Page 77 of Magical Melee

“I know that should mean something, but I haven’t known you long enough to believe it.” I let out a deep breath. “My daughter is my world.”

Frank nodded at me.

I was certain of it.

“I don’t know how else to say this, but if you don’t help us, Maeve. There is a lot more at stake than just our town.” Keegan’s voice edged with a tenderness I’d never heard from him before.

“You guys have a lot more faith in me than I do.” I shook my head. “Why would you want someone who didn’t even know magic existed two weeks ago to help in any way whatsoever?”

“Because Stonewick’s tradition has always been to embrace experience and age over most things. The one time we didn’t do that, our town fell.” Nova’s lips twitched, though her eyes remained serious.

“I’m not following.” I glanced at Stella. “I just watched her ignite flames that extinguished immediately. She filled a room with a wicked glow. That,” My hands ran in circles, “was very helpful a few minutes ago. I can’t do that. I can’t do anything but lodge a teapot at someone.”

“In our world, life experience often outweighs magical smarts. Sure. Books can teach spells, symbols, and the history of the magical fold,” Stella explained. “But it’s life’s challenges that forge true magical resilience. It’s what teaches us how to use magic correctly.”

Nova nodded and took a seat at one of the tables. “It’s true. A spell’s complexity pales in comparison to the ability to navigate the gray areas of good and bad. Your life experience sharpens instincts and hones your intuition.” She smiled kindly and let out a sigh. “It builds the courage you need to act when the stakes are high, but a certain maturity gives us the compassion to step back when our skills aren’t what’s required. We can remove our ego.” She glanced at Keegan. “Or at least many of us can.”

I chuckled and shook my head to see Keegan roll his eyes.

“Magic isn’t just about reciting ancient incantations. It’s about understanding the flow of energy, the weight of choices, and the balance of power. Without real-world experience, even the most knowledgeable practitioner falters when it matters most. That’s why we need someone with true life experiences to lead,” Stella explained.

“And the correct bloodline,” Keegan added.

I let the words simmer for a few seconds.

“What if I don’t want any part of this?” I asked, my voice cracking. “What if I just want to go back to my normal, boringlife? You know, I got a lot of satisfaction out of potato crisps in recent months.”

“I know this is a lot, Maeve. I do.” Keegan’s gaze was steady and unyielding. “But truthfully, you don’t have a choice. Gideon won’t stop until he gets what he wants. And right now, what he wants is you.”

Before I could respond, Ember reappeared in the doorway, her expression grim. “The perimeter’s clear, but there’s residual energies clogging up our defenses. They left in a hurry, but they’ll be back.”

Nova nodded with tense shoulders. “Then we need to move quickly. Maeve, you need to learn how to shield yourself. If Gideon can reach you in your dreams, he can manipulate you in ways you won’t even notice or see coming.”

I stared at her. “And you can teach me how to stop that? Stop him?”

“Yes,” Nova said firmly. “But it won’t be easy. You’ll need to trust us.”

I glanced at Stella, who gave me a reassuring smile. “You’ve got this, Maeve. You’re stronger than you think.”

Frank barked softly at my feet, his small but sturdy presence grounding me.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

“Okay,” I said finally. “Let’s do this.”

Nova smiled, and a hint of pride filled her eyes. “Good. The first step is understanding your own power. Once you do that, Gideon won’t stand a chance.”

Keegan stepped forward slowly, keeping his eyes fastened to me. “But you have to be ready for anything. Gideon plays dirty, and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

“Great,” I muttered. “No pressure or anything.”

Ember chuckled, her voice low and sharp. “Welcome to the fight, Maeve. It’s about to get interesting.”

As the weight of their words settled over me, I felt a strange mix of fear and determination.

I didn’t know what the future held, but one thing was certain: I wasn’t going to let Gideon win. Not without a fight.

The truth was that I didn’t understand what was so important about keeping Stonewick standing, but I knew in time, I would.