Page 8 of Magical Mischief

I smiled as we walked the last bit.

Finally, we reached the heavy wooden hatch above. I hesitated momentarily before pushing it open.

The cool winter air rushed in like a promise of freedom.

I stepped out first and stumbled over my foot as I blinked to adjust to the moonlight above.

Behind me, Bella emerged gracefully from the tunnel, her eyes shining with quiet determination.

Of course, she looked radiant, with her golden hair shimmering with copper and bronze highlights from the moonlight.

Together, we paused, taking in the breathtaking expanse of the grounds while the world welcomed us with a tranquil hush.

A distant murmur of wind rushed through frost-laden pines, and a palpable sense of ancient magic pulsed beneath the surface as frozen limbs crackled from the ice.

An exhilarating mix of hope and resolve swept through me. Something about having someone else step inside the Academy with me changed the dynamics and made it feel less daunting and isolated.

Bella and I quietly walked along the snow-dusted path toward the towering, ancient doors of the Academy.

The gnarled branches overhead, slithering vines, and glittering foliage were as beautiful as the first day I saw them.

As each step echoed softly in the hush of the winter night, I couldn’t shake the anxious thoughts that danced at the edge of my mind.

Would I be able to find what I was looking for quickly, or would Gideon discard my dad before I could even try to bring him home?

But Keegan’s spell sounded the most hopeful, and it had to be on the pages of one of these books. I only prayed the book sprites would know what I needed.

Bella walked beside me, her graceful, almost ethereal steps a comforting contrast to my jittery pace.

Her eyes shone with a playful light that belied the seriousness of our mission.

Foxes were quite mischievous. That was becoming more apparent with each minute I spent with her, but there was also something else.

As I looked at the Academy ahead, I wasn’t entirely sure if I should share with Grandma Elira the full weight of everything that happened with Malore and my dad, her son.

She thought her son had passed years ago. The thought of letting her know he was alive but then taken seemed cruel.

My heart twisted at the thought of burdening her further, especially since she was my only true family at the Academy.

And yet, the secret was too heavy to keep locked away forever.

I remembered the gentle cadence of Grandma Elira’s voice when she’d first spoken to me about the strange magic that coursed through Stonewick. The magic now felt both protective and perilous. My mind flickered with images of her wise, steady eyes and soft laughter, even as I steeled myself to face the unknown.

She was strong enough.

I needed to tell her.

The towering doors of the Academy loomed before us, ancient and formidable, etched with runes that pulsed faintly with magic. My fingers gripped my wand so tightly in my pocket that the cool wood pressed into my palm. Every inch of my being was charged with the promise of enigmas waitingto be unraveled and secrets lurking in the hallowed Academy’s shadows.

As we approached, I heard the hum of magic as it strained to protect the Academy’s sanctum.

I glanced at Bella. Her eyes held a mischievous glint even in this moment of uncertainty. It was something I had to get used to. Some creatures were always cynical, some were positive, and others were just…mischievous.

From my reading, foxes couldn’t help but find themselves between wonder, mischief, and curiosity daily.

She smiled reassuringly. “Trust me, Maeve. You won’t get trapped in the perils of time.”

“Thank you.” I nodded, but my heart fluttered nervously with every step closer to the door. I wasn’t as worried about time slipping away as I was about her getting blown away.