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As Ren trailed off, she realized her hands were shaking. It felt like she was completely alone—maybe even losing her mind—until Cora spoke up.

“My memory was altered too. It’s exactly how you described. There’s someone lurking in the shadows.”

“You’re sure?” Ren asked.

“Yes, because I was alone when my memory happened too. There was no one else. Everyone had left for the day. They’d left me behind and there was no one to help me. But it’s like you said. These last two nights someone’s with me in the dream. Damn. That’s terrifying.”

Ren’s eyes swung to Timmons. Her friend nodded.

“I didn’t notice. I’m sorry. It’s a horrible memory. I hate everything about it. So I wasn’t, like, trying to look for the details or anything. I’ll pay attention. If it happens again.”

Theo shook his head. “I had the nightmares, but nothing like that. There wasn’t anything strange about it at all. It was just a memory.”

“Of what?” Ren asked without thinking.

That earned her sideways glances from the rest of the group. Theo lifted his chin ever so slightly before answering. “I must have missed the part where everyone else talked about what happened in their worst, most personal memories. Would you like to go first?”

She considered sniping back at him but realized from the look that Timmons was giving that she’d gone too far already. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Let’s talk about what matters. Cora: This has to be Clyde, right?”

Cora nodded. “The timing aligns with his attack the other day. It also links to another mythological understanding of revenants. I’ve read that they feed off fear. I didn’t mention it the other day because…” She shrugged. “You were all so panicked already. But that’s one of the basic tenets from all the old stories. They enjoy fear, guilt, pain. It tastes good to them. Which means it would make sense that Clyde wants our minds preoccupied with nightmares.”

Now Theo objected. “Actually, none of that makes sense. Your theory is that he’s forcing us to dream something? I mean… he’d have to be outside camp each night, hitting us each with individual spells. Why not just attack us if that was the case? What you’re describing is a passive, ongoing spell. Magic that doesn’t even require proximity to maintain? That’s nearly impossible. Not to mention, the mind is guarded by some really strong, innate magic. It isn’t easy to force your will on someone else. There are trained manipulators who spend years trying to plant a single thought in someone’s mind. I don’t see how Clyde could tamper with our dreams. Let alone be in the dreams.”

Cora had an answer ready. “Think about Clyde’s genesis. The moment of creation is very significant for a revenant. All of us were present when he was born. Inside the waxways.”

That was a detail Ren hadn’t considered. A monster born in an instable environment, surrounded by untapped power. It had been easy to dismiss him as a creature of baser instincts. Terrifying, of course, but one that could be beaten if they’d simply been prepared the first time around. Maybe she’d been underestimating him. And that was always a dangerous thing to do.

“… the waxway passages are a tool that our people use but don’t fully understand,” Cora was saying. “It’s like a hammer that decides it wants to hit back sometimes. I find it very likely that our minds were particularly vulnerable. Drawn in by the maelstrom of power that was devouring Clyde. It’s quite possible that we are linked to him. Beyond the fact that we’re his prey.”

“Which is my next point,” Ren said, trying not to sound too excited. “I know what happened to Avy. I figured out how Clyde’s magic works.”

Theo almost rolled his eyes. “There’s no way you could know that.”

“It’s a reversal of the theory of functional opposition.”

Ren found it rather pleasing to watch Theo open his mouth, an objection on his tongue, only to snap it shut again when he realized how far out of his depth he really was. Cora nodded slowly. Timmons made the gesture she always made when Ren baited information. A little wave of the hand that meant, out with the rest of it.

“The theory states that mind-based spells can limit, if not completely halt, the functionality of the physical body. Manipulators are a great example. They’re completely motionless while casting. We had one visit as a guest speaker for our Logistical Physics class; it’s really creepy. They don’t move, they don’t breathe, they don’t blink. Because the entirety of the mind is engaged in the spell.”

Timmons sighed. “Is this the part where I ask you what it all means?”

“Yes, please.”

Another sigh. “What does it all mean?”

“It means that Clyde reversed that process. He pulled Avy into his worst memory. It’s clever magic, really. If Avy was fully there, he couldn’t be here. His mind was so engaged by the dream that his physical body was left completely incapacitated. Which explains why he didn’t resist. He didn’t fight back, because his mind was elsewhere.”

Theo nodded. “I guess that makes sense.”

Ren considered kicking him in the shin again. “Yeah, I know it makes sense. Seriously? I don’t need you to tell me that it makes sense.”

Timmons smacked Ren’s arm. “Calm down, textbook. None of us have coffee or tea out here. It’s still a little early for magical theory. How about we eat? And then you can tell us how we beat… a reverse version…”

“… of functional opposition theory,” Ren finished. “And you’re right. Sorry. I was just excited that I figured it out. There are a few wards that should work if we encounter him again. Maybe focal point shields? Or a layered retreating ward? That’s probably our best bet. I’ve got a few ideas, but let’s eat first. Today’s hike might be a little harder than yesterday’s.”

She eyed the distant hills, hoping she was wrong.

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