The Mage Wars

On the Edge

18 Lepus of the year 13004

"Look, the edge!" Neirin yells, pointing ahead of us. 

Sure enough, a vast ocean can be seen ahead. I've been smelling salt water for the past few hours. I knew we were close. But this is incredible. I've only ever seen the cliffs in Caelora, but these feel more impressive than those in Caelora. 

Our horses carry us swiftly to the edge. I sit and watch the waves down below. We dismount and begin setting up camp. We make sure to set up ten good feet from the edge. I start with brushing Hunter's coat and feeding him and his fellow horses water. 

When finished with the horses, I walk to the edge, staying far enough away to avoid falling in. The waves softly lap the stone edge as dusk falls. It's soothing. It reminds me of summer when I leave my window open and let the waves lull me to sleep. 

That is a lot of water, I mutter. 

Footsepts softly make their way to me. A hand is placed on my shoulder right where Galen usually puts his hand. The hand is too big to be Holly, and Neirin doesn't do this. 

"You can do this," Galen says. He grips me tightly, but not enough to cause pain. It's reassuring, and I'm glad he's here. 

Behind us, I can hear Holly as she rifles through her pack. She's likely looking for the stone to contact Kaelen. They've gotten close over the last eighteen days. Holly yells out she has Kaelen on the stone. 

Galen and I walk over to Holly and Neirin. Last night, I memorized the spell Uncle Carys gave me to contact Kaelen without a crystal or stone. It's not complicated. I could do it in my sleep. 

"Hold on a moment. We may as well see each other while we wait," I mutter the spell under my breath and clap my hands together once. 

For a moment, Uncle Carys' Spell does nothing. Then the air in front of me shimmers, and a clear picture of Kaelen, Ella, Altair and Sir Haedyn appears. They look tired. I'm sure we don't look much better. 

"Hi,"

"Hi,"

"While we wait for midnight, should we make dinner?" Neirin bluntly asks, peering around me to glance at Galen. 

Holly snorts. Her reaction starts a cascade of laughter. My cousin glances around and asks, what's so funny? Then we laugh louder. 

Oh, Neirin. 

Galen grabs my cousin's arm and has him help with the cooking. It's a sight to see. A prince and a general cooking a meal for a princess and a lady. It's almost out of a novel my Great Aunt Bryce wrote. 

In no time, dinner is ready, and we dig into the delicious food. Neirin tells Galen he better be open to teaching Sir Haedyn how to cook. The knight on Kalene's side of the continents pouts at the slight jest. 

As dusk falls, Neirin is put on guard duty. This is Syrpant territory. We don't need another accident or almost an accident. Once was more than enough. 

Time flies. It helps to have others to talk with and not the same three you've been talking with for weeks. I find myself listening to the conversations between Holly and Kaelen, Ella and Altair, Sir Hayden and Neirin. 

My brother and Holly seem to have made a connection. It's cute. They remind me of Mother and Father. It's sweet. Mother and Father said they clicked as soon as they met, and they didn't talk the first three times they met. 

Then midnight is around the corner. Kaelen and I prepare ourselves and pull our spells close to the edge. Our companions settle around us. One is on the lookout for Syrpants, and the others hold papers and make sure we don't fall into the sea. 

"Kael. Are you ready?" I ask. 

My brother nods. We stand right at the edge. If we took two big steps, we'd be swimming. Kaelen and I take a deep breath and begin. "Divine essence of young, new and old, hear us now. Take our call, sweep it abroad and come vanward. Embrace your power, soul and spirit. Ascend that which is beyond thee and return it to sky." 

After the first set of words, we push our hands forward. We start the second round and tilt our heads to the sky. We simultaneously take a deep breath before beginning the last verse. Kaelen and I throw our hands up and out to the vast sea.

My face warms with the power being used to raise Vanora. Heaving, I step back into strong arms, which immediately brace me.

Galen asks if I'm alright.

I nod. Allowing my weight to be held up by someone other than myself. Spirits, am I glad Galen positioned himself behind me. If not for Galen, I'd be on the ground. 

Then we hear a groan, a crack and a low rumble. Out at sea, ripples begin cascading in and out. 

"It's working,"

It's all going well until Sir Haedyn asks what will happen to all the water. Sir Haedyn's right. That water has to go somewhere. And that somewhere is here. Oh spirits. 

Kaelen asks if I remember the what do you call it spell. I assume he means the shield spell. It could work, and I have no better suggestions.

I push myself out of Galen's arms and head to Hunter's saddle bag as fast as my body allows. I grab my spell book from its bag and flip through to the shield spell. It should hold off the water and redirect its mass back to the ocean.

I hope. 

I rush back to the edge and hold the book for Kaelen to read the spell. Kaelen states he's ready. And with that, we use the spell.

Spirits of protection,
Heed my call,
Hurl out your power,
For thine who seek it,
And protect whom call upon you.

As the last words are spoken, I feel a pull in my gut and toss my arms out with the spell power. A barrier shines and fills the gap between the rising cliff and the land we stand on. It's tall and wide with a dark hue of blue, just like my markings. 

Spirits, that was close. 

I turn and look at my companions. They look as relieved as I feel. A few seconds later, we'd all be swimming.

"Once the water settles, we can proceed into Vanora,"

I grab Galen's arm and allow him to help me sit. I've used enough energy for the next few days. Spirits, my magical energy levels would be drained if I wasn't a Spirit mage. I can only imagine what Kaelen must feel like.

Spirits and souls. I need a nap...or four. 
_____

19 Lepus of the year 13004

Not even an hour after we woke, Holly and Kaelen started chatting. They seem to click. It's cute. Father saw the cuteness before it started and put them on different paths to Vanora. 

A smart decision. 

We made a plan as we ate breakfast to use magic to dry the ground as we went. Sure, it will take longer, but it will be worth it when we don't end up with broken ankles. Plus, Holly will thank us for not injuring ourselves.

Thankfully, most of the water was drained when we put up the barriers yesterday. Kaelen and I used our magic to drain the rest an hour ago. A precaution in case there are sinkholes that we can't see. 

"We'll see you at the castle," Holly swipes her arm through Kaelen's image. She leaps effortlessly onto her horse and turns him to face the barrier. 

We're ready to go. 

I take down the blue barrier and nudge Hunter forward. He stops when he's in line with Keith, Galen's horse. Keith paws the ground, eager to get going.

We have to be careful. The ground is waterlogged, which can lead to a broken ankle, broken legs or four. No one wants to sink into the muck. It's hard to take it easy when this part of the world has been underwater for 20 years. 

None of us are old enough to have seen Vanora before its fall. We grew up on stories of Vanora and its marvellous ports and trees. Oh, the food. Father said it's the best you could ever imagine. I only hope he's right.

Spirits, I can't wait.