Nora's POV
I positioned myself carefully on the altar in the gathering hall, mindful of the flickering candles surrounding me. The four students Ophelia had awakened sat in a tight circle, each gripping candles etched with complex sigils. Their faces showed a mixture of excitement and terror - this magic went far beyond anything taught in their classroom lessons.
"Listen carefully," Reyna's voice cut through the tension, her gaze sweeping from one student to the next. "You must not break concentration under any circumstances. Demons live to deceive and manipulate."
Mack released a knowing meow and settled his warm weight on my chest. I forced my eyes closed, steadied my breathing, and began the incantation that would separate my spirit from my physical form.
The familiar sensation of weightlessness took hold as I materialized outside Charlette's office. Ophelia waited in the shadows, her hand already reaching for the door handle.
