“Thank you,” I said. “That’s very thoughtful.”
It was common sense to me, but to a scientist, I could see that Dr. Lewis was a bit more uncomfortable not being in a controlled environment. It was probably similar to how I felt making bread with Millie. A pinch? Whatsizepinch?
I was both relieved and grateful he’d listened to my feedback yesterday. It gave me hope that if he was willing to takesomething as small as working outside in nature into account, maybe we really could find a way to merge science and magic to create temporary, effective wards against the Darkest Lord.
“I’ve crafted several different crystal prototypes to try,” Dr. Lewis said. “I brought in an expert glassblower from Venice to help with the physical elements. Of course, that’s just for the actual structure; it’s all reinforced with magical measures. I know the originals were salt crystals, and I’m working on a way to incorporate salt, a more natural ingredient, into the design. I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“That all sounds promising.”
“I’ve tried different solutions for each crystal prototype to see what responds the best to your particular type of magic. I will be making notes and revising my plans as we go along. The glassblower is already working on more prototypes for the next phase of our experiment. Don’t lose heart if it doesn’t work this time.”
“That sounds great. It’s a complicated thing; I’m sure it will take a lot of trial and error. Just let me know how I can best help you.”
“I would like for you to start with the first crystal.” Dr. Lewis scurried forward, his wiry hair flopping in the slight breeze. “The slower you can funnel in your magic, the better. Think of the crystal like it needs a warm-up. If you go full speed right off the bat, it will surely break.”
I surveyed the crystal. Dr. Lewis had truly listened to my feedback after last time. There was no stand this time, no bedazzled exterior. The crystal was a sphere, simple and beautiful, the glassblowing work exquisite.
It wasn’t the same as the crystal wards I’d destroyed, but maybe instead of searching for sameness, we needed to search for newness. The likelihood of us making an exact replica ofsomething we knew nothing about was slim. The likelihood of us creating something new that functioned for us was much higher.
“I’ll need time and space,” I said. “And quiet, if possible.”
Dr. Lewis quickly backed away, moving to the edge of the clearing. He settled onto the grass, sitting and crossing his legs next to a box that most likely contained the other prototypes he’d brought along. He watched me, silent, as I settled into the grass.
I closed my eyes then, finding it ironic that I’d spent days mentally complaining about Seer Goddard’s lessons that had me sitting still and breathing. At the time, it had felt pointless, so slow, like such a weight of time. I’d felt miserable, hungry, and uncomfortable, stuck with millions of thoughts I didn’t want to have.
And yet now, those days seemed like a luxury. The time and space to sit and breathe. To contemplate. To not rush to the next event, a new meeting, a looming ceremony. The threat of annihilation via a spirit army.
Seer Goddard had truly given me a gift with his lessons. He’d taught me a way to center myself in chaos, to reconnect with nature when the rest of the world seemed to be going up in flames. As I sat in The Forest with my eyes closed, I could forget what else was going on in the world. I could feel, in a literal sense, the goodness that still existed—the life force thrumming through the earth, the ley lines feeding us with a bright power, the people who walked among them.
I could almost forget that Dr. Lewis was just a stone’s throw away. But he made that difficult. Seer Goddard moved in synchronicity with the earth: quietly, respectfully, so swiftly and silently I often didn’t know when he arrived or left. Meanwhile, Dr. Lewis moved like a robot. Clunky. Stiff. Snapping twigs. Breathing in uneven gulps. Twisting blades of grass around hisfingers. Shifting constantly. I could feel his nervous energy, his excitement, his need to move on with what we were doing.
I cracked one eye open. “Do you mind sitting still, please?”
He blinked. “I thought I was.”
“Never mind then. It’s fine.”
I retired to my practice, and after a long while of forcing out the distracting sounds around me, I was able to block everything else out and focus on my magic. I sent my tendrils of magic skittering into the ground. The ley lines were thin but strong here through The Forest; I could see them in my mind, white-blue veins running beneath the surface of the earth.
Gently tugging magic directly from the ley lines, I funneled them into the first crystal. There was a shortpop,and when I opened my eyes, I found the crystal had cracked in half.
“That’s okay.” Dr. Lewis scurried forward. “I figured that would happen. The first one was too solid. I used brute force and strength to try to build this one, and I didn’t think that would work. Your magic is finesse, natural. Try this one. I infused the interior with a potion from Lily.”
“You conferred with Lily?” I asked, surprised.
This news also made me hopeful. Lily was not only a powerhouse of magic on The Isle, but she understood this place inside and out. And though I’d only known her for a short while, I suspected she knew me about as well as anyone, except maybe Silas. If someone could bring together my magic, ward magic, and the essence of the island, it was probably her.
“She gave me a potion, which I’ve injected inside,” he said. “It contains familiar elements of The Isle—waters, sand, air, dirt. Bits and pieces of the people who live here.”
“Bits and pieces?” I squinted at the second crystal as he deposited it before me. “Of the people who live here?”
“The essence,” he said quickly. “There are no severed fingers inside there, for instance, if that’s what you’re asking.”
I took a long, deep breath and nodded again. When Dr. Lewis made no move to back away, I cleared my throat gently.
“Right, right, I’m hovering,” he muttered, now backing away. “Sorry.”
Dr. Lewis moved about ten paces away and leaned against a tree, clearly working on steadying his breathing. I couldn’t help but smile and appreciate the effort. Even if he still sounded like a bull in a china shop compared to Seer Goddard’s soundless movements.
