“Come into the circle. We’ve charged several crystals placed around the edge. I want you to focus all your energy on the elements surrounding you.” Oak points into the dirt, drawing on the ground.
“I know how to do basic magic, Oak,” I reply.
“As far as we are concerned, you are starting from the beginning, so no, you don’t know how to do basic Lumor magic,” he responds, and I narrow my eyes at him.
Larkin steps forward. “Your Lumor ability is weak, Briar. We’re going to have to build it from the ground up. You can call your shadows at any given time, but not your light. You have to figure out how to pull that from within.”
“Okay, then. What do I do?” I ask.
“Allow your instincts to guide you. Push aside your shadows and focus on the light. You need to feel calm and confident. Try to lessen the darkness of your shadows, and in a little bit, we’ll move on to incorporating emotion.”
I close my eyes and widen my stance, feeling lost and embarrassed.
The wind around me seems to pick up, and I let the glow of the sun warm my face. I place both palms outward at my side and focus on my breathing. Steady breaths expand my lungs. The world around me goes quiet, and the crashing waves become a muffled noise in the background. I delve into my own mind, feeling myself travel farther and farther.
With each passing second, I go further into the depths of the darkness.
Focus, Briar. Lessen your shadows.
An image of my mother comes into my mind. Her smiling face pains my chest. Her long, flowing hair blows in the wind before me, and her eyes dazzle in the sun. I don’t open my eyes, but I want to in hopes that she is truly standing before me. Without thinking, I reach my hand forward, trying to get closer to her.
A pained expression moves across her face, and she snaps her head behind her. My mother’s shadowy figure behind me fades, and I feel the darkness begin to creep up inside of me.
Bury it.
Focus on her. Focus on your mother.
But her beautiful silhouette vanishes, replaced by a haunting image of a large figure before me.
I squeeze my eyes shut even tighter.
“Briar, shadows are coming forward. Try to focus on the breeze, the warmth of the sun, and the grass under your feet.” I hear Larkin coaching from beside me. “Look for light.”
I move my feet, pushing them deeper into the soft ground, but the figure draws nearer, as if something in the distance is trying to reach me. I feel the darkness beginning to tingle around my fingertips. With each passing second, the figure inches nearer. Fear floods me, and I sense myself losing control.
No. No.
Open your eyes.
I attempt to crack them open, but they remain shut.
“Briar,” I hear Larkin call. “You’re going the wrong way. Your shadows are taking over.”
I feel the wind shift, and my hair starts to whip around my face. My chest begins to rise and fall quickly as the figure comesinto focus. A haunting smile glimmers in the darkness, and a face swiftly comes into view.
Kalix.
Her haunting face isn’t hidden this time, hoping to fool me and pull me closer. Her true form is now entirely on display. Black hair clings to her face, and a desperate look paints it. She reaches for me, her hands now replaced by the claws of a creature of darkness.
“Back so soon?” she hisses.
Fear consumes me as I watch her approach. I’m frozen, unable to pull myself away from her gaze. She hoped this would happen, waiting for the chance for me to dive deep without direction. I open my mouth to scream, but nothing escapes my throat.
I won’t be trapped again.
Light. I need light.
I slowly push away the fear and whisperlight, repeating it over and over in an attempt to fool myself into believing that I can do this. Her expression shifts to one of confusion, and I feel the mist of shadows swirling around my hands quickly transform into small bursts of light, but it’s not enough. My Lumor Wielding is too weak to challenge her.
