Page 123 of Magical Melee

I took another step, then another.

Each one felt like a small victory.

Take that, Alex.

A bitter taste flooded my mouth, and I chuckled, remembering the spell I’d done with Stella.

Would she even believe this was happening?

The Academy allowed me here. The vines started slipping back from where they came from before pushing toward me.

At first, they moved like curious tendrils. Their glowing leaves brushed against the ground as they reached for my feet. I froze as they coiled gently around my boots. Their touch was surprisingly gentle.

They weren’t aggressive. The vines didn’t pull or restrict my movement. Instead, they seemed to be studying me just like I was examining the door in front of me. Their glowing tendrils wrapped loosely around my ankles as if testing my resolve. I could feel a faint pulse through the vines, a rhythm that matched the hum in the air and the pounding of my heart.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm.

“Uh-oh.” Twobble’s voice echoed into the air.

I smiled, knowing he probably hadn’t emerged from the tunnel.

My hand hovered just inches from the latch on the door. The hum in the air grew louder, and for a moment, I felt as though the entire Academy was holding its breath, waiting for my next move.

Slowly, I pressed my palm against the cool wood again.

The symbols beneath my hand flared to life. Their glow intensified until it felt like the door was burning with energy. The sound shifted, becoming a low, rich tone that vibrated through my entire body. A dull ache surfaced along my birthmark.

The vines around my feet pulsed in time with the hum. It was as if the Academy was reading me, searching for something deep within.

My mind raced with questions.

Was I ready for this?

Was I worthy?

Or was I about to be thrown back down the steps in a blaze of magical rejection?

But the rejection never came.

Instead, the vines around my ankles began to loosen. They slowly uncoiled and retreated back toward the walls. Their glow dimmed slightly, their colors returning to a more subdued shimmer. The hum in the air softened, settling into a gentle, almost soothing vibration.

I pulled my hand away from the door, and without warning, the massive doors began to shift.

The hinges groaned softly as they parted, opening just wide enough to reveal a glimpse of the space beyond. The light from inside was soft and inviting, but I stepped back, half expecting the doors to close again.

But they remained open.

For a long moment, I stood there, my mind racing. The pull that had brought me here was stronger than ever, andthe energy urged me to step through those doors and into the unknown.

But now that I was here, the reality of what lay beyond was almost overwhelming. I thought of Celeste and Skye.

I didn’t want to leave anyone behind.

Glancing back down the steps, the safety of what I knew was just a few steps away.

But this was…exciting.

New.