Page 131 of Magical Melee

“Okay,” I murmured, trying to steady my breathing. “This is… new.”

Before I could process anything further, a sudden, sharpcrackechoed from above.

A deep rumbling followed that shook the entire cottage. Dust rained down from the ceiling, and the cellar walls trembled with the force of the impact.

Frank barked wildly, his stance low and defensive as he stared up at the wooden beams overhead.

My heart pummeled in my chest.

“What the hell was that?” I muttered, gripping the wand tightly.

Another loud crack followed, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of something heavy slamming into the roof. The gryphons’ screeches outside grew more frantic, and the rhythmic beating of their wings became almost deafening.

“Stay here, Frank,” I said, my voice firmer now. “No arguments this time.”

Frank growled low in his throat, his eyes fixed on mine, but he didn’t move as I slowly climbed the cellar stairs, the wand still clutched tightly in my hand.

The cottage trembled slightly as I reached the top, and the sound of splintering wood echoed from the roof. Whatever was happening outside was escalating quickly. I stepped cautiously into the main room, my eyes darting toward the windows.Through the thick glass, I could see dark shapes flitting through the sky, their forms sharp and angular against the clouds.

The gargoyles were still fighting. Their roars mingled with the piercing cries of the gryphons as they dove and attacked the shadowy creatures surrounding the cottage.

But it was clear that the enemy’s numbers were growing. The dark figures in the trees had advanced. Their glowing eyes were now visible even from inside the house.

Another crack split the air, and a section of the roof near the fireplace shifted as a shower of debris crashed to the floor.

I shielded my face as a rush of cold air filled the room, followed by the sound of heavy, clawed footsteps landing on the wooden beams above.

They were inside the attic space.

The wand in my hand pulsed again, and the static charge that had been building within me surged, filling me with a sudden, fierce determination.

Whatever these creatures were, whatever Gideon had sent to finish us off, I wasn’t going to back down.

The crackling energy from the wand intensified, and I could feel it syncing with my heartbeat, each pulse a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this fight.

I looked around, realizing everyone had gone outside.

Maybe I was a little alone.

They were busy fighting while I was busy stumbling upon magical wands.

“Alright,” I said under my breath, gripping the wand tightly. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

But when I turned around, I nearly bumped into Ember.

She stood there, arms crossed, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips as if she’d been there all along, watching me stumble through this new magical chaos.

“Ember?” I gasped, stepping back instinctively. “How did you get here?”

Her smile widened, her eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and calm. “Perks of being a ghost.”

“Right. A ghost. You had mentioned that.” My voice came out a pitch higher than intended. I blinked, trying to process what I’d just heard again.

My mind could only handle so much at a time.

She tilted her head, her expression as casual as if we were discussing the weather. “That’s right.”

“But you—you just don’t look like a ghost. I’ll get used to it. I promise,” I stammered. My eyes scanned her from head to toe.