Radiance - The Alight Archives Book #1

77. Three Minutes

The vine platform slowly retracted from the thorn stalk, lifting Valenka above her henchmen—they had huddled together, whispering anxiously, fully aware of the impending wrath that was about to unfold—and closer to where Fearne stood unsteadily, struggling to control her Thistle Wand which wobbled uncontrollably in her grasp.

This had been her plan—as ill-conceived as it more than likely was—and so, despite her lingering reservations and immediate onset of regret, Fearne had to commit to it. As she stood there, nothing made her yearn for the safety of the forest more than when she locked eyes with Valenka, the feral grimace etched on her face making her look as if she had just caught sight of a rodent scurrying over her most cherished article of clothing. Fearne had succeeded in capturing her attention, no doubt.

Inside a quivering fist, Valenka pointed the Thief Wand down at her, its tip aglow with green-colored energy. "Is every Glyph student as blind as the both of you are, or is it so that the two of you are merely jealous of true beauty?" Valenka didn't afford Fearne a chance to respond to that question—not that Fearne necessarily wanted to—and as she lowered her chin, Fearne sensed the rogue sorcerer's magical energy surge with rage from within her Core. "I'll cover you all in filth, string you up in my thorns, and display you as a pathetic spectacle. Anyone who insults my beauty has already forfeited their right to live!"

Fearne steadied herself as the ground beneath her boots vibrated in a savage pulse. Chunks of earth flung free of the fissures streaking over the forest floor in zigzagging patterns, and one after the other, Fearne watched the tall, serrated vines shoot for the sky—at least seven of them in total—and as they went taut, reaching as far as they could stretch in the air, they curved and shot back down to the earth with maddening speed. Gasping, Fearne thrust her wand over her head and shouted, "Primary Magic: Cutumo!"

Before any of the thorn vines could ensnare her like they'd done Adeline, in a bright flash of magical energy, a dome-shaped barrier manifested around her, with a circumference wide enough to fit more than one person and a density so durable that it could withstand the impact of the vines that ferociously collided into it.

Fearne smirked with delight, this had been one of the spells she'd struggled to learn during Professor Knight's Spellcasting Classes, however, with enough training, she had turned it into a real asset. On her platform, Valenka's face contorted with irritation, and when she raised her wand to the sky, numerous thorn vines burst forth from the platform's base. They grew to imposing sizes, in Fearne's eyes resembling that of colossal, arched bridges, extending for the heavens before plunging back down to penetrate the earth several meters beneath them.

With the flick of her wand, countless thorn vines burst from under the crust of the planet, twisting and knotting with one another to form one, thick agglomeration of plant life, and per their conjurer's will, they extended speedily from Valenka and rushed for their target. Fearne reinforced her footing and stance as she braced for the heavy impact, instinctively closing her eyes as the concussive force of the rampaging plant mass sent explosive pulsations within the protective barrier, her insides vibrating and her eardrums pounding from the loud noise.

Hands clasping the sides of her head, Fearne exclaimed in panic when she noticed cracks beginning to splinter across the barrier's exterior, climbing up its side and stretching over its dome ceiling, crushing its weight down onto it as its sharpened thorns shredded holes and tears. Yes, Fearne had improved the spell, but she was by no means an expert in defensive magic, and when what sounded like shattering glass broke in her ears, Fearne brought an arm in front of her face as exploding magic buffeted against her, translucent shards of turquoise energy discharging with a furious howl.

Violent gusts sent Fearne flying back, though she was able to remain on her feet—the soles of her boots skidding on the ground—while her ponytail billowed wildly. Thinking quickly, Fearne shot forth her wand, shouting, "Plant Magic: Viri Scuto."