Outside the Cage – The Academy
Alarms rang out.
The professors were thrown from their seats as the shockwave slammed into the academy walls. Arcs of lightning crackled through the sky, magic shimmering like a storm.
Professor Laurion gritted his teeth. "What is that explosion—it's like something is collapsing!"
Professor Vaughn was already running toward the gates. "I think something is broken."
Students ran out to the balconies, shielding their eyes from the blinding flash that lit up the forest in the distance.
Jeremiah stood frozen, heart pounding. "That's them. It's them!"
Rey Vien clenched the rail, jaw tight. "Let's go now!"
"NO!" Professor Valcroft shouted, stepping in their way. "It's not stable! The magical barrier is still fluctuating...if you enter now, you'll be caught in the rupture!"
Celsy dropped to her knees, eyes filled with tears. "Please… let them come out… please…"
Keisha stood still, whispering to herself, "You're strong, Guys. They are stronger than this."
The earth rumbled one final time.
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The forest behind them groaned like a dying beast. Trees warped and cracked, the air shimmered with residual magic, and debris rained from above.
"Keep running!" Khierra shouted, her voice hoarse, the fire in her veins still burning from earlier. She pushed herself forward, brushing branches aside as the woods seemed to close in behind them.
Ayra clutched her side, breath ragged, but her steps were steady. "It's… collapsing behind us!"
Winter, running just behind them, looked back once. The sky inside the forest was warping again—dark clouds swirling in unnatural patterns, light bending strangely. "We don't have long!" she cried. "We need to make it past the boundary before it seals again!"
Roots cracked from the ground trying to snag their feet, but Khierra flung a burst of fire behind her, scorching a path clear. Ayra extended her hand and caused the earth to rise beneath their feet—creating a short slope they used to leap over a collapsed section of woods.
They saw it ahead—a sliver of light between trees.
"The edge!" Winter yelled.
They pushed harder. The boundary rippled like water—still unstable, flashing violently. It was now or never.
Ayra stumbled, but Khierra caught her arm. "No one's getting left behind."
Together, they broke into the clearing.
As soon as their feet hit the grass beyond the cursed woods, the world behind them let out one final roar and collapsed inward—like the forest swallowed itself whole. The explosion of wind knocked them forward, sending them tumbling to the ground.
They lay there, gasping, staring up at the sky.
Blue.
Clear.
Real.
"We… we made it…" Khierra whispered, laughing breathlessly.
Winter rolled over, smiling through the tears in her eyes. "We're out."
Ayra pressed her hand into the grass, gripping the earth tightly, as if anchoring herself to reality. "We're free."
The forest had gone still too still.
Wind brushed across the open field as the three girls lay catching their breath, staring at the blue sky above them. Relief washed over them in heavy waves… until Khierra sat up abruptly.
"Ynah," she whispered.
Winter blinked, her chest still heaving. "Yeah… she's right…" Her words trailed off.
She looked to her left.
Then her right.
Ayra's eyes widened in horror. "She...she's not with us?"
Khierra scrambled to her feet, eyes scanning the woods. "She was right behind me. She was right there!"
"No…" Winter muttered, turning back toward the forest's twisted edge. "She must've been still inside when it closed."
The three froze.
"No, no no no " Khierra shouted, stepping toward the collapsing trees. "YNAH!"
She sent a stream of flame into the woods, trying to force the boundary open again but it only crackled and sparked against the residual void.
Winter clenched her fists, her voice low and shaking. "The cage it didn't release all of us. She must've gotten separated at the last second."
Ayra looked back and forth between them, panic rising in her throat. "We can't leave her."
"We're not," Khierra growled, eyes blazing.
But the barrier shimmered once more… and sealed completely.
Behind them, torches flickered professors and students were almost there. But all Khierra could do was stare into the forest, her fists tight at her sides, heart pounding in helpless rage.
"Hold on, Ynah," Winter whispered, eyes cold and determined. "We're coming back for you."