Victor Rookwood is back - and he's more dangerous than ever.
Despite what MC thought, she never truly defeated him. Rookwood wasn't killed; he was merely weakened, slipping into the shadows to rebuild his forces. Now, he's returned with a single goa...
Victor and MC had approached the repository at the far end of the rocky path. Following her victory over Ranrok, she would periodically return to check on the repository. She wasn't entirely convinced that she had contained it properly and her paranoia would get the better of her. Luckily, she had been competent enough to make it a solid enclosure for the magic.
But it didn't matter. 'Victor was right,' she thought. 'There was so much good we could do with the power inside. We could use it to help strengthen wizardkind.' She was tired of bearing everyone's problems, anyway.
They stood before the large orb wrapped in laces of stone, the icy blue magic glowing from underneath.
'Sure, I had contained it well enough, but could I also release it?' she thought.
Victor must have sensed her uncertainty because he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
He still smelled so good to her. The fragrance teased her senses, soothing her into a state of quiet submission. It was starting to drive her mad, the elusive familiarity of it.
He spoke softly into her ear. "You are going to be wonderful, my love. I'm here with you at every step." She gave a soft exhale of relief, thankful for his presence in this uncertain moment.
She stepped forward and angled the secondhand wand up to the repository, focusing on the stone wrapping around it.
"Expelliarmus!"
Before MC could conjure a discharge spell, the wand flew from her hand and off the cliff's edge, falling into what was probably an endless void below.
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Victor and MC turned to the entrance of the cave behind them. Sebastian and Ominis stood there, their own wands drawn. "What the hell are you doing, MC?!"
"Guys! What in Merlin's name are you doing here?"
They both wore a puzzled expression. "What do you mean, we're here to find you! To rescue you!" Sebastian looked her up and down. "And why are you dressed like that?"
"Rescue me? From what?"
Their jaws dropped and Sebastian emphasized the point of his wand towards Victor. "Him!!"
MC chuckled, completely oblivious. "Why would I need to be rescued from Victor?"
Sebastian's gaze flicked to Ominis, whose hands were tangled in his hair, a mix of confusion and frustration etched across his face. Sebastian quickly turned back to her, raising his voice. "What are you talking about? You were kidnapped, love!"
