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Tall blades of grass, crops, and random clusters of trees covered the landscape above the underground city of Subka. The ocean covered the horizon, sparkling under the sun's radiant beams. Rhys Leyo crouched behind some bushes, studying the growing mass of Casmerahn soldiers through gaps between the leaves, his cat-like ears twitching at the sight.
"Did they send a whole army to arrest us?" he muttered so only his friends Jacquelle and Moiya could hear.
"They think we murdered Lord Pontiff," the blond whispered. "That's probably why."
"We also performed Magic they've never seen before," Moiya added, though she faced Rhys and purposefully didn't look at Jacquelle. "They probably think we're really powerful."
"They're not wrong," Rhys replied while clenching his fist. He winced at the strange sensation of pins and needles running through his limbs. "Once this feeling goes away we can use that translucent spell again, but that won't be for another few minutes."
The Shadelkin sifted through the bag slung around his shoulder, his fingers searching through the folded clothing for his journal. "We have to get to MagiCorp, and all we can use for Magic are Angelic Spells."
Rhys pulled out the book and flipped to the page where he had transcribed all the Demonic Spells into the language of Enehahkiahneh. "Memorize these," he ordered the girls, showing them the list. "We don't know what they do, but they're bound to be useful."
While Jacquelle and Moiya focused on reading the notes, Rhys watched the massive line of soldiers split up into several smaller groups, each heading in opposite directions like arrows on a compass.
"Get ready for company," Rhys breathed. "There's ten of them heading our way."
"You can put your list away," Jacquelle whispered after a moment of silence. "I memorized it."
"Same," Moiya piped up.
Rhys tucked his journal back into his bag and paused. The sounds of heavy boots crunching in the grass and the snapping of twigs underfoot grew closer and closer with each passing second.
The three friends stayed low to the ground, each of them holding still and stifling their breaths. All they could do was hope and pray that the soldiers wouldn't spot them.
If that group attacks us that's going to grab everyone's attention. We'll be outnumbered if they all surround us.
Goosebumps rose on Rhys' arms when the soldiers momentarily stopped in front of the bushes he and his friends were hiding behind.
"Sh-yu-go-eh-ra-ut," the teenager breathed, his heart racing. Disappointment ate away at his innards when the Angelic Spell didn't work. The uncomfortable tingling in his limbs still had not subsided.
