Arcanus

[13]

 The Forest was as dark as it had always been, and Seraphina couldn't help but relax. She was afraid that the beings behind the shadow path would change the forest, fill it with light or a cloud of death.

The birds still chirping, the squirrels still scampered across the forest floor.

"Here we are," Katrina pushed back some brush, and grabbed the air. Instantly, her katanas appeared in her hand.

Shadow sparked from the grass, and the grass seemed withered and dead now.

Lis flipped through her tome quickly, but Seraphina was faster, sending out her magic to scan the area.

It seemed odd...off even. Seraphina had never felt anything like it.

"It... I don't know what this is."

"I do." A very beautiful lady stepped out of the bushes, smiling. She oozed charm and strangely, the same stuff that Seraphina had sensed on the grass.

Lis peeked up from her book. "You're a magician too!"

The lady smiled, a blinding, beautiful smile. Seraphina didn't trust it. She was obviously a magician, but the beauty and grace just felt wrong. Learning magic took great sacrifice and great pain. How was she still happy?

"This is the work of Kakine, the most powerful sorcerer in the world." She said, still smiling. "My name is Hali Greensburg, by the way, and I was here to investigate this path too. Kakine is evil, and he's trying to take over the world. We must stop him!"

"How are you so happy?" The words left Seraphina's lips before she realized it.

Bat turned to her, her lips pursed. "Is it a crime to be happy?"

Seraphina opened her mouth to speak, but the others were already drawn in by Hali's words.

"I know where he keeps base." Hali declared. "I was looking for a group of powerful fighters to take him down."

Tanya was still in the shape of a kitten, and she leapt out of Bat's arms, rubbing herself alarmingly against Seraphina's leg. Seraphina picked up the kitten.

"We must go end him, once and for all!"

"No!" Seraphina cried. "If he's truly as powerful as you say, we must make plans. Nothing goes right unplanned."

"Silly Enchantress." Hali giggled. "I already have a plan. I'll share it with you tomorrow morning. We'll kill him tommorow!"

Katrina's eyes gleamed, Bat's eyes glittered. Mari seemed completely enthralled by the plan. Lis was nodding. Tanya seemed the only one unaffected by Hali's words other than Seraphina.

"Why are you so eager to kill him?" Seraphina asked.

Hali's eyes darkened. "He killed my family." She whispered sorrowfully. She looked up at the Enchantress with begging eyes.

"Let's go to your home, and we can rest there until tomorrow when we kill Kakine."

Seraphina started shaking her head, but then noticed Lis' pleading stare.

"Fine, but I won't be happy about it." She grumbled.