Page 29 of Magical Melee (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #1)

Twobble leaned in close with glowing eyes. I sensed far too much enthusiasm for this time of night. “Maeve, before we embark on this little adventure, I’ve got a secret. Something that’s going to make our lives so much easier.”

I narrowed my eyes, realizing he’d already ignored the no-talking rule. “A secret? Why do I feel like this is going to be trouble?”

He clutched his chest as if I’d punched him. “Trouble? Maeve, I’m offended. This is the opposite of trouble. This is brilliance. Efficiency! A true goblin innovation.”

I crossed my arms, not entirely convinced. “Alright, spill it.”

Twobble glanced dramatically as if something was about to jump on us even though we were on the roof.

In a conspiratorial whisper, he said, “There’s a tunnel. Many of them, in fact.”

I blinked. “A tunnel?”

“Tunnels.” He nodded enthusiastically. “A direct route to the Academy Gardens. No need for those pesky magical alleyways or waiting for the Academy to open its doors like some moody recluse. We can bypass all of that. I mean, it might still blow you out of town once you surface and attempt to gain entrance, but there’s only one way to know.”

I chuckled. “Thanks for the encouragement.”

“Well, I mean, we’re all adults. You know the risks.”

I stared at him as a mix of curiosity and suspicion swirled in my chest. “Why am I only hearing about these tunnels now?”

“Well,” Twobble said, scratching the back of his bald head, “it’s sort of a goblin thing. We’re not supposed to share it with outsiders. But you’re different, Maeve. You’re one of us now—or close enough. You certainly share our taste in style.”

I scowled at him.

“Telling you this too soon wouldn’t do anything for you.” He shrugged. “You’re given the information when you’re ready for it. It’s always worked that way. Just like this.”

“Since when did you decide to tell me?”

“Since you saw the library.”

My eyes focused on the little goblin man in front of me. “How do you know about that?”

“I snuck down when you were busy giving your ex salutations of a sort.” His toothy grin widened. “Nice work, though. It definitely got under his skin.”

I chuckled. “Twobble, what am I going to do with you?”

“Just don’t love me and leave me, Maeve. My heart couldn’t take it.” He patted his chest with a chuckle. “Is that why you’re trying to break into the Academy? Because you saw it in the pedestal?”

“I’m not breaking in.”

“What are you talking about? This is very much the definition of breaking and entering.” He hopped off the roof and looked up at me. “So, are you ready?”

I grumbled under my breath.

“What was that?” He touched his oversized ear.

“And this tunnel,” I said slowly, “it’s safe?”

“Of course!” Twobble said a little too quickly. “Well, mostly. I mean, as long as you don’t touch the goblin gold or step on the squeaky stones, you’ll be fine.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Squeaky stones? Goblin gold?”

“Minor details,” he said, waving a clawed hand. “The point is, it’ll get us there without any magical fanfare. No one will even know we’ve gone.”

I chewed on my lip, torn. On the one hand, the idea of a secret tunnel to the Academy gardens was tempting—no more waiting, no more mysterious watchers. On the other hand, trusting Twobble with something this important felt like a gamble.

“You’re sure about this?” I asked, my voice softening. “I need to know I can trust you, Twobble.”

His expression shifted into a disgruntled expression.

“Maeve, I know I joke around a lot, but I wouldn’t lead you into something dangerous. Not without a good reason, anyway. You’ve got this pull to the Academy, and I get it. I’m just trying to help with nothing more than a shortcut. My job is to watch over this cottage. This cottage’s job is to be a strong ward protecting Stonewick. Stonewick is waiting for the Academy to open. And by all accounts, you seem to have something to do with all the above. So, I’ll do my best when I can.”

I studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

Twobble beamed, clapping his hands together. “Excellent choice! Follow me, adventurer. The secret tunnel awaits!”

I slid off the roof with my feet dangling and plopped to the land below.

With a mix of nerves and excitement, I hoped I hadn’t just signed up for a one-way trip to disaster.

Twobble led the way across the moonlit yard. His small frame darted through the shadows with an energy that seemed boundless.

I followed close behind, but my nerves singed with anticipation. We stopped before a garden shed, and I glanced around the woods. The weathered wood glowed faintly under the soft light of the crescent moon.

“This,” Twobble said, gesturing dramatically to the shed, “is our gateway to greatness.”

“Looks like a regular old shed to me,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

He grinned. “That’s the beauty of it. The best secrets hide in plain sight.”

Twobble pulled open the creaky door. The cluttered interior, packed with garden tools, bags of soil, and a rusty wheelbarrow, made me feel even less certain about this bright idea. He stepped inside, waving me in. “Come on, don’t be shy.”

I hesitated for a moment and went for it. The smell of earth and old wood surrounded me as Twobble began shuffling through the clutter. With surprising strength for his size, he dragged a heavy bag of mulch aside, then carefully moved a collection of rakes and shovels.

“There we go,” he said, dusting off his hands. “Behold!”

Nestled beneath the tools was a small iron hatch. It was round, with intricate carvings etched around the edges, faintly glowing in the dim light.

“A hatch?” I asked, tilting my head. “You’re full of surprises, Twobble.”

“Only the best kind,” he said with a wink. He grabbed the handle and gave it a firm tug, revealing a dark tunnel that stretched downward.

“After you,” he said, gesturing with a flourish. “But remember, goblin gold isn’t to be trifled with.”

I froze and glanced at him. “How will I know what it looks like?”

His little hands waved in the air. “Can’t miss it.”

I peered into the opening, a mix of excitement and apprehension churning in my stomach. Just as I placed a foot on the ladder's first rung, a familiar voice rang out behind me.

“And here I thought I was the adventurous one.”

I stilled, glancing up to see Stella standing at the edge of the shed, her sparkly coat catching the moonlight. She was beaming, hands on her hips, looking every bit like she’d caught us sneaking out past curfew.

“Stella,” I said, my voice tinged with guilt. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she said, crossing her arms. “But I’m guessing it involves that little hatch there.”

Twobble cleared his throat, stepping in. “Now, Stella, before you get any ideas, this is strictly a two-person operation.”

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Oh, don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to cramp your style. Besides,” she added with a wink, “someone’s got to stay behind to save your butts if you get into trouble. Do you know what Keegan would do if he swung by and you were missing, Maeve?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “You’re really okay with this?”

“Darling, if I weren’t, you wouldn’t have made it halfway across the yard,” Stella said, leaning against the shed. “Just promise me one thing: no touching glowing moss.”

“Is that the goblin’s gold?” I asked with wide eyes.

Stella smirked. “Sure is.”

Twobble and I exchanged a look, and I nodded. “Deal.”

With one last smile from Stella, I turned back to the hatch, my resolve firm. “Alright, Twobble. Let’s see where this tunnel leads.”

The air in the tunnel was cool and slightly damp, carrying with it the earthy scent of soil and stone. Twobble easily descended the ladder. His small feet barely made a sound on the rungs. He closed the iron hatch with a soft thud above us. The faint glow from the carved symbols on the hatch provided just enough light to see as we reached the tunnel floor.

As I spun around, I saw a softly glowing patchwork in the direction of several different tunnels.

“Welcome to our secret passages,” Twobble said, spreading his arms wide. “Tunnels like this crisscross Stonewick, but this one? This one’s special.” He pointed straight ahead.

“Special, how?” I asked, my voice echoing slightly.

Twobble grinned. “You’ll see.”

We moved forward, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I began to notice the details. The walls of the tunnel were lined with thick roots that twisted and tangled like ancient veins.

I moved closer to the patches of moss that clung to the stones, glowing softly in shades of green and blue. An ethereal light cast into the distance, and my heart hammered in my chest.

I was solely relying on a goblin.

“Glowing moss,” I murmured, reaching out to touch it. “So, this is goblin’s gold.”

Twobble slapped my hand away with surprising speed. “Ah, ah! No touching. That’s Rule Number One.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What happens if I touch it?”

“Let’s just say you’ll have glowing hands for days,” Twobble said, his grin widening. “Not to mention anything else on your body you might touch. Which is hilarious for me but probably not ideal for you.”

“Good to know,” I muttered, tucking my hands firmly into my pockets.

We continued down the tunnel, our footsteps echoing softly. The faint glow of the moss provided just enough light to make out the path ahead. The ground beneath us was uneven. The loose stones scattered across patches of soft dirt did little to help my sense of direction. Occasionally, I’d step on a stone that let out a loud, comical squeak .

Twobble chuckled every time it happened. “Squeaky stones,” he said. “Part of the charm, don’t you think?”

“Charming is one word for it,” I replied, carefully avoiding another stone that looked suspiciously like it would betray me.

“If only the mels understood just how our earth is trying to talk to us.” His slender shoulders lifted and dropped in defeat. “Everything is alive in one sense or another.”

I nodded sympathetically as we moved deeper into the tunnel. I noticed the air grew warmer, and the glowing moss became more vibrant, illuminating the space in surreal hues. Lavender and hot pink splashed against the dirt tunnels. The roots along the walls pulsed faintly, and small, delicate flowers bloomed in hidden crevices. Their petals shimmered like crystals. It reminded me of the hidden garden with Nova.

“Twobble, this place is incredible,” I said, marveling at the fantastical environment. “How long have these tunnels been here?”

“Longer than you’d think,” he said. “They’re part of Stonewick’s magic, a hidden network that connects key points in the town.”

I nodded, fascinated. The more I learned about Stonewick, the more I realized just how little I truly understood it.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught my eye. Something small and fast darted across the path ahead. The glowing moss briefly illuminated its form. It moved with an almost playful energy, bounding forward before disappearing into the shadows.

“Did you see that?” I asked, my voice rising with trepidation. “What was that?”

Twobble squinted ahead. “What did it look like?”

“It almost looked like a tiny deer.”

Twobble nodded solemnly. “Ah, yes. The elusive Tunnel Sprite.”

I gasped, my excitement growing. “Really? A Tunnel Sprite?”

I said it as if I knew what that actually meant. I had seen an illustration of one in a book, but this...wow.

“I can’t believe I got to see a Tunnel Sprite. This is so exciting. Are you serious?”

“No,” Twobble said flatly, his face breaking into a grin. “Maeve, it was a rat. You’re so gullible.”

My excitement deflated instantly.

“A rat?” I repeated, my voice tinged with disbelief. “Are you kidding me?”

“Dead serious,” Twobble said, laughing. “Though, to be fair, it’s a very nimble rat. Maybe it has dreams of being a dancer.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but laugh with him. “You could’ve let me believe it was something magical for a little longer.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Twobble asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Besides, not every creature in Stonewick is going to be some grand mystical beast. Sometimes, a rat is just a rat.”

We continued on, and the tunnel gradually sloped downward. It felt like we’d been walking for ages, but that was more the desperation of wanting to see the Academy than anything.

Despite the eerie atmosphere, I felt a strange sense of calm, as if the tunnel itself was guiding us toward our destination.

The path finally widened into a small cavern. Its ceiling turned high and arched like a cathedral. The glowing moss here was brighter, and in the center of the space stood a natural stone formation that looked like a table. On its surface were intricate carvings similar to the ones on the hatch above.

Twobble approached the formation and ran his fingers over the carvings. “This is a marker,” he explained. “It shows we’re on the right track.”

“What do the carvings mean?” I asked, stepping closer to get a better look.

“They’re directions of a sort,” Twobble said. “A map for those who know how to read them.”

“And you can read them?”

“Of course,” he said, puffing out his chest. “I’m a goblin of many talents.”

I smiled, watching as he traced the carvings with a practiced hand. Despite his playful demeanor, there was undeniable confidence in the way he navigated the tunnels. For all his jokes, Twobble knew what he was doing.

After a moment, he stepped back and pointed to a narrow passageway on the far side of the cavern. “That’s our route. The gardens are just ahead.”

My heart skipped a beat. “We’re close?”

“Very close,” Twobble said, his grin widening. “Ready to see what the Academy has in store for you?”

I nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves. “Let’s do this.”

“Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He winked at me, and a smile touched my lips.