In the Heavens

Chapter Fifty-Seven

"Having you complete the first two parts of the project are pointless by now," Lewis began, shuffling through the countless papers stacked on his desk. 

After Isadora's brief, yet awkward meeting with Professor Avalon, the newest addition to Alfea's faculty, Lewis all but ushered her into his classroom, sparing the professor not even a passing glance as he slammed the door behind him. 

Now, the two sat as Lewis' desk, discussing the workload that she missed with in her comatose state. 

"So, for the time being, I want you to work alongside the rest of the students. As of right now, they're working on crafting their own rituals that might've been used in the past to harness power in their homeland." 

Isadora nodded her head in understanding, but her gaze was anything but. Her eyes were a dull grey, the faint specks of gold just floating around like a burnt-out star. 

Lewis pressed his lips into a thin line, a grim look flashing across his face before he quickly masked it behind his usual calm and collected demeanor. "Isadora," he called, reaching for her and gently nudging it, hoping to gain her attention. 

But her body was languid and her attention elusive. The faint hum of celestial energy danced around her like a restless tide, unbidden and alive. The markings etched across her skin glowed faintly, their patterns shifting in harmony with her breathing, pulsing with her very heartbeat. 

As her magic stirred, the room darkened, the sun's glow eclipsed by an ethereal light. Above her, a shimmering celestial tapestry unfurled, painting constellations of unfathomable beauty across the walls and ceiling. 

A massive formation emerged at the center— The Eternal Nexus, Lewis recognized— its intricate web of stars pulsating as if dancing through a night sky. Around it, constellations took shape: The Dragon's Ascent, their shapes shifting until, for a brief moment, the coiled form of a dragon was visible. 

Its presence was vast and commanding, yet there was a strange warmth in its luminous gaze that seemed to regard Isadora from beyond the veil of stars. 

From the other side of his desk, Lewis approached cautiously, silently both entranced and worried. He paused at her side, his breath catching as he took in the scene before him. 

Isadora's fingers reached out as if in awe of the constellations' presence. Threads of starlight wove themselves into the patterns and wound themselves around her hand, harmonizing with the ancient forms as though recognizing a kindred spirit. 

The air grew heavier, the weight of her magic bending reality itself. Books lifted from the shelves, floating gently in the cosmic tide, their pages fluttering as though caught in an invisible breeze. Light seemed to twist and bend, casting ephemeral shadows that danced across the walls.

"Isadora," he called softly, hesitant to disturb the fragile balance of the moment. 

Her magic reacted instantly, surging forward in a protective pulse. A barrier of starfire flared to life between them, its edges crackling with the brilliance of the constellations. The Eternal Nexus pulsed fiercely, as if anchoring the barrier's power, its intricate web tightening in response to the perceived threat. 

Lewis took a cautious step back, his eyes wide with awe. The constellations shifted, the Dragon's Ascent glowing brighter as though it sensed his movements. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw the faint outline of wings spreading from the central constellation, their span vast enough to encompass the room. 

Isadora's dull grey eyes fluttered open— fully open— the faint golden light within them flickering the first rays of dawn. She blinked slowly; her gaze drawn upward to the constellations that swirled above her.