Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
─────⊰ ✧.*✦*.✧ ⊱─────
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐕𝐄 in the ether had travelled their way back to the horizon. The troops were ready to follow wherever their kings and queen would go. The centaurs and fauns and many Narnian soldiers were waiting for the royal approval to march, though it hadn't come yet. Glenstorm and Everett had enlightened the kings and queen and Eustace of the Archenlanders and Telmarines on the other side of the Western Woods. While this had made Caspian more hopeful for their victory, Peter couldn't help but have his doubts.
He'd seen with his own eyes what magic the earthly witches and wizards possessed and how strong it could be. When Victoria had told them that she suspected another portal to be present within the mountain, his worries only grew. One witch could easily take on tens of soldiers at the time, and that excluded the hags who were undoubtedly not on their side. They only had eight trained wizards and witches, and while Peter thought they were undeniably skilled, there were only so many opponents they could beat.
And though Florence picked up how to control her Narnian magic quickly, even she couldn't beat the lot that was awaiting them. As he panicked in his head over the outcome, he did allow his pride to take over. However, for once it wasn't about his own abilities. Watching Florence flourish over her new-found skills and realising how much hope she had to channel the ancient form of magic, made him feel like a proud older brother.
After Victoria had told everyone about how the Ministry had bound her gift as a child, she'd spent some time trying to help Florence train. It was rather interesting to witness as Narnian magic couldn't be taught. Aside from general directions to help guide her, Victoria mainly came up with things to practise without ever truly teaching Florence how to perform anything. There weren't spells one had to learn, but rather it was creation from one's imagination. When Florence saw the Dementor suck out Victoria's soul, she imagined a lion as a symbol of protection and her magic followed it.
The only way to learn Narnian magic was to have the ancient Narnian symbols imprinted in you. Somehow, the hag's magic had engraved those symbols into Victoria's skin, which Florence had read, etched it into her eyes.
Before the troops could be signalled to march, Kiano had requested Peter for a little more time, as one question had been burning on his mind. Standing across from Victoria, surrounded by all the others, he cleared his throat. 'I need to know, Victoria,' he said coarsely. 'I need to know the truth about how much mind-reading you've been doing without us knowing about it.'
Victoria's face softened at the tension in his voice and she took a few steps closer to him, mindful to leave enough space between them for him to be comfortable. 'I have never read your mind, Kai. Never,' she whispered and swallowed her guilt away. 'I wanted to. After what had happened with Tom, I was afraid you were going to betray me too and I'd been too blind to see the signs. But I didn't do it, because you're not him and I knew deep down you would never do anything like that to me.'
