Page 41 of Witchful Thinking

They worked together for the next hour, maintaining careful professional distance while developing a restoration approach.Without their magical fusion, the process required explicit communication rather than intuitive understanding.Yet Diana found they still collaborated effectively, their professional expertise complementing each other even without magical enhancement.

"I think this approach should work," Diana said finally, outlining a specialized healing sequence."Though it will need to be synchronized with your warding adjustments."

"Agreed."Alarick reviewed her notes."We should test it on a small section first."

They selected a corner of one illustration and began the delicate restoration process.Diana applied the specialized healing magic while Alarick maintained a protective field, their magic interacting but separate, like dancers performing complementary but independent routines.

"It's working," Diana observed as the illustration stabilized."The pattern is holding."

"Yes," Alarick agreed, his concentration fixed on maintaining perfect balance."Though it requires much more conscious control than before."

The unspoken comparison hung between them—before, when their magic had flowed together effortlessly through their fusion.

When they had successfully stabilized the test section, they stepped back to assess the results.The restored illustration glowed with renewed magical vitality, its energy contained and protected by the adjusted warding.

"Good work," Alarick said, genuine approval in his tone."Your adaptation to the changes in your magic is impressive."

"As is yours," Diana replied, noticing the subtle differences in his warding approach.

He smiled slightly, the first real smile she'd seen from him since his return."Necessity is a powerful motivator.The specialists at St.Candlebrook's were fascinated by my case—apparently magical fusion disruption is extremely rare."

"I'm glad they could help," Diana said sincerely.

Another silence fell, but less strained than before.They had established a professional rapport again, found a way to work together effectively despite the profound changes in their magic.

"Diana," Alarick began, then hesitated."I—"

Whatever he intended was interrupted by a commotion from the main archive room—raised voices and the distinct sound of something heavy toppling over.

They hurried toward the disturbance.In the central reading area, they found Malta, Irideane, and Polly standing amid a pile of fallen books, looking simultaneously guilty and terrified.

"It wasn't our fault," Malta said."The bookshelf just moved."

"After you tried to climb it," Diana observed dryly."Seeking a better view, I presume?"

The girls' expressions confirmed the accusation.They had clearly been attempting to spy on them.

"We just wanted to see Mr.Blackthorn's ward work," Irideane insisted unconvincingly."For our independent study project."

"Your independent study project," Alarick repeated, amusement flickering in his eyes."On advanced warding techniques that happen to be conducted in the most restricted section of the archives?"

"Well, your 'independent study' has disturbed some very old and potentially dangerous texts," Diana said with concern.She broke off as one of the books began to glow with an ominous purple light, its pages fluttering open seemingly of their own accord.

"Everyone back," Alarick ordered, already casting a containment ward around the activated book."Now."

The girls stumbled backward as Diana joined Alarick.

"Sympathetic resonance with the restoration magic we were just using," she reported quickly."The book contains similar healing diagrams, but with much more volatile properties."

Alarick nodded, adjusting his containment field as the book rose into the air, purple light pulsing intensely."The magical signature is degrading rapidly.If it destabilizes completely—"

"It could trigger a cascade effect through other sensitive texts," Diana finished."We need to neutralize it before that happens."

Without discussing it, they fell into a coordinated response pattern, Alarick maintaining the containment field while Diana worked to stabilize the volatile magical content.It wasn't their former seamless synchronization, but years of professional training allowed them to work effectively together nonetheless.

The book pulsed again, more violently, and Diana felt the strain of trying to stabilize such volatile magic without their fusion's support.

"It's fighting the stabilization," she reported, sweat beading on her forehead."The degradation is accelerating faster than I can counteract it."

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