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My eyes widened. “Oops?” I frantically tried to rein in the spell, but it was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. “I can’t control it!”
Agatha huffed from above us in the tree. “Well, this is a fine mess you’ve gotten us into, Sage. Any brilliant ideas for getting us out?”
As the chaos spread, I realized with growing horror that we might have just made things infinitely worse.
“Don’t suppose anyone knows how to patch a hole in reality?” I asked weakly, watching as the world around us began to unravel.
Brad’s jaw dropped. “Patch a hole in reality? Sure, let me just grab my cosmic sewing kit.”
I shot him a hard look. “Not helping, Brad.”
My warping magic continued to spread, twisting trees into impossible shapes and tearing chunks of plants from the ground. Leaves swirled in a whirl of disorderly energy, their edges glowing an eerie purple.
Evie stumbled forward, her hands raised. “Maybe we can contain it? Like, create a magical barrier?”
“Worth a shot.” I nodded, focusing my energy. Except when I tried to form a shield, the wild magic latched onto my new spell, warping it into something unrecognizable. “Okay, scratch that idea. I still don’t have full control over my seventh-level magic yet. Obviously.”
Agatha yawned from her perch. “This is a fine mess, and I’m hungry.”
I gritted my teeth. “If you’ve got any helpful suggestions, I’m all ears.”
The cat spirit yawned again. “I’d rather watch the show, thanks. It’s not every day you get to see reality unravel.”
Brad pressed his palms to the ground, his face scrunched in concentration. The earth rumbled, and I thought he might be able to counteract my magic. The twisted magic only absorbed his attempts, creating a nightmarish landscape of impossible architecture.
“Well, that’s unsettling.” He stood, wiping sweat from his brow.
Freya pushed through the group. “We need to ground the energy. Sage, your power started this. It needs to end it too.”
I blinked at her. “How exactly am I supposed to do that?”
She grabbed my hands. “Focus. Feel the magic flowing through you. It’s part of you, not separate. You control it, not the other way around.”
I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate with my crazy magic swirling around us. My magic vibrated within me, wild and untamed. I focused and sensed the familiar heat of my own power beneath the maelstrom.
“That’s it,” Freya encouraged. “Now, imagine roots growing from your feet, anchoring you to the earth.”
I did as she said, picturing thick, gnarled roots spreading from my toes and burrowing deep into the soil. The image steadied me, and I felt a subtle shift in the magic’s flow.
Brad grunted. “Uh, guys? Not to rush you, but we’ve got company.”
My eyes snapped open to see mysterious figures emerging from the warped landscape. Must be The Archmage’s magical tricks. The creatures were vaguely humanoid and ugly.
Evie let out a nervous laugh. “Like this situation wasn’t fun enough already.”
I struggled to maintain my concentration. “A little help here?”
Brad nodded, his hands glowing with power. “On it.” He thrust his palms forward, and chunks of plants rose to form a protective wall around us.
Evie fumbled in her bag, pulling out a handful of vials. “Time to see if these work on whatever the heck those things are.” She hurled the potions at the approaching creatures.
Where the potions struck, the creatures momentarily solidified into...rabbits?
“Seriously?” I shook my head.
Evie shrugged. “Hey, it worked. Sort of.”
The rabbit like creatures twitched their noses before melting back into their previous forms. They pressed against Brad’s barrier, their touch causing the thick underbrush and vines to bend and crack.
“Anytime now, Sage.” Brad grunted, struggling to maintain the wall.
I redoubled my efforts, channeling my power through the imaginary roots. My ferocious magic resisted, pushing back against my attempts to control it. It was like trying to redirect a river with my bare hands.
“It’s not working,” I gasped, my frustration building.
Freya squeezed my hands tighter. “Don’t fight it. Work with it. The magic is an extension of you, remember?”
I took a deep breath, rearranging my approach. Instead of trying to force the magic into submission, I opened myself to it. The power surged through me, no longer feeling foreign and chaotic, but subdued and alive.
“That’s it!” Freya exclaimed. “Now, guide it back to where it belongs.”
With newfound clarity, I could sense the tear in reality. It was like a gaping wound in the fabric of the world, exposed and painful. Slowly, carefully, I began to weave the magic back together, mending the tear strand by strand.
The murky creatures let out unearthly wails when their connection to our world was severed. They dissipated like mist in the morning sun, leaving behind only a faint chill in the air.
As the last of my magic settled, the forest around us gradually returned to normal. Twisted trees straightened, floating chunks of earth settled back into place, and the eerie purple glow faded from the leaves.
I sagged against Freya, exhaustion hitting me. “Did it work?”
She nodded, a smile on her face. “You did it, Sage. The tear is sealed.”
Brad lowered his hands, the stone wall crumbling back into the earth. “Nice job, babe. Though maybe next time, let’s stick to smaller spells? You know, ones that don’t threaten to unravel the universe?”
I managed a weak chuckle. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Evie plopped down beside me, her hair a tangled mess. “Well, that was super-duper intense. Anyone else feel like we just ran a magical marathon?”
Agatha meowed from her branch. “I found it quite entertaining. Though I do think you missed your calling as a magician, Evie. Those rabbit tricks were something else.”
Evie rolled her eyes. “Oh, ha ha. Next time, you can be on creepy creature duty.”
As the adrenaline faded, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. My gaze drifted to Ingrid’s still, lifeless form.
Brad followed my line of sight, his expression softening. “Hey, you okay?”
I swallowed hard. “I...I don’t know. I killed someone, Brad. And then I nearly destroyed reality. That’s a lot to process.”
Freya placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “What happened with Ingrid was self-defense, Sage. And as for the rest? Well, we all make mistakes. The important thing is that you fixed it.”
“Yeah,” Evie said. “Plus, now we know what not to do if we ever face off against another evil witch. No reality-warping spells.”
Brad helped me to my feet. “Now we need to deal with her.” He nodded towards The Archmage, who was still hiding behind the tree.
I nodded, trying to push aside my tumultuous emotions. There would be time to process everything later.
Agatha leapt down from her perch, landing gracefully beside us. “Well, as thrilling as this little adventure has been, I suggest we move quickly. Who knows what other nasty surprises the evil bitch might have in store for us?”
The Archmage peeked from around the tree, her cold facade cracking as she realized the magnitude of what had transpired. Her sister was dead.
When I locked eyes with the evil witch, I saw something I never expected vulnerability. For a brief second, she wasn’t the all-powerful witch who’d terrorized Emberwick Crossing. She was just a woman who’d lost her sister. And I was the one responsible.
The moment of vulnerability vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by an icy glare. The Archmage’s rage seemed to radiate from her like heat from a flame, distorting the air around us.
“You’ll pay for killing my sister, you bitch!” The Archmage hissed through gritted teeth. She thrust her hand forward, sending a wave of dark energy that knocked the breath out of me.
“Evie, distract her!” I yelled.
“Got it, Sage!” Evie flung a concoction of her own creation. A sparkling mist enveloped The Archmage, causing her to cough and sputter, her concentration broken.
Channeling my new seventh-level magic, I summoned a torrent of pure, blinding light that surged towards The Archmage, its power overwhelming her dark energy and enveloping her in a cocoon of radiant force.
The Archmage’s screams echoed through the forest as the blinding light surrounded her, drowning out the sounds of the birds settling down for the night. The sheer power of my magic tore through her defenses, the dark energy around her disintegrating into nothingness. Her form flickered, struggling against the overwhelming force, but she was no match for the raw, unbridled power I now wielded.
“Sage, keep it up!” Brad shouted from behind me.
I focused every ounce of my willpower into maintaining the spell, feeling the power surge through my veins like liquid fire. The forest around us seemed to hold its breath, the trees and underbrush bathed in the ethereal glow of the magical battle.
The Archmage’s figure finally collapsed, her energy spent and her body crumpling to the ground. The radiant light dissipated, leaving behind a stillness that felt almost surreal. I lowered my hands, breathing heavily.
Evie rushed to my side, her eyes wide with awe and concern. “Sage, are you okay?”
I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. “Yeah, I’m okay. Is it over?”
Brad stepped forward, his eyes locked on The Archmage’s motionless form. “I think so. But we need to make sure.”
We cautiously approached the witch, the air around her still crackling with residual energy. I could see the rise and fall of her chest, indicating she was still alive, but barely. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she looked up at me with a mixture of hatred and sorrow.
“You...you think you’ve won?” she whispered, her voice weak and rasping. “This isn’t over. My plans? They will live on.”
“No, they won’t. Not while I’m protecting this town,” I said firmly. “Brad, keep her contained.”
I sensed the power thrumming within him. My boyfriend raised his hands, and the earth responded, stone shackles emerging to hold The Archmage’s feet firm.
Nearby, Freya knelt beside an injured Evie, her hands glowing with a soft, healing light as she tended to her wounds with her healer magic.
“Agatha, with me,” I said. “We need to get that locket from around her skinny neck.”
Without hesitation, my feline familiar leaped into action. Her shadowy tendrils reached out, snaking around The Archmage, and reinforcing every restraint.
“Damn you all,” she spat, struggling against the combined might of our magic. But it was no use, because this time we had her.
Cautiously approaching, I was ready to harness every ounce of my magic to finish what we’d started. I extended my hand, palm outstretched, and The Archmage’s eyes widened as she felt her own power waning.
With a final push of my will, I stripped her of the Echoing Locket, severing her connection to its dark magic.
The evil witch slumped, defeated, her menace reduced to nothing more than a bitter memory. My friends rallied around me, their faces a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
“Is it over?” Evie asked, her voice both hopeful and weary.
“Almost,” I replied, turning my attention to the locket now resting in my palm. The intricate silver piece seemed to pulse with malevolence, begging to be used, to corrupt.
“Destroy it, Sage,” Freya urged. “It’s the only way.”
I knew she was right, but the locket’s power called to me, promising strength beyond measure.
“Meow!” Agatha’s voice cut through my hesitation. “Young witch, don’t even think about it.”
I met her yellow gaze, finding resolve within those wise old eyes. “I need your help, Agatha. Familiar and witch,” I said.
My cat nodded, her form blurring when she tapped into her shadow magic.
“Goodbye, unholy darkness,” I whispered, channeling all my magic into the locket. Agatha’s power intertwined with mine, shadows and light spiraling toward the cursed object.
There was a thundering crack. The locket splintered into pieces, each shard evaporating before it could touch the ground. The forest seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, the oppressive presence of The Archmage’s ambition dissipating like fog.
The sudden absence of the locket’s power left me dizzy. For a moment, I couldn’t quite believe it was over. All our struggles, all our fears, gone in an instant. But the cost... Professor Elderwood’s face flashed in my mind, and my throat tightened.
“We did it!” Evie squealed, throwing her arms around me. “We really did it!”
“An era ends, and hope is reborn.” Freya sighed.
Hope. Such a small word for such a big concept. I wondered if I was ready for it after everything we’d been through.
“Looks like we’re finally free.” Brad placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I leaned into Brad’s touch, grateful for his steady presence. Then I smiled, looking at the faces of my friends.
They’d been through hell with me, stood by me when the world seemed to crumble. My chest swelled with affection and gratitude.
Heavy footfalls pounded through the forest, and we all turned to see what was headed our way.
My heart leapt into my throat. After everything, was there more danger?
“Whoa, look sharp everyone!” Brad called out, his voice a mix of warning and wonder.
A group clad in midnight robes emerged from the tree line, their cloaks embroidered with silver sigils that glinted in the fading light. They moved with purpose, an air of authority swirling around them like mist.
Who were these people? Friends or foes? After The Archmage’s betrayal, I wasn’t sure I could trust anyone new.
“Brad, who are they?” I asked, my hand reaching for a power I hoped I wouldn’t need to summon again.
“Those are the Arbiters of Balance,” he explained, his tone signaling respect and caution. “My dad mentioned them—new enforcers the Council put together after our last meeting.”
“Regulators of magic, here to maintain order,” Freya said, her voice laced with awe. “Good guys.”
The Arbiters’ leader stepped forward, his eyes fixed on The Archmage, who lay bound and powerless at our feet.
I held my breath, torn between hope and fear. Would they understand what we’d done? Or would they see us as vigilantes, to be punished alongside The Archmage?
“The Archmage,” he intoned, his voice as smooth and unyielding as obsidian. “For your crimes against the magical community, you will be taken into custody.”
Whew. They weren’t here for us. We’d done the right thing, and they recognized it. The knot in my chest began to loosen.
“Justice,” Agatha hissed beside me, “served cold and late, but served nonetheless.”
I glanced at my familiar, seeing the satisfaction in her feline eyes.
“Yes,” the Arbiter agreed with a nod.
As they levitated The Archmage away, the relief flooding through me was tinged with a bittersweet ache. Professor Elderwood’s sacrifice hung over us like a shadow. The Arbiters of Balance also took the bodies of the professor and the High Witch. They didn’t question us or demand answers. They just left as quickly as they’d appeared.
“Poor Professor...” Evie’s voice caught.
“We’ll remember him always,” I said.
“His memory will live on in every student he taught,” Freya added softly, her compassionate gaze meeting mine.
Brad wrapped an arm around me. “Let’s go home.”
We walked back toward Emberwick Crossing, the town now safe from the threat that had loomed over it.
“Never easy, is it?” Agatha mused, brushing against my leg.
“Never,” I replied. “But always worth it.”
“I suppose. Now can we eat?” she asked.
Everyone laughed, and we continued onward, a patchwork family held together by love, loss, and the magic that bound us.