𝓟𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓽 𝓘𝓽, 𝓡𝓮𝓭 | 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐤

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 13: 𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝔂 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓮 𝓢𝓮𝓪

♡

Amor stood on the hill of the Liddell estate. Night had fallen long ago, and now all the prince had to do was wait for the moon to reach its highest point in the sky.

The cool night air brushed against his skin, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and freshly turned earth. The estate was eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence.

He was alone by choice, feeling it would be best to face this part of the ritual on his own. Uma and Ally had promised to wait up for him, telling him they'd be in the study, which had quickly become a hangout spot for them. Their laughter and the soft hum of their voices had been a comforting background noise earlier, but now, standing alone in the vast darkness.

"You got this. It's like riding a bike." Inhaling and exhaling, Amor relaxed his shoulders and raised his head to the moon. The luminous orb cast a silvery glow over the landscape, illuminating the area as best as it could.

Clasping his hands together above his head, he conjured his heart crystal, levitating the magic object in the sky. Waiting for the moon to move just above it, Amor focused on his magic once more, allowing it to flow freely from within him. The crystal pulsed with a gentle light, mirroring the rhythm of his heartbeat.

"From deepest depths of Earth and sea, from ancient wonder unawoken," Amor recited the incantation as the talisman began to glow brightly. "Relinquish my power from this token! Reverto meus ops mihi!"

The glow only grew brighter as he raised his voice, shining so intensely that it could be seen miles away from where the prince stood. The light enveloped him, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground and painting the trees in a ghostly white.

The wind picked up from a basic breeze to a full-blown storm. Trees and plants rustled as leaves furiously danced in the air, rising rapidly off the ground and even from the branches.

Cracks spread across the talisman before it shattered completely. The magic that was once inside the object surged at Amor. His magic swirled around him like a vortex until he closed his eyes and inhaled, levitating off his feet until he was four feet off the ground. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Accepting his magic back into its rightful place, Amor latched onto the vortex, reining his power back into himself. The energy felt warm and familiar, like an old friend returning after such a long absence.

"Solvo." The glow eventually faded as Amor descended back onto his feet. The sound of leaves crunching under his feet pulled him back to reality.

Silence.

Not a peep could be heard outside. Not the wind, not even a cricket hidden in the grassy fields. The same went for Amor's mind; everything felt clearer than it ever had. His thoughts were more sharp and focused than ever, free from the clutter and racing thoughts that had plagued him before.

Amor waved his hand, smoke rising from his feet until it completely enveloped his body, teleporting him inside the study.

"Mother of pink!"

Uma and Ally pulled back from a heated kiss as Amor stood, jaw dropped to the floor. Ally attempted to stammer out a reply, only to act as if she was looking for something instead. The room was filled with an awkward tension, the air was thick with unspoken words.

"Oh hey, Amor. Loving the new hair color," Uma said casually, leaning further into her seat. Amor looked between the two with wide eyes before shaking his head. Feeling a mix of amusement and annoyance at the girl sat in front of him.