Boiling Isles: The Next Generation - Act I.

Chapter XLVII. - The King of Night

Azura could barely comprehend the soldier's words to Hunter. Paulina... is she dying? No, this can't be true! It can't be happening, it just can't be!

The brown-haired girl's heart clenched wildly, then a realization slowly, cruelly washed over her. The pain gnawed at her soul as if it were tearing her apart from the inside, and the thought kept echoing inside her: it was all her fault. If something really happened to Paulina, she would never, ever forgive herself for it.

Azura slowly raised her gaze to Paulina's parents. Hunter, whom she had always known as unstoppable, now looked broken: his face had hardened, but his eyes showed the anguish that was tearing him apart from the inside. Beside him was Willow, the woman whose strength and confidence had always stood as an example to her. But now her face was distorted with worry and fear. Pain burned in her eyes, that unspeakable, all-consuming agony that only a mother can feel when her child is on the brink of death.

Azura's gaze finally fell on Zelmira. The three-eyed witch's face turned pale, as if all life had been drained from it. The brown-haired girl could clearly see Zelmira's lips trembling as she tried to hold back her tears, perhaps she was forced to listen to the soldier tell her that Paulina was being taken to the hospital.

Then a sharp pain tore through Azura's stomach. She hissed and involuntarily lowered her head. Two healers knelt before her; their eyes were closed, their lips murmuring soft spells, first a blue light emerging from their hands gently illuminating Azura's stomach. The light grew stronger, and tiny sparks danced under the girl's skin.

Azura gritted her teeth, tensing every muscle as the pain tore through her again and again, but the agony slowly became milder. The throbbing subsided, and a deep, tired numbness took over the place.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion shook the cave. The walls shook and moved the ground, shards of stone fell. Willow instinctively turned to Hunter, who nodded silently but firmly.

The ocean-blue-haired witch touched her husband's face gently for a moment, then summoned her palisman, which immediately transformed into a magic staff. Willow jumped on it and flew out of the cave through an opening in the ceiling. Zelmira then, ignoring the warnings of the healers, also mounted her magic staff and followed Willow, Boscha close behind.

Hunter took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over his companions, his words ringing with icy determination:

"We must stop the two demons as soon as possible. Coven Head Noceda and I will..."

"No." Amity interrupted firmly.

Hunter turned to her in surprise. The brown-haired witch's eyes flashed hard.

"You should be in the hospital now." she said in a voice that could not tolerate contradiction.

Hunter opened his mouth to speak, but Luz beat him to it.

"Amity is right. Your daughter needs you now. We will take command and resolve the situation together."

Hunter's eyes filled with tears and he glanced gratefully at the Noceda couple, then without a word he sat on his magic staff and flew towards the hospital. Amity silently watched Hunter go, then when he was out of sight she turned to those in the cave.

"The most important thing is to ensure the lives of civilians, so the area around the two fighting demons must be evacuated within a two-mile radius. I leave this to you and your subordinates, Jackson."

Amity turned to a pink-skinned demon, who silently saluted, then left the scene with his companions.

While Luz and Amity continued to issue orders, the two healing witches finished tending to Azura. They stood up and then took a few steps back. One of them hurried to Luz to report, while the other sighed wearily, wiped her forehead, and glanced at Azura.