Page 14 of Mystery of Magic

I frowned. “Isn’t a theory good enough?”

He arched an eyebrow. “Is it good enough for you?”

I grunted. “No.”

The door pinged and opened, and I realized Daryn had been holding the door closed for a few seconds so we could finish our conversation.

Amalie was at the table before the breach map as the hunters continued to work on sorting the debris. Her look of disappointment said it all. Everyone wanted a break from the demons after the war and while these breaches were not an extinction-level event like the war, they were still dangerous and emotionally draining.

Amalie pointed at the map. “The demons are running for thetree line. If they reach the border, then we won’t be able to track them with our map.”

I smiled at my childhood friend. She looked good in her black silk robe with gold piping. It signified her ascension as council head, but the dark circles under her eyes also alerted me to the weight of responsibility placed on her. “We will find them,” I reassured her.

Kaine and Indy approached us, and I realized they had been either talking with or helping the young hunters with their task, while Daryn and I were speaking with Caleb.

Indy zipped her one-piece suit to the top. “We ready to kick some demon ass?”

Daryn grunted. “Don’t sound so excited.”

I winked at Indy before touching my chest and connecting with the breach magic. It was an ancient force that had remained dormant until I returned to the home that had spurned me. The world around me blurred as I closed my eyes, centering myself amidst the chaos. The power, hidden for years, was mine to command, and it pulsed beneath my skin like a quiet promise. I took a deep breath, drawing in the energy that surrounded me, the very essence of the mystical world I had embraced.

My heart beat like a drum, matching the rhythm of the universe itself. I could feel it, the connection, the merging of my essence with the magic within. I extended my hands, palms facing each other, and began to chant words that felt ancient and familiar, words that resonated with the deepest part of my being. The surrounding air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath my feet trembled in response. I could feel the power building, swirling within me like a tempest.

With determination and confidence, I thrust my hands forward, willing the magic to obey my command. The air rippled before me, and a shimmering portal began to take shape, its iridescent hues dancing in the twilight.

I marveled at the beauty of the portal. The acceptance that I was the mistress of this mystical gateway. It was a testament to the strength I had discovered within myself, the resilience that came with age and experience. I had become a force to be reckoned with, and a hunter in my own right.

As the portal grew wider, I understood the dangers awaiting me on the other side. With a final, resolute step, I stepped through the threshold, leaving behind the council chamber, as my parafinai and teammates followed.

CHAPTER 7

Stepping through the portal was like stepping into a new world. The air shimmered around me, and for a brief moment, I felt weightless. Then, with a soft thud, my boots landed on solid ground, crunching dry twigs beneath my boots. The scent of evergreen and damp earth surrounded me, as my heart raced with excitement and a hint of trepidation.

Daryn, Indy, and Kaine exited the portal behind me, their faces a mix of vigilance and determination. The forest before us was a breathtaking sight. Towering trees, their ancient branches draped with moss, created a canopy that filtered the dappled moonlight.

As we took our first steps deeper into the forest, I marveled at the vibrant shades of green that surrounded us. This place felt alive, pulsing with energy and secrets waiting to be discovered. I could hear the gentle rustling of leaves, the chirp of night crickets, and the distant gurgle of a nearby stream.

As our eyes adjusted to the subtle light, a low, ominous growl rumbled through the darkness beyond the trees. The sound sent a shiver down my spine and made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Indy drew her Sica. “Looks like the party is about to begin.”

I swallowed hard, with my senses on high alert, and tightened my grip on the hilt of my Sica. We had each other’s backs, and no matter what lurked in the shadows, we were ready to face it together.

Daryn moved in front of me, an action he performed every time we were in the field. His determination to uncover the source of that ominous growl was obvious in the way he stalked the shadows beyond the tree line.

I glanced back at the portal when it began to close, and the surrounding light dimmed. “Do we know how many demons made it through?”

Daryn searched the darkness before us. “Amalie thought there were three, but if they huddle together, they can fool the map. It reads energy signatures, not bodies.”

“That isn’t exactly comforting,” I whispered.

We cautiously continued our trek through the forest, our eyes darting from shadow to shadow, as the tranquil beauty of the woods began to give way to an unsettling tension. The distant growling had ceased, replaced by an eerie silence that sent a chill down my spine.

A twig snapped before two Labolas demons materialized from the darkness. The nightmarish creatures emerged from behind the towering trees before us. The demon wolves unfurled their massive bat-like wings, casting ominous shadows on the forest floor. My heart quickened as adrenaline surged through my veins.

Their fur was dark, and their eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence. The Labolas demons were ruthless pack hunters, cunning and relentless, and they stood before us, poised for action. Their wings bore sinister spikes at the ends, glistening with a venomous poison that spoke of deadly intent.

Their large canines glinted menacingly in the dim light, and I could feel my pulse racing as I took in their grotesque forms. Fearclawed at the edges of my mind, but I knew I couldn’t let it overwhelm me as Indy and Kaine moved to outflank them.

---