Of the Forgotten: Cal Wants to Be Famous

Chapter 10: The Magic Beat

"The pulse of magic grew weaker with each passing hour. And in that moment, I realized: it was no longer the comforting beat of a heart—it was the sound of a dying world."

~*~

Cal's POV

My eyes remained closed, but I could feel the oppressive weight lifting slowly, like the earth releasing its grip.

The cavern wasn't accustomed to the heavy emotions flooding its air, and the negativity had seeped into the magic.

The unfamiliarity of it made it harder to filter out the toxicity; instead, the poison fed on the magic, weakening it further.

I hadn't noticed it at first, too absorbed in my discovery. But I realized it when I felt the magic starting to heal itself, the corrosion lifting like a veil being pulled from my senses.

Magic had always been around, an intrinsic force woven into the fabric of this world. But such a complex energy, on this scale, required a lifetime of magic to sustain it.

No wonder it was so vulnerable to decay.

The place was meant for sacred use, its purpose etched into the stone long ago. But like humans, it had aged. It had been tainted by the emotions of those who used it, confused and corrupted. It had become a victim of evil.

I opened my eyes, and the dark, sticky substance that had been spreading through the cavern shifted, reverting back to a shimmering puddle of magic.

A glowing liquid that flickered with every color imaginable, bright and full of life.

I filled another bottle, securing it in my bag, tucked away in the secret compartment.

The magic recoiled as I touched it, flashing with images that weren't my own—familiar faces, a woman's scream, and a child's terrified cry. It felt like the magic was trying to communicate, to reveal its wounds. I jerked my hand back, my pulse quickening. "What did they do here?" I whispered.

I patted down my pants, brushing off dust and dried leaves. The crunch beneath my boots rang through the stillness of the forest, and then, like waking from a dream, I remembered the others.

For a moment, I was so absorbed in the pulsing magic, I had completely blocked out everything else. It wasn't until the sun's rays broke through the trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor, that I remembered—them. The others. How long had I been gone?

My curiosity had consumed me entirely.

The sun's rays crept through the gaps in the trees, casting sharp beams of light across the forest floor. The air was colder now, but it felt clearer, fresher.

A crisp breeze whispered through the leaves, carrying the scent of pine and earth.

"Whoa!" George's voice, full of awe, caught my attention. His jaw hung open in surprise, and I couldn't even remember the smug look he had worn earlier. Now, he looked like an innocent child—a stark contrast to what he usually projected.

"What a clueless bumpkin," I muttered, too tired to hide my irritation.

George's expression shifted, surprise melting into disbelief. His brows furrowed. "I never knew you were this petty."

Heat crept up my neck, and I shrugged, hoping to play it off. I'd gotten so lost in the magic that everything else slipped my mind. "Guess I did." I forced a grin, the tension building in my chest. I needed to move on. "Forget it. Let's just keep going."

For the longest time, I had been mumbling to myself, lost in the hum of magic, feeling it pulse through the veins like my own heartbeat, blocking out everything else. Then, suddenly, I'd collapsed in this unknown forest, on my knees, praying for guidance.