MUSA AND RIVEN
By the time the food was ready, the air smelled of herbs and magic again. Musa plated it carefully and handed Riven a dish.
"I can't believe we're eating Damon's supplies," she muttered.
"Yeah," Riven said, taking a bite. "I hate it."
She shrugged. "Well, I guess it's our only option."
Riven chewed thoughtfully—then blinked. "Wait—this is actually good."
Musa raised an eyebrow. "You sound surprised."
"Well… it's just that, last I checked, cooking wasn't exactly one of your strengths."
Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
He smirked. "Remember our second date? We had a picnic, and you made sandwiches that could double as bricks."
Musa gasped. "You said you liked them!"
"Yeah, but I wanted you to like me," he admitted lightly with a smile. "I would've said anything."
The air froze between them.
His hand stilled on his fork. Her gaze lingered too long.
Neither said a word.
Then Musa forced a shaky laugh. "Well, lucky for you, I've learned since then."
He smiled faintly. "I can tell."
She looked down, trying to focus on her plate—her heart thudding traitorously.
For a moment—just a moment—it felt like nothing had changed between them.
But then Riven's expression shifted, shadowed by something unspoken. Guilt. Regret.
"I think I'm full," he muttered, standing abruptly. He carried his plate away without meeting her eyes.
Musa watched him go, wondering what he was thinking.
Riven moved to the other side of the room, putting distance between them. His gaze fell on Damon's cluttered desk.
"I wonder how that psycho planned all this.Let's see," he said, stepping closer.
Curious, Musa followed.
Riven grabbed the first parchment he saw and unrolled it—then froze.
"What is it?" Musa asked.
He didn't answer right away. His eyes had gone wide. "Musa… this is a map of Eraklyon."
She blinked. "You're kidding."
"No. Look—see this mark? That's the royal palace." He traced his finger across the page, stopping at a red circle. "And this—I think this is where we are."
Her breath caught. "You're saying we're close?"
He nodded slowly. "Two days' walk, maybe less."
Musa's eyes widened in disbelief—and then joy. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him. "Riven, that's amazing! We can go home!"
He stiffened, caught off guard. Her warmth hit him like a shock, stirring every emotion he'd been trying to bury. His hand instinctively went around her.
Then—pain. His ribs protested.He should have let her go.But he didnt.
A hiss of pain escaped him though he tried to stop it.
Musa immediately pulled back, flustered. "Sorry—I got too excited."
"What? No, it's—" he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "I hugged you too."
She blinked, thrown off by his awkwardness.
"So what's wrong, then?"
Riven's eyes darkened. "If we go back to Eraklyon… the Trix will beat us to the Temple."
The words hit her like ice.
"Damn,this is a hard one,"Musa says softly before looking at Riven."What do you think we should do then?What should our next move be?"
He looked at her, jaw tight. "We stop them."
"You're hurt,"she points out.
"I've fought in worse conditions."
"Riven—"
"We can't let them win, Musa." His tone left no room for argument.
She looked at him—torn between worry and admiration. He was reckless. Always had been. But beneath that stubborn pride was something she respected and could never resist—heart.
She then sighed, defeated.
"Fine. I'm in. We'll go to the Temple of Echoes."
"Do you know where it is on the map?" he asked.
She traced a spot surrounded by jagged peaks. "It's in the northern mountains. A three-day hike, maybe more."
Part of her hoped the longer distance might make him change his mind—head for Eraklyon instead.
But Riven nodded firmly. "Then we leave in a few hours."
*****
THE TRIX
The cave was damp, echoing with the distant drip of water. Flickering blue firelight cast jagged shadows across the stone walls. Darcy and Stormy sat scattered around the cave entrance—bored, impatient, and irritable.
They'd been forced to postpone their journey. Stormy had insisted Damon needed two full days to heal.
Icy was furious.
"This is all his fault," she snapped, pacing near the fire. "If he hadn't gone after Sky, he wouldn't be lying there like a useless lump. We'd already be at the Temple of Echoes by now—and he'd be doing his part!"
"And we'd be one step closer to taking over the entire Magic Dimension,"Darcy supplies helpfully.
Icy kicked a loose stone across the floor. "If we didn't still need him, I'd—"
Her rant was cut short by laughter.
Stormy's laughter.
At the far end of the cave, Damon reclined against a pile of blankets, his wounds faintly glowing as they healed. Stormy sat beside him, grinning as he spoke.
"You've been wonderful, you know that?" Damon murmured, voice low and smooth. He reached for her hand. "Couldn't have asked for a better healer."
Stormy flushed, letting him hold it.
From across the cave, Darcy watched the scene unfold with mild concern. "Should we be worried about that?" she asked quietly.
"Of course not," Icy said sharply. "Stormy's just having some fun. Her loyalty lies only with us."
"I'm not so sure," Darcy said softly, remembering what had happened back at Damon's tower,how Icy had attacked everyone except him.
Icy's head snapped toward her. "I'm not happy with Stormy right now either, but don't you dare insult her by doubting her loyalty."
"I'm just saying—"
"Enough, Darcy!" Icy's voice cracked through the cave like lightning.
Her outburst drew attention. Damon and Stormy both looked up.
"You two okay over there?" Stormy called.
Icy walks back into the cave.Darcy follows suit.
"I see our wizard here is feeling better," Icy said coolly, ignoring the question.
"Yeah, he is," Stormy said with a pleased little smile.
"Thanks to you, my talented witch," Damon added, bringing Stormy's hand to his lips.
The gesture made Icy's stomach twist, but she said nothing.
"When will he be ready to go?" she asked instead, her tone clipped.
"I already told you, Icy," Stormy said, folding her arms. "It's gonna take some time."
"Time is exactly what we don't have," Icy snapped.
"We think Musa and Riven overheard us talking about the temple—and knowing them, they're probably heading this way -with the rest of their friends. We need to move before they catch up,"Darcy says.
Damon cleared his throat deliberately.
"If I may," he said, sitting up straighter. "Why are we going to this temple, and what exactly do you need me to do once we get there?"
The three witches exchanged wary glances.
Darcy raised an eyebrow at Icy. "He is part of this, remember?"
Icy sighed, clearly irritated. "Fine. I suppose I have to tell you."
She stepped closer, eyes glinting with ambition. "Our… friends, the Ancestral Witches, told us of a way to rule the entire Magic Dimension,by using an ancient relic, something powerful enough to destroy anyone who stands in our way."
Damon tilted his head. "And this relic would be…?"
Stormy grinned darkly. "Ever heard of the Obsidian Core?"
Recognition and shock flickered in Damon's eyes—followed by a slow, dangerous smile.
"Interesting.I'm listening."