Page 126 of Magical Melee

But Twobble was nowhere to be seen.

Panic set in.

That’s when the figure’s words came back to me:The Academy will guide you. Follow the path you took to enter, and the way will reveal itself.

It wasn’t just a poetic send-off—it was literal. The Academy knew the tunnel would be gone when I left. I was meant to find my way back on my own.

Taking a steadying breath, I started walking, retracing my steps through the twisting pathways of the garden.

The plants seemed to shift and part for me, guiding me forward. I wasn’t sure how, but I trusted the path would lead me where I needed to go.

It wasn’t long before I emerged from the garden into the familiar woods surrounding the cottage. But a cold chill ran down my spine when I stepped out from under the dense canopy.

Dark figures were perched high in the trees. Their forms were barely distinguishable from the gnarled branches.

They crouched like grotesque birds of prey with their long limbs twisted in unnatural angles. Their eyes glowed faintly like dying embers.

Shadowick’s forces had penetrated the property.

I froze as my heart pounded in my chest. The figures watched me in eerie silence. They tilted their heads slightly, observing my every move. Their presence made the air feel heavier, like the forest itself was weighted with anticipation.

It was so different than what I’d just experienced at the Academy.

The scene before me became even more surreal as I edged closer to the cottage. The garden surrounding the house was filled with the same dark figures.

Their silhouettes shifted like shadows, giving them a new form. They circled the cottage slowly and menacingly, waiting for the right moment to strike.

But they weren’t alone.

Above the cottage, a squadron of gargoyles filled the sky. My heart skipped a beat as I watched their stone wings slice through the air with a sound like grinding rock. Seeing them gave me the adrenaline I needed.

They swooped and dove with precision, driving back any dark figures that dared approach the cottage too closely. Their massive forms cast long shadows over the garden, and their claws gleamed in the daylight.

I watched in awe as one of the gargoyles let out a deafening roar, diving straight at a shadowy creature perched on a low branch. The creature leaped away just in time, vanishing into the trees, but the message was clear: the gargoyles were defending their territory, and they weren’t backing down.

“Keegan,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Stella. Nova.”

The woman had told me they were here, fighting to hold the line.

I had no time to waste.

Keeping low, I darted toward the cottage, my heart racing. The dark figures in the garden didn’t move. Instead, their glowing eyes tracked me like the predators they were. Perhapsthey hadn’t yet decided what to do with me—or perhaps they were waiting for Gideon.

As I reached the garden’s edge, one of the gargoyles swooped low, its massive wings stirring up a gust of wind, nearly knocking me off my feet. I ducked instinctively, realizing the gargoyle had chased away one of the shadowy creatures.

I couldn’t help but marvel at its sheer power.

And then I realized it was Karvey.

Up close, his stony skin was covered in intricate carvings, symbols that glowed faintly with a pale blue light. Karvey had looked so plain, and…now he was regal.

His sharp and unyielding gaze scanned the battlefield with fierce intelligence. These weren’t mindless protectors—they were warriors, as alive as any of us.

“Maeve!” a gruff voice called from the cottage.

I looked up to see Keegan standing in the doorway. His eyes were dark with determination.

“Get inside!” he shouted, beckoning me with a quick wave. “Now!”