MUSA AND RIVEN
Riven sat slumped against the cold stone wall, his breathing shallow but steady. The dim light filtering through the cracked ceiling gave his pale face a ghostly cast. Musa knelt beside him, carefully helping him adjust until his back was supported by the wall.
"You okay?" she asked quietly, worry threading her voice.
Riven winced as he shifted but gave a small nod. "I'll be fine," he muttered. "I've had worse injuries."
Musa wasn't convinced, but she didn't push. She stood and began pacing the small room — or whatever this place was — her boots scraping against the dusty floor.
After a moment, Riven broke the silence. "The place where the Trix are going — the Temple of Echoes — do you know where it is, or why the Trix and Damon might be headed there?" he asked.
Musa paused mid-step, frowning as she tried to recall. "Yeah. I… I know where it is,In the northern mountains of Eraklyon" she said slowly. "I remember reading about it back at Alfea. No one has seen ut for centuries.There's a legend connected to it,something ancient-something... evil. But I can't remember the details, or what the Trix could possibly want there."
Her hands tightened into fists at her sides. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "That's not very helpful."
Riven shook his head, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "You're being very helpful, Musa. Don't beat yourself up."
She gave a short, humorless laugh. "Am I, though? Look around. We don't even know where we are, you're hurt, and we have no way to call for help. And me?" She threw up her hands. "I can't do anything."
"Maybe you can," Riven said after a beat. "Did you bring your phone?"
Musa looked at him incredulously. "No, Riven, I didn't grab my phone in between fending off Damon's attack and trying to catch him before he vanished through a portal!" she snapped.
Her voice rose before she caught herself, biting her lip. "Sorry," she murmured. "I'm stressed, but I shouldn't be taking it out on you."
Riven shrugged gently. "It's okay. I get it."
That simple understanding made something in her chest tighten. Musa sighed, moving to sit beside him. She drew her knees up and buried her face in them, trying to steady her breathing.
"This is all my fault," she whispered. "If I hadn't followed Damon, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."
Riven turned his head toward her. "And we wouldn't have found out that the Trix are alive again — or what they're planning," he reminded her. "You following Damon might end up saving a lot of people."
She nodded slightly, though her expression didn't lighten. "But our friends are probably looking for us, right?"
Riven was quiet for a moment, considering it. Finally, he shook his head slowly. "They're probably searching, but I doubt they have any idea where we are. If they knew, they'd be here already." He sighed.
Musa tried to hide her disappointment.She knew that he was right.
" We can't just sit around waiting," Riven said decisively.
"I know," Musa agreed. "Every minute we waste here, the Trix are getting closer to the Temple. And if they reach it first—"
"Then we're all in trouble," Riven finished grimly. "But the good news is Damon and Stormy are both weakened. That'll slow them down."
"True," Musa said thoughtfully. "Darcy mentioned that they need Damon for whatever they're doing at the Temple — and that he has to be strong for it to work."
"That buys us some time," Riven said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But not much. We need a plan — a way out of here, and a way to the Temple before they do."
Musa lifted her head, determination glinting faintly in her eyes. "Then first, we look around, figure out where we are. We'll know where to from here. And Maybe there's something around here that can help us."
"Exactly," Riven said, nodding.
Musa stood, brushing the dust from her dress. But then her transformation suddenly faded, leaving her back in her bridesmaid gown — clean, elegant, but totally out of place.
"Oh, perfect," she muttered sarcastically, glancing down. "I'm drained from using my powers in the fight, and now my transformation is gone. This just keeps getting better and better."
"Hey," Riven said, trying not to laugh. "Don't panic. You'll get it back after some time, right? When you regain your energy?"
"Yeah, but I feel totally defenseless walking around like this."
"Look, you still know how to fight, right? And I know I'm not much help right now, but I'm willing to act as a shield if we get attacked — so you're not totally defenseless," Riven said, making Musa laugh.
He said it as a joke, but Musa didn't doubt for a second that he meant it — like he had so many times in the past.
"You have a point," she said with a smile. "But if I try to fight in this dress, I'll trip and break my neck for sure."
Without hesitation, she borrowed Riven's dagger and started hacking at the lower layers of her dress until it ended at her knees. The result was rough but practical — and still somehow flattering.
"You still look great," Riven teased.
Musa smiled again. "Stella's going to kill me," she said, shaking her head.
"Knowing her, you're probably right," Riven quipped.
He then tried to get up on his own but was clearly struggling. Without being told, Musa went to help. She slipped an arm under his shoulder, and he let her — which she noted he might have refused two years ago. She marveled at how much he seemed to have matured.
Together they managed to get him standing. He wobbled slightly, but when Musa tried to steady him further, he waved her off stubbornly.
Guess he hasn't changed that much, she thought.
"Fine," she said. "Let's move."
Musa deliberately slowed her pace so he could keep up.
The two moved cautiously through the dim corridor. The air grew colder the farther they went, the scent of damp stone mixing with something foul — a stench of decay and dark energy that made Musa's skin prickle.
"This place reeks," she muttered. "It's so creepy. How could Damon — or anyone — live here?"
Riven's voice was quiet when he answered. "He didn't have a choice. After he attacked Sky the first time, he was hunted. Places like this are the only ones that would have him."
Musa's gaze softened. "Just goes to show what vindictiveness and revenge can do to someone," she said.
Riven glanced at her, wondering if she was talking about Damon — or about him. Maybe both. The thought bothered him, but before he could dwell on it, something strange caught his eye.
"Hey… this is weird," he murmured, nodding toward a room ahead of them. "One wall in this room looks way cleaner and more intact than the others."
He limped over before Musa could stop him. Curiosity overrode caution as he brushed his fingers across the stone. Instantly, his hand went right through, making him gasp.
He jumped back, startled. "What the—"
"Riven—what's going on?"
Riven grinned, the first real spark of triumph on his face. He stepped toward the wall, half-expecting to slam into it — but he passed right through.
"Jackpot," he said once he saw the hidden room.
Musa joined him a second later.
"Whoa!" she exclaimed. "Where did this place come from?"
"It must be Damon's. He probably used some kind of enchantment to hide it from prying eyes."
They stepped inside warily. The room beyond was huge, carved deep into the rock, but unlike the rest of the tower, it wasn't cold or crumbling. Torches flickered to life on their own, illuminating the space in a haunting amber glow.
Musa's breath caught. "Oh my stars…"
The room was fully furnished — a couch, lamps, even a wardrobe and a bed in the corner. There was a magical stove near cupboards that were probably stocked with food, Musa guessed.
"Yeah, looks like our guy wasn't roughing it the way we thought," Riven said.
They continued looking around.
The walls were lined with arcane symbols, dark tomes, and strange crystal instruments. At the center stood a massive obsidian table covered in maps of the Palace of Eraklyon, books, and fragments of what looked like the armor Damon had been wearing.
There were also pictures of Sky, his eyes crossed out.
"This is where he must've planned the attack," Musa whispered.