The forest loomed over them, dark, tangled, and seemingly endless. Shadows danced between the trees, and the wind carried whispers that neither of them dared to decipher. But amid the stillness, two figures moved swiftly through the undergrowth.
"Do you really know the way?" Ynah asked, her voice sharp and skeptical as she ducked beneath a low-hanging branch.
Sebastian glanced back, his messy hair tousled by the wind. "Of course I do," he said with a confident nod. "Trust me."
Ynah muttered something under her breath but didn't argue. She followed, though she lagged slightly behind...her injuries still fresh, each step a dull ache.
Noticing her struggle, Sebastian slowed his pace. Without a word, he reached back and took her hand gently in his.
Ynah froze for a moment, eyeing their joined hands like it had personally offended her. "What… are you doing?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
He didn't answer immediately, just smirked, casually turning forward again. "You might get lost again," he said teasingly.
Ynah scoffed, rolling her eyes hard. "I'm not a damsel in distress, you know."
Sebastian didn't let go. In fact, he tightened his grip ever so slightly. "You look like one to me," he joked, throwing her a sideways glance.
Ynah opened her mouth to protest, but found no words. Instead, she let him lead the way, their hands still intertwined as the forest slowly began to thin and light crept in through the trees.
For once, she didn't pull away.
--------
Outside the edge of the cursed forest, tension hung thick in the air. The professors and students had gathered, forming a circle of worry and anticipation. Professor Valcroft paced slowly, his brows furrowed, voice low but firm.
"I've asked one of the Beta students, someone who's knowledgeable about magical barriers," he said. "She should be arriving any minute."
Everyone nodded, silently praying that something, anything could be done.
Winter's gaze swept across the crowd, taking in the familiar faces. But as she counted, something gnawed at her. Someone's missing.
She turned to Rey Vien. "Where's Ella?"
Rey Vien stiffened slightly, his expression shifting. He hesitated, then coughed before answering. "When the other Alphas came back... Ella was unconscious. Carl carried her back to the academy."
Winter's heart skipped a beat. "She's unconscious? What happened to her?"
"We don't know," Rey replied, his voice low. "Carl said he just found her like that lying in the woods, unconscious. She hasn't woken up since."
Winter stood in silence, her mind racing. Ella… what happened to you?
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone emerged from the forest path hooded, cloaked in a way that made her blood freeze.
Her breath caught.
No one can enter the forest…
Without thinking, she ran forward, her boots crunching against the grass. "Wait!"
She reached out and grabbed the edge of the hood, only for the man to turn around.
It was not who she expected.
"Ms. Winter," the man said sternly. "What is the meaning of this?"
Winter stepped back quickly, realizing her mistake. "I'm sorry, Professor Yake... I thought you were someone else," she said with a low bow of her head.
Professor Yake narrowed his eyes, then nodded stiffly and walked past her.
Winter's heart was still racing. But I swear... what I saw wasn't a professor.
A gentle hand rested on her shoulder. She turned around...Micko was there, his face etched with concern.
"Why did you suddenly run off?" he asked.
Winter forced a small smile. "Nothing... just thought I saw something."
Before Micko could press further, another professor appeared, a girl trailing behind him with quiet confidence.
"This is Elizabeth Clifton," the professor announced. "A Beta student with a high aptitude for barrier analysis."
Elizabeth bowed politely to the gathered professors, then stepped forward and placed her hand against the invisible wall that separated them from the forest.
All eyes were on her now. The silence was heavy.
Elizabeth placed her hand gently against the barrier. A soft hum resonated from the invisible wall, vibrating faintly beneath her palm. Her eyes closed as she concentrated, whispering an incantation only she could understand.
Moments later, she turned to face the crowd. Her expression was grim.
"This is a high-type ancient barrier," she explained. "It was created thousands of years ago to protect this forest from foreign or dangerous energies. The moment the forest sensed something powerful and potentially destructive within its bounds… it activated this defense mechanism."
A silence settled among the professors.
Professor Vaughn crossed his arms, deep in thought. Then he spoke, "Then we'll just have to let the forest know the danger is gone. If it can sense threat, it can also sense peace."
Elizabeth nodded. "I can try casting a reversal barrier spell, but I'll need two things, someone who can communicate directly with the forest… and a source of powerful energy."
The professors glanced around. Then everyone's eyes landed on Aella.
Leslie stepped forward. "Aella… you're the Princess of Terragaia. You can speak to plants and nature, can't you?"
Aella nodded quietly, stepping into the center of the group with a steady breath. "Okay… I'll try."
Elizabeth turned to her with a hopeful smile, then looked back at the rest. "Now we need a surge of energy, strong enough to power the reversal."
Professor Vaughn's gaze shifted. "Micko," he said. "You can create anything you visualize… and I've seen you manipulate raw energy with nothing but your thoughts, help your friends."
Micko stepped forward, eyes serious.
Elizabeth gave a small nod. "I'll need to hold your hand to transfer the energy into the barrier," she said gently.
Micko hesitated only for a second before taking her hand.
Winter stood at the back, watching. Her chest tightened at the sight of their joined hands, her jaw clenching slightly. Why does it hurt to see them like that?
Elizabeth began to chant. Aella walked closer to the edge of the forest, her voice calm and melodious as she spoke, not to the people, but to the forest itself.
"My friends… it's okay now," she whispered. "No one will hurt you. We're sorry for bringing danger into your home, but I promise… the threat is gone. Please, rest now. You are safe."
The wind stirred, soft at first, then strong, rushing through the trees as if responding to her. The leaves shimmered with energy. It was like the forest breathed.
A moment later, the barrier's glow began to dim. The magical tension in the air dropped, the vibration slowing.
With one final push from Elizabeth and Micko's energy, the barrier pulsed once… and shattered like glass, melting into golden particles before vanishing entirely.
Cheers broke out around them.
The forest had released them. The path was open.
But Winter stood still, her eyes fixed on Micko and Elizabeth's intertwined hands, even as the celebration echoed around her.
She didn't say a word.
But the storm behind her blue eyes said it all.