Chapter Eleven

Once at my apartment, we sat down. 

Caleb came out of the kitchen. “Oh there you are!” He smiled. “Magic realm?” 

I nodded. “Yes.” I held Morgyn’s hands as he stared straight ahead, clearly traumatized.

Caleb saw this and his smile faded. “Morgyn?”

Morgyn looked at him. He still seemed hyper focused on what had just happened. Like he could see Caleb, but looked through him. Finally, he sighed. “There is another realm,” he said. “There used to only be ours, and all spellcasters were welcome. Until they came.” He looked down at the floor and wrung his hands together, nervously. “We noticed quickly that they weren’t like us. They only practiced dark magic, and tried to cast their spells on everyone.” He looked at me, then at Caleb. “We were forced to separate the realm into two, banning dark magic from our realm, rendering them powerless unless they were in their own realm.” He sighed. “Being the strongest due to this underlying power you and I have,” he looked at me. “I was the one who split it.”

“Wow,” I said, my eyes wide. “So why did they come?”

“They’re sages of dark magic,” Morgyn said. “I’m sure they heard about the dragon war. And I know they could sense that there was a new sage.” He looked down.

“There’s a new sage?” Caleb asked.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Me.”

His eyes widened. “Whoa, congrats!”

“Thanks,” I waved my hand. That didn’t matter right now. I looked back at Morgyn as he continued to explain.

“I don’t exactly know why they came, but I know it’s most likely not for a little reunion.” He looked up and sighed. “And we might be in danger.”

I flashed a determined grin. “We defeated eight dragons.”

“And I died,” Morgyn reminded me.

My grin faded. “Right.”

“Well, you know Lilith and I will drop everything to help if it comes to that.” Caleb placed his hand on Morgyn’s shoulder.

Morgyn closed his eyes, resting his head on Caleb’s hand. There was a faint smile on his lips. “Thank you.”

We spent the rest of the evening together, easing Morgyn’s racing thoughts. We reminded him that together, we were unstoppable.

The next day, Morgyn, Caleb and I all went to the realm. Caleb sat outside on the bench as Morgyn and I went into the school, baiting our new visitors.

After some time, right on cue, they arrived.

“We’re back!” Marco marched right over to us.

“Wonderful,” Morgyn mumbled. He looked up at them, frustrated. “Why are you here?” He stood up, suddenly determined and not full of fear as I had seen him.

“We want our questions answered,” Marco said. “Why we were left in the dust simply because of our magic choi-“

“Your poor magic choices,” Morgyn interrupted. “Had you stayed on the right side, you wouldn’t be where you are. If you hadn’t tried to destroy others, you wouldn’t be where you are.”

“And what about L then?” Marco retorted. “Is mischief not on the wrong side, especially when the sage is evil and mean?”

He was right. L’s two most notable traits was that she was mean and dastardly. While she was the sage of mischief magic, which would normally be harmless, she would often use her power to torment others, rather than playful banter.

I pursed my lips, but didn’t get a chance to speak, as Morgyn started talking.

“L knows enough to quit,” he glared at Marco. “And she hasn’t tried to kill anyone.” He narrowed his eyes angrily.

“That was an accident!” Marco shouted, alerting other spellcasters, who started watching from a distance.

Morgyn sighed. “You don’t accidentally use magic to beat someone into submission, then beat them further within an inch of their life!”

My eyes widened. That’s what we were working with here? My fear for Morgyn shot straight up, stirring my power and causing physical pain. I bit my lip, hiding it from everyone.

“What a shame,” Marco scoffed. “With a stature like yours, one would think you’d be smarter.” He grinned menacingly. “With your power.”

“What are you talking about, Marco?” Morgyn glared at him.

“We agreed we would never speak of that again,” Marco stepped closer to Morgyn.

I quietly summoned a shield around Morgyn and I, holding my composure, but ready to fight if I needed to.

Marco stepped back again, but grinned. “You have someone here that’s even more powerful than the most powerful sage.” He eyed me, almost hungrily.

“This is true,” Morgyn nodded, but stood tall, undeterred by Marco. “She aided us in the dragon war. We decided to add a sage of alchemy, and appointed her.”

I held Marco’s gaze and nodded.

“But weren’t we frowned upon when we added a new sage?” Marco asked.

“You can do as you please in your realm,” Morgyn replied. “Just as we can. I’m not sure why you traveled so far to talk about trivial issues.”

Marco angrily leaned toward Morgyn. “Let’s not forget who separated the realms and banned our magic from this one,” he growled.

Instinctively, I stepped forward, making it clear that I would get between them without hesitation. Morgyn grabbed my hand tightly in protest. I stood my ground. As far as I was concerned, Morgyn was still recovering. I wasn’t about to let anyone put his life at risk again.

Marco stepped back, grinning menacingly. “So, since you’re bringing about so much change, why not make the change that’s long overdue?”

“You know I can’t do that,” Morgyn said. “It wasn’t up to me then, and it isn’t now.”

“But you’re the one who cast the spell,” Marco argued.

“I was the most powerful sage,” Morgyn narrowed his eyes.

I felt my heart sink. I knew where this was headed, and I didn’t like it.

“Well, now you have a new one,” Marco grinned at me. He turned his attention back to Morgyn. “And you’re weakened.”

“I was weakened,” Morgyn clarified.

I sighed, getting frustrated. “What do you want?”

“I want Morgyn to restore the realms to the way they were,” Marco explained. “And I don’t want my magic to be banned.” He pointed above his head to a rune that phased in and out. “Despite my best efforts, I am powerless here.” The rune was black and gray and resembled a bone. As if his only goal was to prove mortality.

“If he says he can’t do it, then he can’t do it,” I narrowed my eyes. “And you going on about this is simply childish. What’s done is done.”

The other man stepped forward, offended by my comment. That fear Morgyn had in his eyes yesterday had returned.

“Stop,” he whispered.

I stood down, but didn’t take my eyes off of the other man. 

Marco held his arm out, in front of the other man. “Jay,” he said. “Don’t. They can use magic.”

Morgyn already had his hand on his wand in his inside pocket, ready to fight.

I glared at Jay. “Listen to your friend,” I advised. “And just go. There’s no point in trying to change the past.”

Marco scoffed and started to say something, but was cut off.

“Marco,” we heard. It was L.

He turned. “L, nice of you to finally say hello.”

She glared at him, then at Morgyn and I. “What are you doing?”

Marco didn’t speak, as if he was intimidated.

“You don’t belong here,” L continued.

Marco rolled his eyes, but didn’t say anything.

Seeing Marco distracted, Morgyn gripped my hand tighter and headed for the door outside of the dining area. He alerted Simeon as we walked out.

Morgyn hugged me, causing a massive shockwave. The pain that I felt disappeared.

Morgyn pulled away, staring at me, confused. I looked back at him, shaking my head and shrugging. 

Morgyn tilted his head and said what he had planned to say. “We can’t antagonize them,” he warned. “They are powerful, and will resort to violence if magic doesn’t work. We need to avoid a fight at all costs.” He hugged me again. “Let’s go over here. Simeon and L have got them under control. I’m a bit of a sore subject.”

I nodded in agreement and followed him under a couple of trees where Caleb was sitting.

“Hey,” Caleb smiled as I sat down beside him. I wrapped my arms around his arm and rested my head on his shoulder.

“Hey,” I responded plainly.

“She’s a tad stressed,” Morgyn explained.

“I’m scared for you,” I corrected him.

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be,” he smiled. “I’m sure this will have a positive outcome.” He looked like he didn’t have much faith in his words.

I glared at him. “Do you really believe that?” 

He looked away, sighing. “I do think they will walk away,” he said. “But for how long, I don’t know. They look like they are searching for a fight.”

I shook my head. “And I can’t let you get hurt again.”

He nodded. “I know. I’ll be much more mindful if they insist on a fight.”

“So will I,” I looked down. “If I had walked away, that wouldn’t have happened to you.”

“Stop,” Morgyn said. “Don’t take the blame.” He sat beside me, pulling me into a hug. “Please. Neither of us knew that would happen, and you’ll drive yourself crazy.”

I felt tears well up in my eyes. “I…” I couldn’t find the words.

He smiled at me, holding my head in his hands and gazing into my eyes. “Shhh, just stop. It’s in the past. And it was no one’s fault.”

I nodded. I would never stop blaming myself, I knew that.

He kissed me. As I closed my eyes, my tears fell. I felt more follow them as I cried harder. I pulled away, resting my head in my hands.

Morgyn and Caleb hugged me. They probably thought I was crazy, right? Morgyn was okay. He was even up to full power. No more recovery, even if I wanted to say he was still recovering.

“I think you’re scared,” Morgyn said. “And I don’t blame you. Those guys act tough, and they are tough.” He lowered his voice. “But we will get through this.” He rubbed my back. “Let’s go home.”

I nodded.

Morgyn pulled out his wand and teleported us back.

I immediately went into the bedroom, lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Morgyn was right. I still hadn’t fully processed Morgyn’s brush with death, and now we had a new threat, and their eyes were solely set on Morgyn and I. I sighed and rolled onto my side. Closing my eyes, I envisioned how a potential fight could play out, trying to think of new strategies. But, every vision I had ended up with Morgyn getting hurt. Finally, I pushed it all from my mind. I rested my eyes, eventually falling asleep, mentally exhausted.

Chapter twelve (click here)