Roots of Eternity

Chapter 13 - Magic

Magic had always been a source of wonder to me, a way to bring beauty and life into the world. My flowers bloomed without a second thought, vines stretched where I willed them, and I felt as though I could coax the very heart of the earth into anything I wanted. I was beginning to understand the depth of my connection to nature, but I hadn't fully grasped the responsibility that came with such power.

Not until that day.

It began like many others, with Loki and me sneaking off to practice magic away from the watchful eyes of the palace. Thor was busy training with the warriors again, and while I loved him dearly, he was more interested in physical strength than the intricacies of magic. Loki, though, understood me. He had his own connection to the arcane, a sharp, clever mind that made him the perfect companion when it came to practicing spells.

We found a secluded spot at the edge of the forest, far from where the palace guards usually patrolled. It was quiet, peaceful, the kind of place where magic could bloom without interruption. I sat cross-legged on the grass, feeling the pulse of Asgard beneath me, while Loki leaned against a tree, his arms crossed as he watched me with that familiar mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Let's try something different today," Loki said, his voice smooth and calm.

I looked up at him, curious. "What do you mean?"

He pushed off from the tree and knelt beside me, conjuring a small orb of light in the palm of his hand. It flickered and glowed, its light casting shadows on his face. "I've been working on a spell that bends nature to your will. Not just plants or flowers—something more."

"More?" I echoed, my heart skipping with excitement and a touch of apprehension.

Loki nodded, his eyes gleaming. "You've mastered the basics, Helena. It's time you learned something more advanced. Something that gives you control over the forces of nature itself."

I frowned, unsure. "But what about Mother's lessons? She says magic is about balance—creation and destruction. If we start bending nature to our will, won't that... break the balance?"

Loki smiled, his expression softening. "Balance, yes. But control is a different thing entirely. You already have power over nature, Helena. You just need to learn how to harness it, to shape it the way you want. Trust me, this spell will only enhance what you already do."

His words made sense, and yet, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered caution. I loved Loki—I trusted him—but Mother had always warned me to be careful with magic. It was a force that could easily slip beyond control if handled recklessly.

But I was curious. I wanted to learn. And besides, Loki was my brother. He wouldn't steer me wrong.

"All right," I agreed, nodding. "Show me."

Loki smiled, satisfied, and began to chant softly under his breath. His fingers traced intricate patterns in the air, and I watched as the light in his palm shifted, warping and stretching into something darker, more powerful. The ground beneath us trembled ever so slightly, and I felt the familiar hum of magic stirring in the earth.

"Now, place your hands on the ground," Loki instructed, his voice low and steady. "Feel the pulse of Asgard, the life force flowing through it. Then, will it to change. Bend it to your will."

I hesitated, my palms hovering just above the grass. Something about this felt different, heavier, like the magic we were about to call forth was not the same gentle force I was used to.

But I swallowed my doubts and pressed my hands into the soil.

Immediately, I felt the shift. Asgard responded to my touch, but it wasn't the usual calm, slow growth of plants. This was something deeper, more intense, like the roots beneath the surface were pulling toward me, eager to be shaped. I focused, trying to do as Loki had instructed, trying to bend the earth to my will.