. ¡°But you¡¯ll have time to train and understand your abilities. None of you are expected to master your discipline overnight.¡±

    She paused, and I felt the weight of her gaze shift across the room. For a moment, it felt like we were all standing on the edge of something¡ªlike the floor beneath us might suddenly give way.

    Her smile faded. ¡°I won¡¯t be the one training you. Each of you will be guided by someone who understands your discipline¡ªsomeone who can teach you what you need to know. They aren¡¯t from this place . . . or this time.¡±

    That silenced the room.

    ¡°Wait . . . from another time?¡± Viktor asked.

    ¡°Who are they?¡± Gabrielle demanded.

    ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough,¡± Andora said. ¡°But you won¡¯t be trained together. Each of you will learn alone, in your own way . . . and on your own path.¡±

    The air seemed colder now.

    For the first time since we¡¯d arrived in Mysteria . . . I felt like we were really being separated.

    ¡°Now,¡± Andora said at last, her tone shifting. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to receive your new names.¡±

    ¡°A new name?¡± Pierre scoffed. ¡°What the fuck for?¡±

 Chapter 13: What True Names Hold

    ¡°A new name?¡± Pierre scoffed. ¡°What the fuck for?¡±

    Andora¡¯s voice cut through the room, steady and sharp. ¡°Your names hold power,¡± she said. ¡°Here in Mysteria, they are more than just words¡ªthey are the essence of who you are. Your name binds you to your magic, your very essence."

    ¡°Like a password to our souls?¡± Zeke asked, half-joking.

    ¡°More than that,¡± Andora replied. ¡°Your True Name is your identity in its purest form. If an enemy learns it, they can wield it against you¡ªweaken you, command you . . . or worse." Her eyes hardened.¡±

    ¡°True Name?¡± Cassandra echoed curiously, her voice quieter than usual.

    Andora knelt by the fire, stirring the embers with an iron poker. Sparks danced upward, curling like fireflies.

    ¡°A True Name isn¡¯t just something you¡¯re called¡ªlike I said, it¡¯s the core of your being,¡± she explained. ¡°It¡¯s woven from your thoughts, your memories, your soul itself. Knowing a True Name isn¡¯t the same as hearing it¡ªit¡¯s understanding everything that makes that being who they are. Their strengths, their weaknesses, their deepest fears.¡±

    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t our names done anything?¡± Pierre asked. ¡°If our names are so powerful, why aren¡¯t we exploding every time someone says them?¡±

    Andora¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Because your True Names may not be the names you¡¯ve been using,¡± she said. ¡°Most Mysterians are given their True Names at birth¡ªnames that connect them to the magic of this world. But you . . . ¡± Her eyes swept over us. ¡°You¡¯re different. You didn¡¯t begin in Mysteria¡ªyour essence doesn¡¯t belong to this world¡¯s magic. Your True Names might be something else entirely.¡±

    I felt a cold knot tighten in my chest.

    ¡°You mean,¡± Viktor said slowly, ¡°our True Names are . . . our Earth names?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Andora said. ¡°Because your greatest truth¡ªyour core identity¡ªis not that you are Mysterians. It¡¯s that you are not Mysterians.¡±

    She paused, her expression grim. ¡°That¡¯s what makes you vulnerable. If your enemies uncover your True Names, they won¡¯t just command your magic¡ªthey could unravel everything that holds you together in this world.¡±

    I never imagined my name could be dangerous.

    Pierre scoffed. ¡°We¡¯ve been calling each other by name this whole time, and nothing¡¯s happened.¡± He gestured lazily at Zeke. ¡°Czak has called him Zechairah a dozen times. No lightning, no earthquakes¡ªno magic.¡±

    A small smile tugged at the corner of Andora¡¯s mouth. ¡°Has the Pharaoh of the Skies ever spoken the King of Fire¡¯s full name with intent?¡±

    Pierre opened his mouth to argue¡ªthen paused.

    I never did. Not when we got here in Mysteria, no.

    The truth sank in like cold water. I hadn¡¯t spoken my full name¡ªCzak Alastar Luna¡ªsince arriving in Mysteria. Zeke was always Zeke. Pierre was just Pierre. Even Amethyst¡¯s twin sister called her Amy.

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    ¡°True Names,¡± Andora continued, ¡°are only invoked when spoken with purpose¡ªwith intent to command or control. If one of your enemies learns your True Name and calls it with the right words . . . ¡± She paused. ¡°They won¡¯t just know you. They¡¯ll own you.¡±

    I swallowed hard. Suddenly, my name didn¡¯t feel like mine anymore¡ªjust a blade someone could wield if they knew how.

    ¡°So what about you?¡± Viktor¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Andora¡¯s your True Name?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°No.¡±

    The room went still.

    ¡°My True Name is my own,¡± Andora said firmly. ¡°I kept it a secret many centuries ago. The name Andora is the one I chose.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Gabrielle asked.

    Andora¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°Because names shape destiny. Andora means ¡®Guardian of Knowledge¡¯ in our language. It is both a title . . . and a warning.¡±

    For a moment, I wondered what her real name had been¡ªand what might happen if she speaks it in front of us.

    ¡°Those who¡¯ve crossed your path¡ªIshthar, Marik, Iago, and even Marduk,¡± Andora¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°None of those are True Names. Some Mysterians create new names to hide behind. Others are given new names¡ªnames that bind them to a path they can¡¯t escape.¡±

    ¡°Like a prophecy?¡± Sakura asked.

    ¡°Sometimes,¡± Andora said. ¡°But not always. For those who carry great responsibility¡ªor great danger¡ªa Naming Ritual is performed. These names become . . . armor. A shield against those who would use your True Name against you.¡±

    ¡°So this is why we need our new names?¡± Cassandra asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Andora said. ¡°Not to replace your True Names¡ªbut to protect them.¡±

    I raised my hand, despite not being needed. ¡°How are we getting our new names? Are we going to choose it ourselves?¡±

    Andora shook her head, ¡°No.¡± She gestured for us to follow her as she walked across the chamber. ¡°You go through a naming ritual, like the ones before who held your mantles.¡±

    ¡°What happens during the ritual?¡± I asked.

    Andora¡¯s gaze found mine, sharp and knowing. ¡°It reveals more than a name.¡±

    She stepped forward, hands clasped before her. ¡°The Naming Ritual draws from your soul¡ªyour strengths, your fears, your future. The name you are given will be yours to carry . . . but it may also carry a burden. A destiny. Perhaps even a curse.¡±

    I shook my head, ¡°No, I meant,¡± I started, ¡°what happens during the ritual? Are we going to be submerged in water? Will we walk through fire? Do we have to eat anything while reciting an oath?¡±

    Silence stretched between us.

    ¡°AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± Andora¡¯s laughter broke that stretched silence. ¡°Honey, no. It¡¯s simpler than that.¡±

    I felt embarrassed by that uncalled-for laughter, but I just shrugged it off. ¡°So what exactly?¡±

    ¡°Follow me,¡± she answered as we walk outside the chamber toward the hallway of the fortress. ¡°We will head to the naming chamber,¡± she started her explanation. ¡°There, there will be an altar, where you¡¯ll hold the Tablet of Assendance and Revalation. The Tablet will give you your name.¡±

    ¡°And we can do it now?¡± Sakura asked, quite eager about the notion of getting a new name in this new world.

    ¡°Why, yes,¡± Andora answered nonchalantly. ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s a simple ritual. No spells, no incantations, no sacrifices or offerings, no weird eating.¡± She said, giving me a sly smile.

    ¡°What if we refuse?¡± Zeke¡¯s voice was quiet, almost cautious.

    Andora¡¯s smile was faint, almost sad. ¡°Then you¡¯ll face Mysteria without protection. And sooner or later, someone will find your True Name.¡±

    Her words hung heavy in the air.

    We didn¡¯t speak for a bit after that while we walked to the Naming Chamber. Some of us stared at the walls, others at the floor or the ceiling.

    I couldn¡¯t stop turning it over in my head. My name¡ªCzak Alastar Luna¡ªwasn¡¯t just something I answered to. It was me¡ªmy thoughts, my magic, my soul. If someone learned it and spoke it with purpose . . .

    I didn¡¯t know what would happen.

    Andora¡¯s warning echoed in my mind: ¡°A name shapes destiny.¡±

    I wondered what name fate had waiting for me.

 Chapter 14: New World, New Names

    The Naming Chamber loomed before us, its towering archway lined with jagged stones that seemed to claw at the ceiling. Cold air curled from the entrance, chilling my skin as we stepped inside. The chamber stretched wide, with walls carved from smooth, dark granite that swallowed the torchlight whole. Golden braziers flickered along the perimeter, their flames restless and flickering, as if agitated by something unseen.

    At the center stood the altar ¡ª a block of stone as black as midnight, veined with silver that shimmered faintly like trapped starlight. The Tablet of Ascendance and Revelation rested atop it. Rough and ancient, its surface was a network of intricate runes ¡ª symbols I didn¡¯t recognize yet felt strangely familiar. The carvings twisted and spiraled, some resembling constellations, others like threads weaving between unseen forces. The stone itself seemed to pulse faintly, like a heart beating beneath layers of rock.

    Kaldi and Dero stood on either side of the altar, their massive bear forms silhouetted by the firelight. Kaldi¡¯s arms were crossed, his expression solemn. Dero, ever the gentler of the two, gave us a small smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. Something about their presence ¡ª steady and quiet¡ªmade the room feel heavier, like even they were holding their breath.

    Andora stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm. ¡°The ritual is simple,¡± she said. ¡°One by one, you¡¯ll place your hand on the tablet. The Tablet will read your soul ¡ª your strengths, your weaknesses, your truth ¡ª and grant you a name that reflects who you are . . . or who you¡¯re meant to become.¡±

    Her gaze drifted across the group, pausing on Zeke. ¡°You first.¡±

    Zeke snorted. ¡°Figures.¡±

    He stepped forward, planting his hand firmly on the stone. The moment his fingers touched the surface, the runes ignited ¡ª not with fire, but with a deep scarlet light that poured from the tablet like molten steel.

    The magic circle that formed beneath him was fierce ¡ª jagged and sharp, like a sunburst forged from blades. Each line was etched with violent precision, splitting and branching into chaotic patterns that refused to stay still. Flames ¡ª actual flames ¡ª flickered along the outer edges, burning low and steady like a wildfire waiting to spread. Embers drifted upward, swirling lazily before vanishing into the air. The scarlet glow pulsed rhythmically, rising and falling like a heartbeat ¡ª strong, forceful, unrelenting.

    Then the light surged upward, engulfing Zeke in a column of burning crimson. The air crackled with heat, and the faint scent of smoke filled my lungs. The flames flickered violently¡ªwild and restless¡ªbut somehow, Zeke stood firm at the center, unflinching. The flames writhed outward, flickering closer to those watching, as if daring anyone to challenge him.

    The light receded as quickly as it had appeared, curling back into the tablet like water swirling down a drain.

    Zeke stood there, blinking. He glanced down at his hands like he expected them to burn. Then he looked up at us, eyes hard and sharp.

    ¡°Havoc,¡± he said. ¡°From now on, you shall call me Havoc.¡±

    I swallowed. Somehow . . . it fit.

    The others followed, one by one.

    Viktor¡¯s turn came next.

    His magic circle gleamed a brilliant silver, its design resembling a shield layered with intricate engravings¡ªsharp lines and symmetrical shapes folding into one another. The outer ring looked like interlocked chains, each link woven with tiny runes that shimmered faintly. The inner markings pulsed in slow, steady waves¡ªnot like Zeke¡¯s chaotic rhythm, but with the measured certainty of a hammer striking an anvil. The air around Viktor seemed heavier, as if his presence alone could anchor the room.

    When the silver light swallowed him whole, it was like a pillar of steel closing in¡ªsilent, unbreakable, absolute. The air seemed heavier around him, like the weight of a mountain pressing down ¡ª not threatening, but unshakable.

    When the light disappeared, Viktor emerged, smiling at us. ¡°Titan,¡± he said. ¡°I am Titan.¡±

    Andrew stepped forward next; he didn¡¯t wait to be called.

    His magic circle unfolded in bands of rich gold, each line curling and sweeping like the roots of an ancient tree spreading through the earth. The design was fluid yet powerful¡ªtwisting branches spiraling outward, with faint runes carved along the bark-like patterns. Leaves¡ª delicate and glowing¡ªsprouted along the golden lines, flickering in and out of sight like sparks catching on the wind. The ground beneath him seemed to hum, like something old and powerful stirring in its sleep.

    When the golden light consumed him, it seemed warm. Safe. Like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. The golden roots seemed to dig into the stone floor itself, as if anchoring him to the world.

    The golden light dimmed, like sunset. Andrew turned toward us, a faint smile painted on his face. ¡°My name¡¯s Aegis,¡± he announced.

    Pierre volunteered next. When he touched the tablet, the circle was unlike anything I¡¯d ever seen.

    It shimmered like chrome-plated metal, yet colors rippled across its surface¡ªhues of blue, red, green, yellow¡ªswirling and shifting as if the light couldn¡¯t decide what to be. The circle¡¯s patterns were fluid and chaotic¡ªtwisting like oil on water, yet somehow never colliding or breaking form. Colors stretched and merged, their hues bending like they were alive. The longer I stared, the harder it was to tell where one line ended and another began¡ªas if Pierre¡¯s magic refused to be confined by simple shapes or patterns.

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    The light that enveloped him swirled just as wildly, never still, never predictable. The swirling hues never clashed¡ªthey twisted and danced, somehow in perfect harmony despite their chaotic movement.

    Pierre beathed a sigh of relief when stepped out of the light. His eyes met mine first, then, the rest of us. He smirked. ¡°Alaric, the Ruler of All shapes and forms,¡± he announced.

    Andora nodded at Grabrielle to go next.

    Her circle glowed with a serene cyan, its patterns rippling like water kissed by the wind. Delicate spirals coiled outward, curling and uncurling like waves in slow motion. Droplets of light hovered along the outer edges, suspended in the air as if held by invisible strings. The lines of her circle pulsed gently, in and out, like the rhythm of a calm tide.

    When the light rose around her, it flowed upward like a rising wave¡ªgraceful yet powerful, a current no one could stop. The waves flowed outward, steady and patient, like a tide that refused to be rushed ¡ª yet there was no question it could become a storm if pushed.

    When the lights faded, Gabrielle surfaced like a mermaid seeing the land for the first time. She looked gleeful, excited. A smile formed on her face. ¡°Atlantika,¡± she mused. ¡°My new name is Atlantika.¡±

    Hyacinth was next. Her circle flared yellow, chaotic and wild. The lines shot out in jagged streaks, branching and spiraling with no clear pattern. Tiny sparks danced across the markings, flaring in random bursts before fading just as quickly. Where other circles had careful symmetry, hers seemed to move, shifting and twisting like her magic couldn¡¯t sit still.

    The yellow light that consumed her crackled like lightning¡ªsharp, sudden, electric. The sparks danced like fireflies, flickering into shapes¡ªstars, flowers, creatures ¡ª before vanishing again.

    ¡°Yridelle,¡± she announced as she emerges from the yellow light that engulfed her. ¡°My name is Yridelle.¡±

    Her sister wen next, Amethyst.

    Amethyst¡¯s circle radiated pure white¡ªno patterns, no complex designs¡ªjust a flawless rings of light intertwining each other that shone so brightly it seemed to erase the shadows around her. The air felt clearer, cleaner, like something sacred was present. The circle pulsed slow and steady, each beat like the toll of a distant bell.

    When the white light enveloped her, it felt less like a surge of magic and more like a quiet presence¡ªa calm hand steadying my shoulder. The air seemed softer, cleaner, as if her magic was washing away some unseen stain.

    The white light disappeared slowly, leaving only the figure of beautiful young woman. She opened her eyes slowly, surveyed everyone in attendance, smiled, and said, ¡°I am Eloria.¡±

    Cassandra went on next. Like the rest, she didn¡¯t wait to be called.

    Her circle unfolded in soft lavender, its patterns delicate and winding. Curving spirals and faint starbursts stretched outward, almost ethereal in their softness. The designs seemed incomplete, like whispers in the air¡ªshapes half-formed yet undeniably present. The light barely touched the floor, drifting instead like mist just above the ground.

    When the lavender glow rose around her, it felt . . . otherworldly. Not Mysterian, not from Earth. The drifting symbols flickered in and out of focus¡ªnot incomplete, but waiting to reveal their meaning when the time was right.

    The lavender lights muted slowly. Cassandra stood there silently. She turned to us, smiled, and then.

    Thessrael. A voice pierced my thoughts.

    I saw some of us jumped in surprise, others flinced.

    ¡°Now, that¡¯s one way to announce your new name.¡± Andora laughed. ¡°I like you.¡±

    I realized Cassandra¡ªno, Thessrael¡ªrelayed her new name to us telepathically instead.

    I smiled at her.

    That¡¯s clever, girl. I thought. Go you!

    Thank you. She answered telepathically. I try.

    I flinched and gave her a stern but teasing look. We both laughed.

    Sakura went after her. Her circle gleamed pink, sharp yet graceful. The lines wove like thorny vines¡ª delicate yet dangerous ¡ª curling in spirals that tangled and twisted. Tiny petals drifted along the outer rim, flickering in and out of existence.

    When the pink light swallowed her, it bloomed like a field of flowers bursting into life¡ªbeautiful but fierce, something wild that refused to be tamed. The petals seemed soft and fragile, yet the thorns gleamed sharp enough to cut.

    She emerged like a fairy from the pink lights that scattered like petals of cherry blossoms, fitting her name from Earth. The pink lights dissipated and faded naturally.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± she said as she courtseyed, ¡°I am Kaelith.¡±

    And then . . . it was my turn.

    I stepped forward. My fingers hovered over the stone for a heartbeat too long. The tablet seemed to hum beneath my palm¡ªwaiting, expectant. I let my hand fall.

    Indigo light flared beneath me, rich and endless, like ink spreading across a page. The magic circle that formed wasn¡¯t like the others¡ªno clear patterns or symbols. Instead, the lines stretched outward, curling into constellations¡ªclusters of glowing stars connected by thin threads of light. The air shifted, and I felt something pull at me, drawing me down . . . down . . .

    I tumbled into the void.

    The sky stretched out before me¡ªendless and breathtaking. Stars burned like diamonds scattered across an ocean of black velvet. Wisps of silver clouds drifted lazily between them, and distant galaxies spiraled in hues of violet and gold. The constellations flickered, their shapes shifting¡ªa hunter¡¯s bow transforming into a roaring lion, then a serpent coiling around a distant sun.

    I could feel the sky¡ªthe breath of the wind as it danced between the stars, the distant thunder that rumbled through the cosmos. I reached out¡ªnot with my hand, but with my mind¡ªand the constellations answered, their light bending and shifting beneath my will. Threads of magic looped between my fingers, delicate yet strong. I could weave it. Shape it. Command it.

    A whisper brushed my ears¡ªnot a voice, but a presence. A knowing. A name.

    The stars pulsed once, and I felt myself falling back into my body¡ªlike a raindrop plummeting from the sky.

    I staggered as I returned to the chamber, gasping for breath. The others stared at me, their faces uncertain. I swallowed hard, steadying myself.

    I managed a smile, but my mind was still spinning. That sky¡ªthat power¡ªit felt . . . limitless. Yet somehow, I knew it was mine to bear.

    For a moment, no one spoke. Then Zeke¡ªHavoc¡ªgrinned. ¡°So?¡± He started. ¡°What are you waiting for? Tell us your name, god damn it!¡± He teased.

    My voice trembled slightly, but I straightened my shoulders and forced my breath to steady. ¡°Zenith.¡±

 Chapter 15: Our Names, Our Burden

    The air still hummed with magic as I stepped down from the altar. My new name¡ªZenith¡ªechoed in my mind like a bell that refused to stop ringing. It felt strange, like I¡¯d stepped into a new skin that didn¡¯t quite fit yet. The others stood in a loose circle, murmuring to each other.

    ¡°Zenith, huh?¡± a familiar voice called. Havoc grinned at me, arms crossed. ¡°I gotta admit, that¡¯s a pretty cool name.¡±

    I snorted, brushing my hair back. ¡°Havoc''s not bad either,¡± I responded. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re here to burn down a kingdom or two.¡±

    He laughed, a little too loudly, and clapped me on the back. ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re the heavens, I guess I¡¯m the wildfire.¡±

    The tension in the room had finally started to crack.

    ¡°Did you . . . see anything?¡± Havoc asked, lowering his voice. The grin on his face faltered, like he wasn¡¯t sure if it was the right question to ask.

    I hesitated. ¡°Yeah. Stars. Constellations shifting in and out of place. Like . . . like the sky was unraveling and reweaving itself.¡± I shrugged. ¡°And then my name¡ªZenith¡ªjust . . . called to me.¡±

    Havoc let out a low whistle. ¡°Sounds almost peaceful.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t,¡± I muttered. ¡°Believe me,¡± I continued, rolling my eyes.

    He didn¡¯t ask for more. Instead, he scratched his chin, gaze drifting back toward the Tablet. ¡°Mine was . . . different.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked.

    His eyes flicked back to me, and his grin returned¡ªnot cocky, but sharp-edged. Excited. ¡°It started with fire. No surprise there.¡± He flexed his fingers, a flicker of flame dancing between them as he spoke. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t just fire¡ªit was everywhere. I was standing in this place¡ªthis endless plane of molten rock, rivers of magma twisting through the cracks like veins of light. The air itself shimmered with heat.¡±

    I imagined him standing there, the glow reflecting in his eyes.

    ¡°Then,¡± Havoc continued, ¡°the whole thing shifted. The heat changed¡ªgot sharper, hotter. I was in a desert, but instead of wind, these massive tornadoes of fire were churning across the sand, scorching the earth as they moved. Pillars of flame, just . . . tearing through the horizon.¡±

    His eyes widened slightly as he relived it, like he was still standing in the blaze. ¡°And then . . . I was somewhere else. A battlefield. There were these¡ªthese things fighting beside me. Dragons, soldiers, giant birds¡ªeven these huge serpents¡ªall made of fire. And they fought like they were part of me. Like I could just will them to move, and they¡¯d answer.¡±

    ¡°Like your own personal army?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Exactly!¡± He grinned again, this time with something wild behind it. ¡°I was in the thick of it¡ªflames roaring, fiery beasts charging¡ªand then I heard it.¡± His voice dropped lower. ¡°That name . . . Havoc. Like a whisper in my ear¡ªnot a voice, more like . . . like the flames themselves were saying it. And then I was back in the chamber.¡±

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    I let out a breath. ¡°Wow.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± He chuckled, but his voice was softer now. ¡°Guess I¡¯ve got a lot to live up to.¡±

    ¡°You?¡± I scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve got constellations to manage.¡±

    He barked a laugh at that, and I couldn¡¯t help but grin. The tension from before had eased just a little ¡ª enough for me to believe, if only for a second, that maybe we were ready for this.

    ¡°Czak,¡± Amethyst''s voice drifted in. ¡°I mean, Zenith¡ª¡± she stopped, laughing at herself. ¡°Sorry, force of habit, I guess.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± I said, smiling at her. ¡°Eloria, was it?¡±

    She curtsied. ¡°Pleasure to meet you,¡± she said jokingly. ¡°This new name thing is gonna take some getting used to.¡±

    ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Aegis said, scratching the back of his neck. ¡°I was just about to say ¡®Zeke,¡¯ but . . . ¡± He shot Havoc a grin. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to get used to Havoc setting things on fire now.¡±

    ¡°I mean, I could still answer to ¡®Zeke,¡¯¡± Havoc teased. ¡°But Havoc just has a better ring to it, don¡¯t you think?¡± He flexed his fingers, conjuring a flickering flame that danced between them. ¡°Sounds dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Titan sounds plenty dangerous too,¡± Titan said, cracking his knuckles like a sledgehammer against stone. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna lie¡ªkinda makes me feel like I could punch a mountain.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d try,¡± Yridelle cut in, teasingly. ¡°I just know you would, given the chance.¡±

    ¡°I neither confirm nor deny that,¡± Titan laughed.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to confirm that if you¡¯re gonna live up to a name like Titan,¡± Atlantika said, grinning.

    The teasing rolled on from there¡ªlight, familiar, and so painfully normal it almost felt like we weren¡¯t in a strange place where magic isn¡¯t just in books and movies.

    ¡°You know,¡± Yridelle said between laughs, ¡°I think Yridelle makes me sound like a villain.¡±

    ¡°Totally,¡± Kaelith chimed in. ¡°I can already hear the evil monologue.¡± She threw her arms wide and deepened her voice. ¡°Foolish mortals! Witness the power of the mighty Yridelle!¡±

    ¡°Sounds more like you¡¯re summoning bad breath,¡± Havoc said, dodging a imaginary dagger Yridelle pretended to throw at him.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Kaldi cut in, his booming voice silencing the chaos for a second. ¡°If you¡¯re all getting fancy new names, then Dero and I should have some too.¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± Dero agreed, standing tall beside his brother. ¡°Kaldi will be Beary Strong, and I will be¡ª¡±

    ¡°Beary Cute,¡± I interrupted him with a grin.

    ¡°You two,¡± Titan groaned, ¡°are unbearably ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°Unbearably.¡± Havoc smirked. ¡°Nice.¡±

    For a moment, it felt like none of us had anything to worry about. Just a bunch of friends joking around. No looming war, no titles of power, no impossible tasks hanging over our heads. Just . . . us.

    Then Andora¡¯s voice cut through the warmth like an icy blade.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time for jokes,¡± she said, her tone sharp enough to turn smiles to stone. Her gaze swept over us, hard and unwavering. ¡°Your new names are not just words¡ªthey are power, and they are responsibility. You will need to understand what they mean if you hope to survive what¡¯s coming.¡±

    The room¡¯s warmth vanished.

    ¡°It¡¯s time you learned about your gifts.¡±

    And just like that, the moment was gone.

 Chapter 16: The Weight of Our Inheritance

    I dragged my feet across the stone floor, groaning internally. Can¡¯t we just have one break? Just one? My head throbbed faintly, a lingering reminder of my exhaustion.

    A soft giggle brushed against my mind, and Thessrael nudged me lightly with her elbow.

    I can hear you, her voice echoed in my thoughts.

    I groaned aloud this time, rolling my eyes at her smug grin. ¡°Great,¡± I muttered. ¡°Now my own thoughts aren¡¯t even safe.¡±

    Thessrael giggled harder. ¡°Relax, Zenith. You¡¯re not as mysterious as you think.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear your thoughts,¡± Alaric joined in, ¡°but, please, your face has subtitles.¡±

    Despite myself, I chuckled too. The weight in my chest lifted¡ªjust a little.

    Andora¡¯s voice cut through our chatter like a blade. ¡°Get ready.¡±

    ¡°Get ready for wha¡ª¡± I started, but before I could finish, Andora snapped her fingers.

    The air lurched, and the world twisted inside out. My vision blurred for a split second before snapping back into focus. We were in a different room now¡ªa stone-walled chamber that looked like a classroom. Desks made of carved stone formed neat rows, each paired with a matching bench. The walls were lined with glowing runes that pulsed faintly, casting a soft golden light over the space. At the front of the room, a raised pulpit stood like a throne of rock, where Andora took her place.

    ¡°Please,¡± Alaric groaned, clutching his stomach. ¡°Warn us next time you do that.¡±

    ¡°I said, ¡®get ready.¡¯¡± Andora¡¯s tone was dry. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you didn¡¯t listen.¡±

    As we shuffled to our seats, I glanced around. ¡°Where are Kaldi and Dero?¡±

    ¡°Where they need to be,¡± Andora replied with a dismissive wave.

    Before I could push further, she started her lecture.

    ¡°Now,¡± Andora began, voice carrying through the chamber, ¡°you¡¯ve gained far more than just new names and powers. Each of you has inherited a title¡ªone passed down from the first Cardinal Mages of Mysteria¡ªand a gift tied to that role. These titles are not just symbolic; they define the magic you wield.¡±

    She paced as she spoke. She waved her hands and images of the past appeared out of thin air.

    Andora¡¯s words lingered in the air, the weight of her warning still heavy in my mind. But then, without warning, a pulse of magic radiated from her fingertips, and the room shifted again. Light flickered at the front of the chamber¡ªswirling particles weaving into shapes like smoke curling into form.

    Figures emerged from the mist¡ªten warriors clad in ornate, regal armor that gleamed with power. Each figure stood tall, their presence commanding attention even as they were nothing more than illusions.

    ¡°This,¡± Andora said, her voice quieter now but no less firm, ¡°is what you¡¯ve inherited.¡±

    I stared, unable to look away. The first figure was a man¡ªbroad-shouldered and imposing, with wings like a hawk¡¯s arching from his back. He wore sleek silver armor with sapphire accents, a bow slung across his shoulder. The bow¡¯s limbs shimmered with what looked like constellations carved into the metal.

    I knew that figure. He was the one who greeted me when I first arrived in Mysteria.

    ¡°This is Yashka,¡± Andora said, and my breath caught in my throat. "Pharaoh of the Heavens. He could summon storms with a whisper and command the sky itself."

    The figure¡¯s gaze seemed to pierce right through me, like he knew I¡¯d never fill his shoes.

    Beside him stood an elven man clad in armor that resembled living bark, winding vines etched into every plate. He wore silver gauntlets on his arms¡ªthick, jagged, and crackling faintly with magic.

    ¡°Sayan, K?t?r, the Duke of Supremacy,¡± Andora continued. ¡°He wielded unmatched strength and speed¡ªable to tear down walls with a single strike. His gauntlets amplified that strength a hundredfold.¡±

    I heard Titan mutter something under his breath, probably sizing himself up against the warrior.

    Next came another elf¡ªlean and wiry, dressed in dark leathers reinforced with steel plates. He held a pair of short fighting sticks¡ªsimple-looking weapons, but his stance suggested he didn¡¯t need anything more.

    ¡°Dantalion, the Emperor of Earth,¡± Andora said. ¡°His gift allowed him to reshape terrains, break the ground, shake the earth itself.¡±

    The next man, another elf, stood with a pair of whips coiled in his hands. His armor was sharp and angular, lined with glowing runes. Even as a projection, he exuded a kind of quiet menace.

    ¡°Draganta, the King of Fire,¡±  Andora explained. ¡°His flames could burn without heat¡ªor consume without leaving ash.¡±

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    And then the last of the men¡ªa figure that left me staring longer than the others.

    He looked Mysterian, but not quite. His fin-like ears twitched as though they could pick up sounds the rest of us couldn¡¯t. His skin shimmered faintly where it shifted from smooth flesh to delicate scales along his arms, chest, and neck. The scales glinted like polished silver in the light. A slender staff rested in his grip, crowned with a crystal that pulsed like a heartbeat.

    ¡°And that is Zagan,¡± Andora said, "the Czar of Changes. A merfolk who sacrificed his tail and fins for legs to walk among the surface-dwellers. His power allowed him to alter his form¡ªand sometimes others¡¯¡ªwith uncanny precision."

    I glanced at Alaric, who was watching the image with something between fascination and unease.

    Andora waved her hand, and the five male warriors shifted to the side. The female Mystic Knights took their place, each just as striking¡ªand dangerous-looking¡ªas the men.

    The first was a tall elven woman clad in polished silver armor with a massive shield strapped to her arm. The metal rippled like liquid steel, constantly shifting and reshaping as she moved.

    ¡°This is Keturah, the Empress of Reflections,¡± Andora said. "She could assume the form of others whose thoughts and motivations she understood, takeover the powers of enemies she had conquered, and reflect magic back at her enemies¡ªstronger, sharper, and more devastating than before."

    Next was a woman clad in flowing robes, her slender wand twirling gracefully between her fingers. Her presence made my skin crawl¡ªlike she could unravel a person¡¯s mind with a flick of her wrist.

    ¡°Asenath, the Czarina of Senses,¡± Andora said grimly. ¡°My beloved fool of a sister . . . her magic could pierce thoughts, memories, and even bend perception itself.¡±

    Beside her stood an ethereal figure, her wings resembling those of a moth or butterfly¡ªdelicate yet mesmerizing. Papers swirled around her, inscribed with glowing runes, and a tome floated beside her, its pages turning as if guided by an unseen hand.

    ¡°Serafina, the Angel of Life," Andora said, her tone softer. ¡°She was a healer, a guardian who could mend wounds, cure sickness, and preserve life itself. Her magic kept entire cities from ruin.¡±

    The next figure was a woman shrouded in midnight blue, her twin daggers flickering like liquid shadows in her hands. Her sharp eyes seemed to pierce everything in sight, scanning the room as though she knew every hidden threat.

    ¡°Ashtaroth, the Duchess of Creations,¡± Andora said. ¡°Her power allowed her to bring her imagination to life¡ªconjuring weapons, beasts, and anything she willed.¡±

    And finally, the last figure¡ªa tall, elegant elf in flowing robes that shimmered like sunlight on water. In her hands, she held an ornate trident adorned with gleaming gemstones. The gems pulsed faintly, like drops of captured ocean light.

    ¡°And this is Vinea,¡± Andora said softly, ¡°the Queen of Waters. Her dominion stretched across every river, lake, and sea. Her power could call forth waves that swallowed fleets or gentle tides that nurtured entire ecosystems.¡±

    I swallowed hard, feeling like the air had grown heavier with each word. These weren¡¯t just warriors¡ªthey were legends.

    ¡°These are the ones who came before you,¡± Andora said. ¡°The Cardinal Mages of Mysteria, the Mystic Knights who faced countless battles and left their marks in history. They succeeded . . . but not without a cost."

    Her voice hardened.

    ¡°And now it¡¯s your turn. Their power is yours¡ªbut only if you¡¯re strong enough to wield it.¡±

    The images flickered and faded, leaving nothing but empty air behind. Yet somehow, their presence lingered¡ªa reminder that whatever awaited us wasn¡¯t something we could afford to face lightly.

    ¡°However, do not assume your powers will manifest the same way,¡± Andora warned. ¡°The way you wield your magic depends on your discipline, not your title. For example, while you, Atlantika, Aegis, Havoc, and Zenith, all command the four elements, your magic will behave differently. Havoc will conjure flames as weapons, while Aegis may command the earth itself to swallow his foes.¡±

    She paused, letting her words settle.

    Thessrael raised her hand. ¡°What about the Gems? Where do they come from?¡±

    Andora smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s a story for another day,¡± she said. ¡°I am sure someone more knowledgeable of the Gems will tell you everything you need to know about the Gems who chose you.¡±

    Alaric leaned forward. ¡°But where are the Gems now?¡± he asked. ¡°I reckon they are powerful relics. Shouldn¡¯t they be guarded or something?¡±

    That faint smile grew sharper¡ªalmost smug. Andora didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, she just stared at us in silence.

    A cold suspicion twisted in my gut. Many times over, we were referred to as Chosen of the Gems, Vessels of the Gems, Guardian of the Gems. The way Andora kept staring . . . no, it couldn¡¯t be. Could it?

    ¡°You don¡¯t mean . . . ¡± I started, my gaze fixed on Andora.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve figured it out,¡± Andora said, smiling at me. ¡°Go on, Zenith," she continued with a nod. ¡°Hold out your hand and think of the Gem of the Heavens.¡±

    I hesitated. Still, I extended my hand and focused. My magic circle flared to life, spinning indigo patterns in the air above my palm. Then, as if the circle itself was breathing, a gem flickered into existence¡ªa deep blue stone, glowing faintly like a distant star. It twirled slowly in the air, light shimmering across its surface. The air around it seemed to hum with power.

    The others followed suit. One by one, their gems appeared, each glowing with its own distinct hue. Scarlet, silver, hints of yellow, lavender, gold.

    Andora crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Do you see now why it was foolish to run back into battle unprepared?¡± She shot a pointed look at Havoc and Alaric and, then, at Atlantika and Titan. ¡°Yes, Dero told me everything.¡±

    I winced. Of course he did.

    ¡°Now listen,¡± she continued. ¡°The Gems provide you endless magical energy, but never mistake that for invincibility. Magic still drains your stamina. Push too far, and your body will pay the price. They¡¯re a well that never runs dry¡ªbut you can still drown if you aren¡¯t careful.¡±

    ¡°Any questions?¡± she added, almost daring us to ask. ¡°Good, no questions.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡ª¡± Alaric started, but Andora raised her hand sharply.

    "I said no questions.¡±

    Before anyone could argue, she waved her hand¡ªand the world blurred.

    The stone chamber twisted away like smoke, and suddenly I was somewhere else¡ªsomewhere familiar. The sky stretched overhead, endless and luminous. A field of stars shimmered around me, and the air seemed to hum with whispers and forgotten thoughts.

    The Plane of Consciousness. It felt the same when I arrived, however, it now looked different.

    ¡°Welcome back, Zenith,¡± a calm voice greeted.

    I turned, already knowing who I¡¯d see. ¡°Hello, Yashka,¡± I said.

 Chapter 17: The War That Was

    I knew Yashka was waiting for me the moment my consciousness shifted.

    The Plane of Consciousness wasn¡¯t what I expected. I thought it would be cold and sterile, like the endless void that it was when I first arrived¡ªbut instead, it thrived with color and movement. The sky rippled in hues of indigo and silver, with constellations twinkling like embers in a dying fire. Floating islands drifted lazily in the distance, their surfaces stitched with glowing veins of energy. Threads of light¡ªthin, shimmering, and alive¡ªwove through the air like a thousand silk strands. They shifted as I walked, curling and parting as if they knew me. I couldn¡¯t help but reach out and let my fingers trail through them, feeling the familiar pulse of magic thrum against my skin.

    A figure appeared ahead¡ªtall, poised, and unmistakably powerful. His robes shimmered like a tapestry of constellations, and the faint outline of wings framed his back like a crown. He nodded, and the faintest smile tugged at his lips.

    ¡°You knew I¡¯d be here,¡± Yashka said, his voice warm yet commanding.

    ¡°I had a feeling,¡± I replied.

    He inclined his head. ¡°I suppose I should apologize for not introducing myself properly when we first met.¡± He tapped his chest lightly. ¡°I am Yashka, former Pharaoh of the Heavens and one of the previous Cardinal Mages of Mysteria. But you already knew that, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a tough week, but I did learn a few things about this new world.¡±

    ¡°And surely you have more questions,¡± Yashka said with a faint smile. His gaze lingered on me, thoughtful. ¡°Fitting for one whose discipline is Wisdom.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t tell if that was praise or a challenge.

    ¡°You know my discipline?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Yashka said. ¡°It¡¯s rare¡ªpowerful in ways most cannot comprehend. But mine was different. My discipline was Interference. I bent the wind, commanded lightning, and summoned storms. Where you shape the flow of magic, I disturbed it.¡± His eyes glinted with something unreadable. ¡°Our talents may differ, but I understand your power more than most.¡±

    I didn¡¯t waste time on pleasantries. The questions that had gnawed at me since our arrival in Mysteria burned too hot to ignore.

    ¡°What is Mysteria?¡± I asked. ¡°What¡¯s the truth about the war that was? And what are the Gems, really?¡±

    Yashka¡¯s expression shifted ¡ª grave and heavy. He took a slow breath before gesturing to the sky. The constellations above rippled, their light weaving into shifting patterns that seemed to tell a story of their own.

    ¡°Mysteria,¡± Yashka began, ¡°is not just a world¡ªit is the world. The Heart of All Magic.¡±

    ¡°The Heart of All Magic?¡± I repeated.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Yashka said, his voice low and reverent. ¡°Magic doesn¡¯t simply exist¡ªit flows. Like a river, it courses through worlds¡ªbinding them, sustaining them. But rivers have a source. Mysteria is that source. Every spell cast, every enchantment woven, every surge of power¡ªno matter how distant the world¡ªall trace back here. It is the pulse that gives life to magic itself.¡±

    I let that sink in. Mysteria wasn¡¯t just important¡ªit was everything.

    ¡°But what about the Gems?¡± I asked. ¡°How do they fit into this?¡±

    ¡°The Gems are not ordinary stones,¡± Yashka explained. ¡°They are anchors. Primal forces born from Mysteria¡¯s core¡ªancient fragments of order and chaos that stabilize the flow of magic.¡±

    He paused, his gaze distant, as though remembering something far away.

    ¡°There were only two once,¡± he continued, ¡°the Gem of Light and the Gem of Darkness. Each entrusted to a Guardian. For centuries, they maintained the delicate balance of Mysteria. The Guardian of Light guided growth¡ªnurturing magic¡¯s expansion across the worlds. The Guardian of Darkness watched over the wild, untamed forces ¡ª magic too dangerous, too unpredictable, too powerful to control. But, alas, power can corrupt. It can turn one greedy. One of the Guardians, consumed by selfish desire, turned against the other.¡±

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    I stiffened. ¡°The Guardian of the Gem of Darkness?¡±

    Yashka¡¯s smile was thin. ¡°That¡¯s what most would assume¡ªbut no.¡± His expression hardened. ¡°It was the Guardian of Light who turned. Greedy for power. Obsessed with controlling not just Mysteria, but the flow of magic itself. He believed that with both Gems in his grasp, he could shape magic as he saw fit¡ªdictate who deserved power and who did not.¡±

    I felt cold. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Yashka¡¯s voice darkened. ¡°He murdered the Guardian of Darkness, seized the Gem, and with both Gems in his grasp, he became something terrible¡ªa force that twisted the flow of magic itself. Crops failed. The skies darkened. Entire regions of Mysteria withered as he drained power from them.¡±

    I clenched my fists. ¡°And you stopped him?¡±

    ¡°We did,¡± Yashka said grimly. ¡°We¡ªthe ten of us¡ªstood against him. We fought for decades, maybe even centuries . . . time itself seemed to bend around the chaos he unleashed. It was Serafina¡ªa Wisdom mage like you¡ªwho devised the plan that saved Mysteria. She designed a spell that stripped the Usurper of his powers and extracted the Gems from his grasps. But that came with a cost.¡±

    I frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°the Gem of Light shattered into ten fragments,¡± Yashka explained. ¡°Each fragment as sentient as the Gem of Light when it was whole. Those fragents saw us worthy and chose us as their vessels¡ªtheir guardians.¡± His hand curled into a fist. ¡°The Gem of Darkness that one was different.¡±

    He fixed me with a stern look. ¡°That Gem holds dominion over the forces deemed too dangerous¡ªtime, death, entropy, reality itself. It was far too dangers to be split or entrusted to someone. So with Asenath¡¯s planar magic, we sealed it away¡ªwe placed in a realm beyond anyone who wishes to use, but not too distant from Mysteria that it can still sustain the balance of light and dark magic.¡± He trailed off, but the weight of the warning hung in the air.

    ¡°And the Vharethi,¡± I asked quietly. ¡°What do you know of them?¡±

    ¡°Not much,¡± Yashka said. ¡°They were stories back in my days. As children, we were told about the Vharethi, and I never expected for them to arrive in Mysteria. All I know is that they seek the Gem¡ªthe fragments of Light¡ªto corrupt them and the Gem of Darkness to consume it. Either path spell disaster. Mysteria is a delicate balance¡ªdisrupt the flow of magic too greatly, and . . . ¡±

    He gestured to the sky. The constellations above flickered¡ªstars dimming, threads of magic unraveling into chaos.

    ¡°The worlds unravel,¡± he finished.

    I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I shook my head as if trying to drive something away.

    Yashka smiled faintly. ¡°You see them, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked.

    ¡°See what?¡± I frowned, confused of what he means.

    ¡°Magic itself,¡± he answered.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I confirmed. ¡°Ever since I came to Mysteria.¡± I paused to think. To find the words to better describe how I experience magic. ¡°I see them like floating particles suspended in the air, like snowflakes constantly twirling, always hovering with no intention to touch the ground. I feel them like tangible threads between my fingers, like something I could spin, or weave, or tangle and untangle.¡±

    Yashka nodded, smiling at me as if encouraging me to carry on.

    ¡°I . . . I always thought everyone had the same experience,¡± I continued. ¡°It never occurred to me to mention it because I thought we all could see it, could feel it.¡±

    ¡°That is your gift,¡± Yashka said. ¡°Only those whose discipline is Wisdom can see magic like that¡ªas something tangible. Others wield it blindly¡ªdrawing power, shaping spells¡ªbut you? You understand its rhythm. Its flow Not everyone gets that kind of gift. Not even the most powerful names in Mysteria¡¯s history.¡±

    ¡°Magic in Mysteria is a complex thing. Not everyone is gifted with the same level of magical aptitude. Most spellcasters manipulate ambient magic¡ªthe energy Mysteria breathes into the world. Think of them as fuel that¡¯s readily available to light fire. With that kind of magic, some can manage low- to mid-level spells.

    ¡°Others, gifted by the arcane, use their own life energy¡ªtheir inner magic. They can cast far stronger spells, but it takes a toll on the body. Now those without such talents rely on magical items¡ªpower stones, enchanted tools . . . even relics created by artificers.¡±

    ¡°The Gems,¡± I muttered.

    ¡°They¡¯re more than just power stones,¡± Yashka said. ¡°They¡¯re primal¡ªancient¡ªand far more powerful than anything forged by mortal hands. They can give you endless supply of magical power if you know how to tap into them.¡±

    He studied me for a long moment, and then . . . he smiled. A knowing smile. One that made me uneasy.

    ¡°Surely you don¡¯t suggest . . . ¡± I began.

    ¡°I do,¡± Yashka said, his eyes glinting. ¡°You see the flow of magic. You understand it¡ªshape it ¡ª better than anyone else among your companions.¡±

    ¡°I am not sure if I can,¡± I protested.

    ¡°There is only one way to find out,¡± he said, raising his right hand as if calling the heavens themselves.

    ¡°What the fuck do you mean????¡± I demanded.

    And then, the air around me shifted.

 Chapter 18: Trial by Thunder

    The air around me shifted¡ªsharp, cold, and electric. It prickled across my skin, curling like invisible fingers in my hair. Magic. It rippled through the air like a gathering storm.

    This magic. It was strong. It felt unfamiliar, yet somehow, it felt like I had known it for a long time.

    Yashka. I thought. It was Yashka¡¯s magic. His and that of the Gem of the Heavens.

    That¡¯s it, a thought occurred to me.

    I lifted my hand and focused, calling for the Gem of the Heavens.

    I could quell the storm using the Gem.

    My magic circle flared to life¡ªindigo, traced with sharp constellations¡ªbut the Gem itself refused to appear.

    ¡°What . . . ?¡± My pulse quickened.

    A low chuckle answered me.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need more than wishful thinking.¡±

    I turned to see Yashka lounging against a frozen pillar. His right hand in front of him, palm open, facing upward. On his palm was his magic circle: bluish-silver, traced with patterns of lightning, what seemed like a tornado, and wings. An indigo Gem floated just above his magic circle, trailing faint silver light that looked like stars as it twirled.

    ¡°You have my Gem,¡± I growled.

    ¡°Your Gem?¡± Yashka¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Don¡¯t forget¡ªI wielded this power before you. I was the Gem¡¯s chosen first. It is loyal to me as it is to you.¡±

    ¡°Well, I am the Gem¡¯s chosen now,¡± I shot back. ¡°You¡¯re just stalling.¡±

    His grin widened. ¡°Am I?¡± He gave a lazy wave of his hand.

    The air thickened. My magic circle rippled violently as ice crackled beneath my boots, and jagged arcs of lightning danced up my arm.

    ¡°Control this,¡± Yashka said with mock sweetness. ¡°Unless you¡¯d rather I do it for you?¡±

    ¡°You¡ª!¡±

    The first crack of thunder cut me off, and a bolt of lightning streaked past my face, close enough that the heat stung my skin. I staggered back, heart pounding. The wind howled, biting like frozen blades, tearing at the hem of my clothes.

    ¡°Quell the storm and prove to me¡ªand to the Gem of the Heavens¡ªthat you are worthy to be the new chosen,¡± Yashka declared.

    ¡°Be still.¡± I waved my hands, ordering the winds. I felt ridiculous. First of all, that¡¯s what came to mind: a scene from a movie I watched where Jesus ordered the storm to cease.

    ¡°You think you¡¯re in a drama?¡± Yashka sneered. ¡°Waving your hands like some holy prophet isn¡¯t going to work!¡±

    ¡°I know that!¡± I snapped, trying again.

    ¡°Do you?¡± His voice was mocking. ¡°Because right now, you¡¯re flailing like a cat in a bathtub.¡±

    I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe. The storm raged louder, swirling and twisting as if it were alive. I reached out with my magic, attempting to shape it¡ªto control it¡ªbut the energy tore free like a wild animal snapping at its leash.

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    ¡°Too forceful!¡± Yashka barked. ¡°You can¡¯t command a storm¡ªyou have to guide it!¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure!¡± I spat. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I think of that? I¡¯ll just whisper sweet nothings to the thunder!¡±

    ¡°Better than screaming at it like an idiot!¡± Yashka shot back.

    I cursed under my breath, cold biting into my skin.

    ¡°Focus!¡± Yashka¡¯s voice cut through the chaos. ¡°Your magic¡¯s reacting to your fear. Calm your thoughts¡ªdirect it!¡±

    I gritted my teeth. ¡°I am trying!¡±

    ¡°Trying isn¡¯t enough!¡± His voice sharpened like ice. ¡°You¡¯re treating this like a wrestling match! This isn¡¯t about overpowering it ¡ª it¡¯s about precision!¡±

    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing!¡± I roared back.

    ¡°Clearly you don¡¯t!¡± Yashka barked a laugh. ¡°You¡¯re like a toddler throwing punches at a tornado!¡±

    I wanted to punch him.

    ¡°Feel it . . .¡± Yashka¡¯s voice dropped, quieter but still sharp. ¡°Magic isn¡¯t just energy. It¡¯s rhythm. Flow. You¡¯ve felt it before¡ªso stop acting like some blunt instrument and start acting like a mage.¡±

    I shut my eyes tight, teeth grinding.

    Feel it . . .

    Magic wasn¡¯t just power¡ªit was flow, rhythm, connection. I¡¯d always sensed it that way¡ªlike unseen strings tangled in the air. Invisible threads danced across my skin, darting between my fingers.

    ¡°That''s it...¡± Yashka murmured. ¡°Now stop squeezing it like you¡¯re strangling a chicken.¡±

    I ignored him, focusing on the threads. They twisted wildly¡ªjagged arcs of lightning, spirals of frigid wind¡ªtoo volatile to control.

    Not with force¡ªwith precision.

    I exhaled slowly, letting my fingers drift through the storm. The lightning flickered, crackling into thin, thread-like strands. The icy wind shifted, curling into softer currents. I wove the threads together¡ªlightning twisted into arcs, then curves, then starbursts. The winds spiraled into slow, steady rotations.

    Bit by bit, the storm became a sky¡ªdark, cold, but calm¡ªa vast canvas lit by glowing constellations. Each pulse of starlight matched the rhythm of my heartbeat. The chaos had become mine.

    I opened my eyes, breathless.

    Yashka was watching me with a critical eye, arms crossed. ¡°Not bad,¡± he muttered. ¡°Took you long enough.¡±

    ¡°Took me long enough?¡± My voice cracked. ¡°I was one spark away from being barbecued!¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯d listened sooner, you wouldn¡¯t have been.¡± Yashka shrugged. ¡°You keep relying on brute force when you don¡¯t have to.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right.¡± I scowled. ¡°Next time I¡¯ll just politely ask the lightning not to fry me.¡±

    ¡°You think this is funny?¡± Yashka scoffed. ¡°You think I¡¯m playing with you?¡± He stepped closer, eyes like ice. ¡°I¡¯ve seen kids better at this than you, and they didn¡¯t waste half their time throwing tantrums.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± I shot back. ¡°How many of those kids are still alive?¡±

    His grin dropped. ¡°Not enough.¡±

    I blinked. Yashka¡ªsmug, arrogant Yashka¡ªsuddenly looked tired.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been where you are,¡± he said, quieter now. ¡°I learned the hard way too. Thought I could blast through everything with raw power. I nearly died because of it.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked before I could stop myself.

    He scoffed. ¡°Some arrogant kid thought he could command a storm by shouting louder than the thunder. Turns out lightning doesn¡¯t give a damn about pride.¡± His smile faded. ¡°If you want to survive this, you have to listen¡ªto your magic, to yourself¡ªnot just react.¡±

    I let his words sink in, and for once, I didn¡¯t have a snarky reply.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± Yashka said suddenly, summoning the Gem of the Heavens again. ¡°That didn¡¯t take long. Now . . . onto the real training.¡±

    I stared at him, dumbfounded. ¡°Wait . . . what?¡±

    ¡°You heard me.¡± His grin turned razor-sharp. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the real test.¡±

    I felt my pulse pound in my ears. ¡°That wasn¡¯t?¡± My voice dropped into a dry laugh. ¡°What the fuck do you even mean?¡±

    Yashka just chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±

    I was so going to punch him after this.

 Chapter 19: What Bridges Time

    I had no idea how long I had been there.

    The Plane of Consciousness had no sunrise or sunset, no shifting light to mark the passage of time. Just the endless stretch of sky above and below, an infinite expanse of color and wind. For all I knew, it had been days. Weeks. Months.

    But I hadn¡¯t wasted a second.

    Yashka had trained me relentlessly, and I had thrown myself into it without hesitation. I had learned to wield the wind, call down lightning, and shape ice from thin air. But more than that, I had learned something deeper¡ªhow magic moved. How it flowed, how it breathed, how it shifted like currents in an unseen ocean.

    And how to change it.

    Yashka had been teaching me how to see magic¡ªnot just as swirling energy, but as something structured. When I focused, spells appeared to me like intricate, woven codes. Like lines of a program or formulas in a spreadsheet¡ªprecise, deliberate, built from fundamental rules.

    And just like coding, I could rewrite them.

    A small tweak in the sequence, a shift in the formula, and suddenly, the spell morphed into something new. A gust of wind became a razor-sharp blade of air. A simple spark mutated into a chain of arcing lightning bolts. But it wasn¡¯t easy. If I made one mistake¡ªmisplaced a ¡®variable¡¯ or disrupted the ¡®syntax¡¯¡ªthe entire thing would collapse. Or worse, backfire..

    Still, I knew this was the key to something greater.

    If I could master it, I wouldn¡¯t just be casting spells¡ªI would be creating them. Entirely new magic, built from scratch. But that was a distant goal.

    I had asked Yashka about Serafina once, when I first realized how much I still had to learn.

    ¡°You keep saying Andora can teach me more,¡± I said, wiping sweat from my forehead after a particularly exhausting training session. ¡°But why not Serafina? She¡¯s a Wisdom mage too, isn¡¯t she? Couldn¡¯t we just¡ªI don¡¯t know¡ªcall her here?¡±

    Yashka, who had been conjuring a small whirlwind in his palm, let the magic dissolve before turning to face me fully. His expression was unreadable, his eyes steady.

    ¡°No,¡± he said simply.

    I frowned. ¡°No, as in . . . ?¡±

    ¡°As in, we cannot reach her. She is beyond our grasp here.¡±

    That only made me more confused. ¡°But this is the Plane of Consciousness, right? You and I are connected through this Plane. So shouldn¡¯t we be able to reach other Cardinal Mages the same way?¡±

    Yashka exhaled through his nose, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°You assume that all Cardinal Mages are linked, but it doesn¡¯t work that way. The Gems connect us, Zenith. The Gem of the Heavens is tied to me, not Serafina.¡±

    I blinked. ¡°Wait. So even though she¡¯s a Cardinal Mage, the connection just . . . doesn¡¯t exist?¡±

    ¡°Yes and no.¡± He smiled. ¡°I am connected to the other Cardinal Mages of my generation, so to speak. I can ¡®visit¡¯ them, I can share my thoughts and feelings to them, I can share knowledge with them.¡±

    ¡°What does that even mean?¡± I asked, even more confused than before.

    Yashka must have noticed my frustration because, instead of ending the conversation there, he gave me a considering look and then folded his arms.

    ¡°I suppose I should explain more,¡± he said. ¡°It will help you later.¡±

    I straightened, curious despite myself.

    ¡°You asked why you can¡¯t just call Serafina here,¡± Yashka continued, pacing slowly around me. ¡°The answer is that the Plane of Consciousness does not work as a universal meeting ground for all Cardinal Mages. The connection you and I share is bound by something far more specific¡ªthe Gem of the Heavens, which once belonged to me. That bond allows us to communicate here, across the veil of time.¡±

    I furrowed my brows. ¡°So, it¡¯s not just about magic type¡ªit¡¯s about lineage?¡±

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    ¡°In a sense,¡± Yashka said. ¡°The Cardinal Mages of each generation are linked through a form of innate telepathy. You and your fellow Cardinal Mages share this connection. I, in turn, was linked to the Cardinal Mages of my generation.¡± He gestured vaguely to the vast, endless sky above us. ¡°That link allows you to reach one another here, in this place, but only among your own era.¡±

    I frowned. ¡°So even though Serafina and I are both Wisdom mages, I can¡¯t reach her here because she¡¯s from a different generation and she isn¡¯t my predecessor?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    That made sense. Annoying sense, but sense nonetheless.

    ¡°All right,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°But if the Ten are linked through the Gems, does that mean we can¡ªwhat? Read each other¡¯s thoughts?¡±

    Yashka chuckled. ¡°Not quite. There are different types of telepathic connections that can manifest through the bond you share. Some may be more instinctive than others, depending on your affinity for the connection.¡±

    He held up a hand and began ticking off fingers as he spoke.

    ¡°There is latent telepathy, also called deferred telepathy¡ªthis is when a thought or message is sent, but not received immediately. It lingers until the recipient is open to receiving it.¡±

    I blinked. ¡°So, like . . .  leaving a voicemail in someone¡¯s head?¡±

    Yashka frowned. ¡°Voicemail?¡±

    ¡°Forget it.¡± I sighed. ¡°Please continue.¡±

    He smirked. ¡°As I was saying, latent telepathy is useful for sending warnings or messages when direct communication is impossible.¡±

    He lifted another finger.

    ¡°Then there is retrocognitive, precognitive, and intuitive telepathy. These forms allow you to share insights of the past, present, or even glimpses of the future.¡±

    My stomach twisted slightly. ¡°Wait, the future?¡±

    ¡°It is rare,¡± Yashka admitted. ¡°And unreliable. But in moments of deep connection, Cardinal Mages have been known to share flashes of possibility¡ªwhat could happen, rather than what will happen.¡±

    That was unsettling. I wasn¡¯t sure I liked the idea of accidentally glimpsing my own future¡ªor worse, someone else¡¯s.

    ¡°Next,¡± Yashka continued, raising a third finger, ¡°there is emotive telepathy, also called remote influence. This allows one to transmit emotions rather than thoughts. Fear, anger, hope¡ªthese can be felt by others in your circle.¡±

    I shuddered. ¡°That sounds . . . invasive.¡±

    ¡°It can be,¡± Yashka said. ¡°But it can also be powerful. A well-timed burst of courage from one mage to another in battle can turn the tide of a fight.¡±

    I had to admit, that did sound useful.

    ¡°And then,¡± Yashka said, lifting his fourth and final finger, ¡°there is superconscious telepathy¡ªa connection to something greater than the self. It is rarest of all, but it allows one to tap into the collective knowledge of past generations.¡±

    That caught my attention. ¡°Wait¡ªyou mean like accessing the memories of every mage who came before?¡±

    Yashka tilted his head. ¡°Not quite so direct. It is more like . . . glimpsing into the wisdom left behind, a deep intuition that can guide you toward the right answers. It is the voice of the past whispering through the ages.¡±

    I let out a slow breath, trying to wrap my head around all of it.

    ¡°So,¡± I said after a long pause, ¡°I am connected to the rest of others in all these ways. But you¡ªyou¡¯re only linked to the Cardinal Mages from your own generation?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Yashka said simply.

    ¡°And that¡¯s why I can¡¯t reach Serafina?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Correct.¡±

    I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. ¡°All right. That¡¯s a lot to take in.¡±

    Yashka chuckled. ¡°It always is.¡±

    I processed that for a moment. ¡°That¡¯s  kinda inconvenient.¡±

    Yashka huffed a quiet laugh. ¡°Perhaps. But that is the nature of the Gems. They are bridges between souls, but only to those they were meant to reach.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± I said as I realized something. ¡°Does that mean I can reach Eloria? She¡¯s the Angel of Life of our generation. She¡¯s probably with Serafina now.¡± I beamed, excited about my realization.

    Yashka chucked. ¡°Yes, you can reach Eloria, no doubt,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to see and hear Eloria, Serafina can do the same, Eloria can see and hear both of you; but you and Serafina won¡¯t be able to see nor hear each other.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± I frowned.

    ¡°You are connected to Eloria because you are both Cardinal Mages of the present,¡± he explained. ¡°Eloria is connected to Serafina through the Gem of Life. You are not connected to Serafina in any way.¡±

    I sighed, rubbing my temples. ¡°Great. And here I thought magic was supposed to make life easier.¡±

    Yashka grinned. ¡°It does. But only when you understand its rules.¡±

    And that had been the end of that discussion.

    ¡°Now,¡± Yashka said, his expression changing from somehow cheerful to serious, ¡°it¡¯s time you learn to use your weapon.¡±

    I blinked. ¡°My weapon?¡±

 Chapter 20: The Skyward Oath

    I blinked. ¡°My weapon?¡±

    At that moment, Yashka stood before me, arms crossed, watching me with that same measuring gaze he always had when he was about to test me.

    Then, as if making some final decision, he nodded. ¡°Yes, your weapon.¡±

    ¡°I am confused,¡± I said. ¡°I thought I am a mage? What do I need a weapon for?¡±

    ¡°Mages do not always rely on themselves to channel magic, Zenith,¡± he replied. ¡°Magic is limitless, but your body is not. Even the most gifted sorcerers, even the Cardinal Mages, can be overwhelmed if they cast spells without a medium. A weapon is an extension of yourself¡ªa conduit. With the right one, you can refine your power rather than exhaust it.¡±

    He raised a hand, murmured something (I guess some sort of summoning incantation) and out of nowhere, something materialized in his grasp.

    A bow.

    But not just any bow.

    It was sleek and elegant, crafted from shimmering silver metal. Its limbs were carved with swirling cloud-like patterns that shifted as I looked at them, as if they were caught in an eternal breeze. Indigo gemstones were embedded along its length, pulsing faintly with a soft, celestial glow. The bowstring wasn¡¯t even a string¡ªit was a thin thread of energy, humming with quiet power. It looked ancient, yet untouched by time, like a relic forged by the heavens themselves.

    ¡°This is the Skyward Oath, a bow that was mine, once,¡± Yashka said, his voice softer than usual. His fingers ran along the polished surface, as if remembering something distant. ¡°It channels magic directly. I never needed physical arrows during battles, which granted a lot of advantages. It draws magic from your own energy and shapes it into projectiles.¡±

    I frowned. ¡°So, instead of weaving a spell, I just¡ªwhat? Pull back the string and let the bow do the work?¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°Not exactly. A bow like this refines and amplifies your magic. When you cast a spell, you have to shape the energy, control its form, and guide it to the target. That takes time, effort, and focus. With the Skyward Oath, you bypass that. The bow forms the spell into an arrow instantly, stabilizing it, sharpening it, making it more efficient.¡±

    ¡°To put it simply¡ª¡± he lifted the bow and pulled back the string ¡°¡ªthis allows you to cast spells faster, more accurately, and with greater force.¡±

    As he did, the air itself condensed into an arrow of pure ice. The shaft glowed with an ethereal frost, and a cold mist coiled around the arrowhead, sharp as a dagger.

    ¡°Like so.¡±

    He released.

    The ice arrow streaked forward, whistling through the air before striking a target I hadn¡¯t even noticed¡ªa snowman, standing a good distance away.

    Then¡ª

    BOOM.

    The snowman exploded in a burst of frozen energy, sending shards of ice and snow flying in all directions. After a moment, each flying shard of ice and snow exploded, causing the air to feel even colder. The shockwave of cold washed over me, leaving frost clinging to my sleeves.

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    I gaped. ¡°That¡ªThat was¡ª¡±

    Yashka smirked. ¡°A simple shot. You can do far more than that.¡±

    Before I could respond, he pulled another arrow¡ªbut this time, he aimed at the sky. As he did, an intricate indigo magic circle formed high above us, its runes shifting like stars in orbit.

    ¡°What are you¡ª¡±

    He fired.

    The ice arrow disappeared into the magic circle.

    For a long second, nothing happened. The silence stretched.

    Then, with a thunderous crack, the sky erupted.

    Arrows¡ªdozens, maybe hundreds of them¡ªrained down from the heavens, each one glowing with the same frost-laced energy. They hit the ground like a meteor shower, sending up bursts of icy mist with every impact. The sheer force of it shook the very air around us.

    I staggered back, stunned.

    ¡°That¡ªthat¡¯s amazing,¡± I sputtered, my eyes widening. ¡°That was awesome! I can only imagine how many enemies you could take down with that move.¡±

    Yashka chuckled, lowering the bow. ¡°On a battlefield, this technique turns the very sky into your arsenal.¡±

    I was still staring at the frozen battlefield when he nocked another arrow. This one crackled with electricity, sparks flickering along its length.

    His next target? Another snowman.

    He fired.

    The moment the arrow made contact, a bolt of lightning exploded outward in a dazzling burst. The snowman was obliterated in an instant. The electricity danced through the ground, arcing between the remaining snow and leaving behind smoldering streaks of melted frost.

    I barely stopped myself from yelling. ¡°Okay, now that was sick.¡±

    Yashka finally turned to me, his gaze sharp. ¡°Your magic isn¡¯t bound by conventional spells. With this bow, you can turn your knowledge of the elements into weapons. Wind, lightning, ice¡ªyou can shape them into arrows and let your imagination run wild.¡±

    Something clicked in my mind. ¡°So, the bow isn¡¯t just a tool¡ªit¡¯s a bridge. It lets me use elemental magic with more precision.¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡± Yashka nodded. ¡°It allows you to shape the magic around you as naturally as breathing. No incantations. No long casting times. Just thought and action. And with your discipline and understanding of how magic works, you can even use ambient magic, shape it into arrows, save yourself from exhausting your own magical energy or relying too much on the Gem itself. Your potential is unlimited.¡±

    Excitement surged through me. ¡°Let me try!¡±

    But Yashka shook his head. ¡°The real bow isn¡¯t here, Zenith.¡±

    I froze. ¡°What?¡±

    He exhaled, lowering his weapon. ¡°This is the Plane of Consciousness. I can only show you fragments of memory¡ªechoes of what was. The actual bow is with Andora.¡±

    I frowned. ¡°Then why show me all this?¡±

    ¡°To prepare you.¡± He stepped closer, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. ¡°When you return to the Woods of Silence, tell Andora you¡¯re ready to harness the power of the air above you.¡±

    I tilted my head. ¡°That¡¯s . . . weirdly vague.¡±

    Yashka just chuckled. ¡°She¡¯ll understand.¡±

    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°What?¡±

    But I didn¡¯t get an answer before Yashka waved his hand.

    Suddenly, the world around me blurred.

    My vision distorted, the sky warping into streaks of color. My body felt weightless, like I was being pulled in every direction at once.

    The last thing I heard was Yashka¡¯s voice, distant and fading.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you again soon, I hope.¡±

    And then¡ª

    I am back in the chamber. Nauseated.

    They really should warn us before they whisk us elsewhere next time.

    Havoc was beside me, groaning, complaining about the ¡°trip back from the Plane of Consciousness.¡± I looked around and everyone was starting to come to.

    Andora was standing in front of us still, smirking.

    ¡°Welcome back,¡± she scoffed. ¡°You all look terrible.¡±