Page 35 of Magical Melee (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #1)

A chaotic symphony of light, sound, and energy popped through the air.

Keegan fought beside me. His glowing sword with an unearthly green light brought me calm as he moved with precision, each strike purposeful and deadly.

A Shadowick mage appeared from the treeline. His long robe billowed as he conjured a swirling mass of dark energy.

With a guttural chant, he heaved the evil toward us.

I barely had time to react, raising my wand and releasing a burst of blue light. The two spells collided mid-air, sending a shockwave that knocked me back a step.

Keegan was already moving. He charged forward with his sword, cutting through the dissipating energy as he closed the distance between himself and the mage.

The Shadowick wizard raised his hands to cast again, but Keegan was faster. With a swift, upward slash, his blade cut through their protective barrier, the mage collapsing with a flash of dark light.

“Maeve, behind you!” Keegan’s shout snapped me back to attention.

I spun around just in time to see another mage step out of the shadows. His hands glowed with a fiery red light.

Without hesitation, I thrust my wand forward, the vibration of its power surging through my arm. A bolt of electric blue shot from the tip, striking the mage square in the chest. He stumbled as his spell faltered, and I followed up with another blast, sending him sprawling into the underbrush.

Keegan smirked as he stepped back to my side. “Not bad.”

“Not bad?” I shot him a quick grin. “You’re not the only one who can handle themselves, you know.”

He chuckled, but his expression quickly grew serious as another wave of dark figures emerged from the treeline.

Nova stood at the heart of the fray with her glowing staff releasing a fierce white light as she directed the gargoyles. They soared overhead, slamming into shadow creatures with such force they looked as if confetti had been released into the sky.

Nova raised her staff, and another brilliant arc of light shot toward a group of three wizards stomping toward her. The beam struck all three. The closest one disintegrated into nothing while the others spiraled out of control back into the woods.

The gargoyles didn’t hesitate, descending upon the fallen creatures with brutal efficiency. “Last of the wizards are nearly down!” Nova called, her voice cutting through the chaos.

“Nice work!” I shouted back, my adrenaline spiking as the tide of battle began to turn.

But even as we pushed the Shadowick forces back, my mind kept drifting to Twobble.

I hadn’t seen him since we parted at the tunnel, and the thought of him alone in the woods gnawed at me.

He might have been small, but he was scrappy—and stubborn. If anyone could handle themselves, it was Twobble.

Still, I couldn’t shake the worry.

A sudden roar from the woods snapped my attention forward. The remaining dark figures hesitated, their formation breaking as something massive stirred in the shadows.

The pines rustled violently, and then, out of the dense underbrush, an army of goblins burst onto the battlefield.

At their head, standing tall (well, as tall as a goblin could manage) was Twobble.

His wide eyes gleamed with determination. He clutched a small, sharp blade in one hand. His other hand gestured wildly as he barked orders, his voice carrying over the din like a seasoned general.

“Form up, you lot! Don’t let them flank us!” he shouted, his voice rough but commanding. “And for crying out loud, watch your step! No one likes a clumsy goblin!”

The goblin army moved with surprising discipline, their small but agile bodies weaving between the trees as they flanked the Shadowick forces. Twobble led them with a fierce determination, his blade flashing as he leaped into the fray. The little guys stopped to loot the lifeless bodies whenever possible, sticking to their goblin ways.

I couldn’t help but laugh, a mix of relief and awe bubbling up inside me. “Of course, he’s leading an army.”

Keegan followed my gaze, his eyes widening slightly. “Twobble brought reinforcements. They are what we call the clean-up crew.”

“And he’s bossing them around like he’s been doing it his whole life,” I said, shaking my head. “I love that little guy.”

The goblins attacked with ruthless efficiency, their small blades and crude weapons striking with precision. They swarmed the dark figures, overwhelming them with sheer numbers and tenacity. The Shadowick mages, clearly unprepared for the sudden onslaught, faltered under the relentless assault.

One mage turned to flee, but Twobble was on him instantly. Twobble leaped onto his back, wrapping his tiny arms around the mage’s neck as he dragged him to the ground.

“Not so fast!” he snarled, his blade flashing as he disarmed him swiftly.

The mage writhed beneath him, but Twobble didn’t let up.

“You picked the wrong cottage, buddy!” he growled before delivering a sharp blow that left the mage unconscious.

Keegan and I pushed forward, taking advantage of the confusion. I raised my wand, releasing a series of quick, precise blasts that struck the remaining wizards.

Keegan followed with his sword, cutting through their defenses with brutal efficiency.

The battle reached its crescendo as the combined forces of Stonewick drove the Shadowick invaders away. Dark smoke rolled through the woods as they attempted to portal off our land.

The air was thick with the smell of scorched earth and magic, and the ground was littered with the remnants of the enemy.

Finally, as the last of the dark figures retreated into the shadows, a heavy silence fell over the battlefield.

The gargoyles perched on the cottage roof with their stone eyes scanning the treeline for any signs of lingering threats. The gryphons were gone, their screeches replaced by the distant calls of crows.

Twobble stood at the edge of the clearing, his chest heaving with exertion. His goblin army gathered around him, their small faces alight with pride and exhaustion. He wiped a bit of dirt from his face and grinned.

“Well, that was fun,” he said, his voice rough but triumphant. “Anyone else hungry?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The tension in my chest finally began to ease. Keegan clapped me on the shoulder as his hazel eyes filled with admiration.

“You did good,” he said, his voice low and sincere.

I met his gaze, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the adrenaline.

“So did you,” I replied, my heart still racing. “It’s hard not to be impressed with your sword and all.”

He laughed and shook his head, and I felt that flutter of something I hadn’t felt for years.

As I looked around at the gathered defenders of Stonewick—the gargoyles, the goblins, the townsfolk who had risked everything to protect their home—I felt a deep sense of belonging.

I had chosen my friends over the power of the Academy, and for the first time, I knew without a doubt that I’d made the right decision.

The battlefield had fallen eerily quiet except for the occasional crackle of dissipating magic and the distant caws of returning gryphons.

“Keegan?” I asked. “We won, didn’t we?”

Keegan shook his head slowly, his expression grim. “This wasn’t the fight, Maeve. This was Gideon testing us.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Testing us?”

Keegan nodded. “Feeling out our defenses. Looking for weaknesses. That’s what Shadowick does—they probe, they prod, and then, when they’ve gathered enough information, they strike. This was only the beginning.”

My heart sank, quickly replaced by a gnawing dread. “So, this was just… practice for them?”

“And us.” Keegan’s gaze was steady. “Gideon wanted to see how strong we are. Next time, he won’t hold back.”

The weight of his words settled heavily on my shoulders. I glanced around at the others—Nova leaning on her staff, Stella tending to a wounded gargoyle, Twobble giving orders to his goblins like a seasoned general. They had fought so hard and risked everything. Yet, it was only a prelude to what was coming.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on my wand. “I chose to stay here, to fight with all of you instead of learning at the Academy. It was the right choice,” I said quietly. “But I have to get stronger. I can’t rely on luck and instinct forever.”

Keegan’s expression softened slightly, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “You’ll learn, Maeve. You’ve already come a long way in a short time.”

I gave a half-smile, though my mind was racing. The magic I’d witnessed today—the precision of Nova’s spells, the sheer force of Stella’s words, the calculated chaos of Twobble’s traps—was beyond anything I could dream of mastering. But I had to. They were counting on me.

And someday, I might need to protect Celeste.

Keegan sighed, his hand brushing the hilt of his sword. “It won’t be easy. There will be more battles, more losses before this ends.”

I frowned, my brow furrowing. “Before what ends?”

Keegan hesitated, his gaze flicking away for a moment. He looked like he’d just stepped into a trap he couldn’t escape from.

“Keegan,” I pressed. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly reluctant to continue. “There’s… a curse,” he began, but before he could elaborate, Ember appeared from the shadows, her usual playful demeanor tempered by urgency.

“I hate to break up the bonding session,” Ember said, her voice light but her eyes serious, “but we’ve got another problem.”

I turned. “What kind of problem?”

Ember glanced toward the cottage, her arms crossed. Things are… off.”

Stella looked up from her work, her expression sharp. “Off how?”

“The wards around the town’s perimeter,” Ember said, her voice dropping slightly. “They’re weakening. I saw cracks forming in the barriers near the market square. It’s like something’s pushing against them, trying to break through. Miora is doing a splendid job from the cottage, protecting and rebuilding it as best she can.”

Nova’s calm facade faltered for the first time, a flicker of concern crossing her face. “If the town’s wards fall, it won’t just be Shadowick coming for the Academy. Stonewick’s entire population will be vulnerable.”

Keegan muttered a curse under his breath, his grip on his sword tightening. “Gideon’s playing a long game. He’s testing more than just our strength—he’s testing our limits. And as long as the Academy stays closed, it won’t be easy.”

I felt a fresh wave of anxiety rising in my chest. “Isn’t there something we can do? Reinforce the wards, or—”

“We’ll have to,” Stella said, standing and brushing dirt from her hands. “But it won’t be easy. The wards were put in place generations ago, woven into the fabric of the town’s magic. If they’re failing now, it means whatever’s coming is stronger than anything we’ve faced before.”

Twobble sauntered over, his blade tucked into his belt and crossed his arms with a cocky grin. “Well, isn’t this just a lovely little disaster? Good thing I brought reinforcements.”

I managed a faint smile despite the tension. “You were incredible out there, Twobble. Where did you learn to lead like that?”

Twobble puffed out his chest, clearly enjoying the praise. “Goblins are natural-born leaders, Maeve. We just don’t brag about it. Much.”

Keegan snorted, his mood lightening ever so slightly. “Don’t let it go to your head, Twobble.”

“I make no promises,” Twobble replied, his grin widening.

Ember stepped closer to me, her gaze serious. “We’ll handle the wards, but you need to focus on your magic. You’ve got potential, Maeve, but potential won’t save us. You have to be ready.”

I nodded with my resolve hardening. “Then teach me. All of you. I’ll learn everything I can.”

“We will,” Nova said, her voice steady. “Together, we’ll face whatever comes.”

Keegan gave me a long, thoughtful look, then nodded. “You’re one of us now, Maeve. And we don’t give up, but the Academy might be where you’re needed. You have a choice to make.”