She shivers involuntarily and is tempted to curl into a ball, but she will not break her vigil. She stands, silent, her face contorted with pain.
Faber nudges her gently with his elbow. Are you okay?
His thoughts float through her mind, clear as day. She merely shakes her head. No. He puts an arm around her shoulder and pulls her in protectively. She does not protest and rests her head on his chest, eager for shelter from the swirling storm.
Demetri stands beside his sister, his breathing shallow. For all of the centuries and searching and looking, a girl lies dead on the stone floor. He can barely bring himself to look at the semicircle of blank faces. The mahi endure, as they must, he thinks bitterly, but it is not good enough.
He looks at the scroll with the instructions, hastily discarded and now resting by the potted plant next to the staircase. Demetri can scarcely look at it, let alone think of opening it. Luna’s blood is on that scroll. How can I forget that?
He surveys the mahi once more and sees them for what they truly are—teenagers, driven together by a common purpose, who now wallow in despair. He sees no tears, though, only a silent grief—one to be shared with friends.
He sees Armifer’s tough, callused hand take Nuntios’s slim, pale hand. The faint twitching of the mouth as their fingers are interlaced. And loved ones, Demetri adds silently.
He steps carefully across the alabaster floor and makes his way towards the plant. He bends down and picks up the scroll carefully, not trusting the papyrus to not crumble at his touch. He stands again and looks upon the mahi. He gazes down at the dead girl, her face still contorted in suffering.
The real work is only just beginning.
glossary
Akalme: An innate openness to practicing magic, only found in certain people.
Askelpae: The name for healing magic, the magic Sorem and Demetri used to heal Nuntios’s injuries when he first arrives at the sanctuary.
Eidolon: The Eidolon are spirits not at rest that still remain in this world. These are the spirits that eventually turn against Nuntios.
Evomo: Another one of the maghta, the beast that nearly killed Armifer and Nuntios.
Kerykeion: The name of the staff Nuntios uses when he and Armifer battle Evomo the first time. It is a staff that can only be summoned in times of great need by a worthy mahi.
Maghta: The general name for the dark deities in the novel.
Magister: The name given to sorcerers who showed great prowess in magic and would become the next generation of teachers to young sorcerers.
Mahi: An ancient name given to young sorcerers, used to describe the fourteen teenagers in the novel.
Nakiste/Demons: The Nakiste and Demons are other dark creatures that the Maghta control. These creatures feature most heavily in the final battle of the story.
Prima Magic: The strongest form of magic a sorcerer can practice. A sorcerer’s prima magic will vary based on what branch of magic they practice.
Remex: One of the maghta—the boss of the executive that took Terrance from his home.
Ripple: Every time magic is used, it sends out a ripple of power that can be traced and detected.
Somnum draft: A powerful sleeping draft brewed using magic. This is what Demetri uses to “drug” Nuptia.
The Source: The source of all magical power in the world. Its physical form is a great fire in the center of the earth known as the Stelarian.
The Underworld: A series of ancient underground cities that supposedly guarded the path to the source. The archeological site where the final battle takes place is one of those cities.
about the author
Catherine G. Carter is a high school student who finally got around to writing her first novel after years of daydreaming. She likes tea, listening to music, and watching TV shows. Catherine is also a classical pianist and plays with her school orchestra. She has traveled to dozens of countries around the world, but feels most at home with a good book. Catherine currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where you can probably find her at a coffee shop, working on her second novel.
[email protected]
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