Page 12 of Sun and Stone (Elementally Yours #5)
12. Goodnight Moon Magic
Fynn and I are almost ready to put this saga with his malfunctioning powers to bed. First, I need to find him.
“Where the hell am I going? Am I almost there?”
“Perry?”
“Fynn! There you are—ah, tree!”
Stumbling around outside in this dark park is filled with perils. With my magic activated, I sense and avoid any rock and stone obstacles.
The tree, however, I never see coming.
"Ow! You bastard."
"It's a tree."
"You tree… bastard…."
"Are you okay?"
“Am I dead? Isn’t there supposed to be a light at the end of the tunnel?” I wander in the dark towards Fynn’s voice. I gingerly touch my head when I finally find him. “Is there a giant bruise?”
“I think you’re being dramatic. It’s not even that dark.”
Smacking into the tree headfirst was a nasty surprise. Who knew that the dark would become such a nemesis? Good thing I'll have Fynn around to light things up.
Once I get myself together after the tree attack, we start preparing for the ritual. A ritual that will cleanse any lingering night energy, along with negative energy, and help Fynn reaffirm his connection to the sun in all the ways. Spiritually, emotionally, magically, all that good stuff.
He's on board with the ritual. However, Fynn looks unimpressed when he sees the object in my hands.
“A dreamcatcher, really?” He arches an eyebrow.
“Thought it fit.” Looking up, the sky is already a few shades lighter. Better get started so we’re ready for sunrise. “Are you ready?”
“Let’s do this.”
An inverted suncatcher caused his problems, so we'll use a dreamcatcher to absorb any remaining night magic… Okay, it's a little on the nose. I couldn't resist.
I touch the polished rock pendant around my neck, feeling the familiar magic imbued within it. Closing my eyes, I reach out with my senses, feeling the earth beneath my feet. There are stones and rocks throughout the park that will serve our purposes.
Slowly, I begin to draw them in. "Help us out here," I say, beckoning. "Come to me."
Some arrive immediately and others take longer, swirling and dancing through the air as they answer my call. I direct each stone, forming two overlapping circles on the grass.
The ritual space is now marked, the boundaries defined. I step into the center where the circles overlap. I'll channel and direct the energy from here.
The sky is starting to lighten, the first golden rays of dawn peeking over the horizon. We begin the magical cleansing ritual. Fynn stands within one of the stone circles, his gaze fixed upon the waning crescent moon above.
"I release the night's energy," he declares.
I let my magic flow, reaching out to intertwine with his. Our energies mesh, and I direct the residual moon magic leaving him into the waiting dream catcher at his feet.
The reeds bend and sway as the magic gathers, the colorful feathers shimmering in the glowing silvery light that starts emanating from the dreamcatcher.
A deep, shuddering exhale escapes Fynn's lips, and it looks like a great weight has lifted off his shoulders. So full of brightness, he isn't suited to carrying night energy in him. I'm glad I can help free him.
Fynn steps into the center of the overlapping circles, joining me. Face to face, there isn't much room between us here in the space between the two circles. With just a little more light, I'd be able to see the green in his eyes up close.
"Well, isn't this cozy," I joke.
Fynn gives me a wry smile. "Focus, Per."
Right, time to get to work. We'll have plenty of time to get up close and personal later. I reach into the worn leather pouch at my side and withdraw a bundle of fragrant, dried sage. The earthy, slightly sweet scent fills the air as I begin to carefully cleanse and purify Fynn, waving the smoldering herbs around his body.
Fynn moves to the other circle, facing east towards the rising sun. The sky is painted in hues of orange and pink as the sun rises, its rays reaching out to caress the earth.
"I embrace the sun. Light, come to me," Fynn declares.
The sun's light seems to intensify, shining down upon Fynn more than any other surroundings. It fades quickly, but then a soft, radiant glow begins to emerge from Fynn's body.
It's mesmerizing to watch, like watching a candle flame flicker to life. The glow grows brighter with each passing moment, casting a warm light across the ritual space.
I can't tear my eyes away. Fynn is glowing, the light reflecting off his skin and hair, making him look almost angelic. He's breathtaking. The mystery and shadow of moon magic didn't suit him. Bright and lit up like this is how he should be.
"It worked," he says, a joyful smile spreading across his face. All traces of the moon's pull have been erased, and he stands tall, basking in the sun's radiance, his connection to day magic renewed.
No wonder I call him honey. He looks so sweet. I wish I could take a taste while he's still glowing faintly. Would he taste even sweeter than normal?
But we need to finish what we started. We conclude the ritual, and even though the light around him fades, he still watches me with a soft smile on his face. I can't look away, utterly captivated by the sight of him.
"Perry, thank you," he says. "For everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Before I can respond, he steps closer, invading my personal space. Whoa, he's like a furnace and I can feel the heat radiating off his skin, the sun's power infusing every inch of him. Yet when his hand reaches up to gently cup my cheek, the heat of his touch is pleasant and welcoming, like a ray of sunshine on a nice day.
"You've made this possible," he murmurs, his thumb caressing my skin. "I don't know how to thank you."
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. Fynn's lips are warm and pliant, moving against mine with a gentle, unhurried rhythm. I can feel the sun's power pulsing through him, radiating out and enveloping me in its warmth. It's intoxicating, and I find myself craving more.
He looks calm and confident when we pull away from each other. "For whatever time I have left, I'm going to go for sun magic. I can't believe I get another chance to brand."
"You'll do it," I assure him. "Nothing's holding you back anymore."
"The moon's influence is gone," he agrees. "I'm not going to hold myself back anymore either."
"I'll help you," I promise.
"And I'll help you too." What a sweetheart.
We've come a long way since we first met. It wasn't even that long ago when I bumped into a passerby on the street, but we're far from strangers now. We aren't just two wizards on our own journeys. We're in this together now. Two aging casters trying to beat the clock. We'll be around to support each other and push each other, so we both get the magic we've been after for so long.
And if it brings us even closer in the process, well, that's a nice bonus.
"Breakfast is on me," Fynn offers.
"I’ll catch up to you.” I nod to the circles. “Gotta take care of this first.”
Fynn heads off, his warm smile still lingering on his lips.
I turn back to the ritual circles, focusing my energy and finding the connection to the earth and stone all around me once more.
"Thank you for your assistance," I murmur. "Return to where you came from."
The stones tremble, then begin to lift off the ground. I guide them away and they take off, floating back to their places until no trace of the ritual is left behind.
As the last stone vanishes, I sag, my knees going weak. I only make it a few steps before a wave of dizziness washes over me. I stumble to the nearest tree, resting my weight on it to hold me up. Good thing the tree is here. No way I can stay mad at it now. Damn, my feud with the tree didn't last long at all.
"Truce," I declare to the trees. Much as I want to carry on, I'm tired. More than tired.
Doing the ritual has drained me, leaving me feeling heavy and exhausted. This is not a good sign.
My magic feels weaker, more sluggish than usual. I used stones from the park. We relied on the natural power of the sun and the moon for the ritual. I shouldn't feel this worn down.
The decline is happening faster than I anticipated. I hoped the assessor was wrong, that I could beat the clock somehow. Instead, I'm running out of time. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut.
Looks like the last assessor was right. I'm nearing the beginning of the end.
First, I'll have less stamina. Check. My body will get tired fast. Check. All symptoms leading up to The Danger Zone, when the power lashes out and causes magical side effects.
Potions, medicine, lifestyle and magical style changes can prolong this stage and give a caster more time to achieve a brand. But there’s no guarantee. It’s one step closer to the end where a caster’s token breaks.
My time keeps dwindling. This is a sure sign that The Danger Zone is closing in.