It’s embedded, she said, her voice tight. Deep. I need to pull it out carefully or I’ll damage them.
How long?
Thirty seconds per student. Maybe more.
Two minutes total. I could hold for two minutes.
Corruption lashed out from the wellspring—testing, probing, looking for new hosts. My fire intercepted it instantly, blue-edged flames consuming shadow before it could reach Marigold or the students.
She worked with focused precision. Her necromancy dove deeply into the first student, tracing every thread of the master’s death magic and pulling it out strand by strand.
The corruption fought back, trying to spread faster than she could cleanse. It reached for me, for her, for anything living.
I burned it all. Flames everywhere—controlled and precise—nothing got past me.
First student clear. Keane’s portal opened immediately, the medical team pulling them through.
Second student. Marigold’s hands shook slightly from the effort, but her magic stayed steady.
More corruption was lashing out, stronger now, like the wellspring itself was angry at losing its hold on the students.
I met it with fire that didn’t waver, didn’t question, just burned. Second clear.
Third student.
It’s guiding me, Marigold said, not looking up from the student. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Showing me the pattern before I get there and making this faster.
Her necromancy dove deeper, more precise than before, like she knew exactly where to look.
I felt another corruption surge. My fire met it, consumed it.
Third student clear.
We need to cleanse the wellspring itself before… Marigold started, her hand pressed against the stone rim. She paused, her eyes unfocused, listening to something.
Later, I said, pulling her toward the extraction portal. You’re exhausted. One mistake could collapse the entire campus infrastructure. If Keane’s containment holds, we cleanse it properly tomorrow.
But it helped us, she said, looking back at the silver pool. It’s still trapped in there with…
Tomorrow, I said firmly. You’re no good to it if you pass out mid-cleansing.
She bit her lip, guilt clear on her face. Tomorrow, she said, softer. Then she said to the wellspring. I promise I’ll come back.
Whatever she felt through her necromancy made her shoulders relax slightly. Some kind of response I couldn’t sense.
Now, Marigold.
We went through the portal.
The medical center was controlled chaos. Medical teams worked on all three students, pulling the last traces of corruption from their systems. Elio coordinated with calm efficiency, his illusions helping healers see exactly where the corruption remained.
Marigold tried to help, but I caught her hand.
You did your part. Let them do theirs.
I should—
You should rest, I said. My voice held steady, even as heat pressed behind my ribs. You pulled blood magic out of four people at once while it fought you. If you push again, you’ll crack, and I’m not watching that happen.
