Conquest of Magic

Part 38

"Kristen," I heard my name being called, the sound piercing through the haze of my thoughts. Startled, I opened my eyes, gasping for air as my body jolted upright. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath.

"Are you alright?" Stanley's voice was filled with genuine concern, breaking through the remnants of my vision. I looked up at him, my eyes searching for answers. His face was etched with worry, lines creasing his forehead as he anxiously observed me. The intensity in his gaze made it seem as though he might collapse from his own concern.

"What happened?" I managed to ask, my voice shaky and weak. Stanley's concern deepened, and he hesitated for a moment before responding.

"We were talking, and then you suddenly froze," he explained, his voice tinged with anxiety. "You wouldn't respond for almost half an hour. I was worried sick."

My throat tightened as I processed his words. Half an hour? It felt like an eternity had passed, as if I had been lost in another world for far longer than that. The gravity of the situation settled upon me, and I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure.

"I saw a vision," I admitted, my voice filled with hesitation. I said and waited for Stanley's response, and he locked his gaze onto mine, silently urging me to continue.

"I... I tried to reach out to your mother," I confessed, my voice wavering. "I wanted to understand how her powers became evil." I looked back at Stanley, searching his face for any sign of understanding.

But as soon as the words left my lips, his expression turned icy and his eyes began to glow ominously. Dread knotted in my stomach, realizing I had angered him. His anger radiated off him in waves, and I could practically feel the intensity of his rage.

"Why would you risk your life by doing something like that, I already told you everything, right?" he snapped, his voice dripping with fury. He glared at me, his eyes burning with anger. I averted my gaze, unable to meet his furious stare. Outside my room, I could hear the sound of approaching footsteps, adding to the tension in the air.

Linda and Peter pushed open the door, rushing to my side. Concern etched across Linda's face as she spoke, her voice laced with worry. It was evident that she had already sensed something was wrong and had hurried here to check on me.

"Kristen, are you alright? What have you done?" she asked, her tone filled with concern and worry. The way she looked at me, I could tell she knew exactly what I had done.

"I'm fine, Aunt Linda," I replied, forcing a tight smile. However, she didn't seem convinced by my words. Her gaze bore into me, her eyes filled with concern.

"I know what you did, Kristen," she stated firmly, her voice carrying a tinge of anger. "And you should understand the danger of summoning such power. I warned you about the late queen's dark powers for a reason. It's not something to be taken lightly." Linda's tone matched Stanley's earlier anger, adding to my guilt. I let out a heavy sigh.

"I'm aware of the risks," I admitted, my voice tinged with remorse. "I just... I needed to understand why Queen Amanda resorted to dark magic. It felt as though her powers were calling out to me. I couldn't resist the pull, so I decided to investigate for myself." I lowered my gaze, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room.

Linda's voice turned crisp as she questioned me further. "What did you see?" Her tone held a mix of curiosity and concern, demanding an explanation. I met her gaze and mustered the courage to share my experience.

"I witnessed the events of the war when Queen Irna went to rescue Queen Amanda," I explained, my voice carrying a sense of awe and authenticity. "It felt as if I was actually there, immersed in the scene. And it became clear to me that it wasn't Queen Amanda's fault."