Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

71. Serpent Fang

With her heart slamming inside her chest and a ravenous fear twisting and turning within her Core, Fearne struggled to keep her wits as she remained frozen below her titan snaptrappers, a hand on her breast and loose fingers allowing her wand to slide out of her grasp slowly. The uncertainty of the situation...it was overwhelming; this couldn't be real. No, it had to be another of Professor Knight's cheap tricks. It just had to be!

But even given how extreme their Spellcasting instructor tended to be, deep down, she knew this wasn't his doing, though she desperately longed for that to be the case. Before her, more men in ragged and ripped clothing poured out the shadowed maw of the forest, amassing around the dark-haired woman who had yet to drop her poisonous sneer.

Valenka. That had been her name, hadn't it? Much of what the woman had spoken were lost on Fearne as the sudden and terrifying reality of their predicament momentarily deafened her senses. She could discern the Melody of Nature no longer, much less the Hidden Melody that had previously come to her aide. However, what was absolutely certain was that...was that their lives were now in grave danger. Professor Knight and the others, Fearne thought, panting heavily as sweat slid down the sides of her face, they'll save us, won't they?

But how did these criminals get past Glyph's security? Well, Glyph Forest wasn't technically in the same proximity as the rest of the academy. Case in point, it didn't have a protective barrier to ward off any potential dangers. Even so, undoubtedly, the heads of Glyph would have accounted for something like this to happen.

Swallowing, Fearne glanced over to Adeline, who had since regathered her composure. No longer did that violent anger storm over her face, but rather, her eyes shifted robotically inside her head, as if she was taking the time to analyze each and every mage before her. Did that mean, no, was she seriously planning on dueling them if need be? As powerful as the Glacial Girl was, even a Professional Sorcerer could only do so much against a horde of enemies.

And if this does turn into an all-out duel, which it looks like it's going to, Fearne thought nervously, does that mean...I'll have to fight, as well?

"How many?" Adeline asked sharply. "How many men compose of your forces?"

Valenka gave a light chuckle, almost as if she were a mother prepared to answer a nonsensical yet otherwise harmless question their child had put forward. "That right there is none of your business, little mage. I believe I made my stance pretty clear. Either you come with us out of your choosing, or we'll be forced to resort to violence." Valenka chuckled some more into the back of her hand. "My, my, this must all sound so familiar to you, what with you being the daughter of Keith Griffith, and all."

"Keep my father's name out of your corrupted mouth, rogue sorcerer," Adeline said, though the vitriol in her voice betrayed not her poised expression. "You mentioned something about using us as sacrifices, yes? For some unholy ritual, no doubt. That would imply that you're warlocks, or at least, somewhat proficient with Black Magic. And yet, I sense that all of your Nether combined wouldn't even be enough to cast a low-leveled curse. So, then, you're nothing more than a nameless collection of rogue sorcerers following the orders of someone far more elite."

"Wow, what a clever little mage you are," Valenka said mockingly, clapping her hands. "No, I don't dally in the black arts. I may be a criminal, but never would I sink that low."

Adeline exhaled frustratedly. "Then to who do you belong? Surely, you wouldn't have me believe you're the leader. You just don't give that type of aura."

"You bitch! How dare you speak that way to Valenka!" the tall, tan-skinned man beside her snarled, pointing a dagger at her. 

"We'll make you pay for insulting her!" another barked.