Crisis in Lyra

Chapter 3

Lyra Realm

Tristan and Poppy walked out of the cinema when the show was over.

"Do you want to head back now or?"

"Actually, it's getting pretty late. I should head back now."

"I'll walk you back?"

Poppy didn't know how to respond or how to explain where she was going next. She couldn't say, sure walk me to the forest.

Suddenly, Poppy felt like the magic had been sucked out of her and she couldn't breathe. She tumbled on her feet as she tried to steady herself. Poppy had a bad feeling, she tried reaching out to either Bree, Shay or Lia. But none of them responded.

"I got to go," and she took off to the forest. Tristan called out after her and followed.

Poppy reached the meeting point but no one was there. Tristan accompanied her as they waited for hours.

"Poppy, I don't think anyone is coming here. We could go back to my house first. We'll figure things out tomorrow." Poppy nodded, she didn't know what to do. She didn't have the cube to travel back to Plaidaes Isle. She'd have to come back tomorrow.

The two headed back to Tristan's house. He opened the gate quietly, letting Poppy in. They went up the stairs, careful not to make any sounds on the wooden floor.

"Here's some clothes you can change into. These are brand new." Tristan was thankful he had a bathroom to himself. It would be quite awkward if his siblings saw Poppy in the house so late at night. "The bathroom's right there."

Poppy changed into the clothes he'd passed her. After freshening up, she headed out.

Tristan had set up the bed for her and a makeshift bed on the ground beside it.

"You can take the bed. We'll figure it out tomorrow."

***

The next day

The Cave

"Lord Bishop" Dominus called out when he entered the room.

"How was it?" the man on the armchair, facing the window, spoke.

"The magnetite is still working, the magic it contains will be able to last at least a century. But Lord Bishop, you cannot continue to," A hand shot up, cutting his words.

"Until we find a solution, we have to continue."

"What about we get the twins to go again?" Harvey suggested.

"And let their Demon take all the power?" Dominus went silent.

"If there are no other ideas, we will remain as it is," The man waved them out.

"There has to be a way to take the dark magic out of the magnetite," Harvey sighed.

Dominus didn't say anything.

Suddenly the ground shook. Harvey had to grab hold onto the table, readying himself. He looked up and saw Dominus walking unsteadily too. The whole room started shaking. The bed, the table, the chair, all the furniture shook. No, it didn't feel like an earthquake. It felt as if the whole world was shaking. Even the air shook. The magic that floating in their surroundings was unstable. It was as if the ground was opening up and something underground was forcing its way up and out.

They felt their magic boiling inside, wanting out. Their chests felt compressed, a weight leaning on them. Their magic is out of control. The air whipped around them as they tried to wheel in the magic. Their head is pounding.