AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you can leave the gate active but dormant,” Aeris said once Claire finished, “then that would help us get through faster. We can’t activate it like you can that easily.”
“How do I do that?” Claire asked. “And how do I prevent others from coming through?”
“It’s done through your intention,” Aeris said. “You can actually key it to Elven blood only. It’s something the Royals used to do long ago.”
Claire frowned but nodded and turned back to the gate. She understood the ask but she wasn’t sure how to key the gate. Wait, what if she used Energy signatures? Only Elves tied to a tree in the Forest could come through. That might work.
She focused on the trees on either side of the gate, sinking into their Energy. She imagined forming a new network between them and all of the trees tied to Elves in the Forest. Only these could pass through, she pressed the message into the trees. The gate trees sucked in the message and Claire opened her eyes.
“It’s done,” she announced. Or as done as she could make it be. She only hoped it worked.
“Should we test it?” Desmond asked, feeling her uncertainty down their bond.
“I’ll go,” Synora said, looking at Claire who nodded. Aeris looked uncertain but agreed.
“We should go now,” Malcolm said. “It’ll be best not to linger.” Claire wondered if he shared her concern about the Council monitoring the gates.
She held a hand out to him and Everett took her other one. Synora stepped up next to Desmond behind them and Claire waved to Aeris and the other Elven warriors before she stepped through the gate.
Like before, the magic was heavy and it was like walking through thick mud. When they emerged in the forest behind the Academy, Claire could tell the difference immediately. Not only were the trees normal colors of green and brown, the magic in the air was different. The magic in the clearing was still thick but didn’t compare to the Elven Forest. It was like a dry winter day compared to the muggy thickness of a summer evening.
Claire turned around to see Synora looking around in wonder. “It’s so drab,” Synora muttered and Claire laughed.
“It is,” she agreed. “Especially with the Forest you’ve grown up in. But there are benefits. No Feluas for one, just your standard forest creatures.”
Synora nodded, twisting her lips before looking back at the gate. “I should get back.”
“When this is all over,” Claire said, reaching out and squeezing her shoulder, “I’ll make sure you get the best tour of the Realm.”
Synora flashed her a grateful smile before giving her Triad a small salute and disappearing back through the gate.
Claire turned back to her men. “Let’s get going.” She was excited to see her friends. The Academy session would be starting soon and she was aching for another of Holly’s hugs, Bethany’s wild ideas, Cody’s hidden moments of brilliance, and Zack’s quiet confidence. Hopefully, her friends had all made it back to the Academy safely. Although it had only been a week, it felt like much longer. And Claire knew a lot could happen in a week.
The hike out of the woods surrounding the gate seemed to be going much faster. Or they just weren’t having to clamber over massive tree roots like they had to in the Elven Forest. Whatever the case, it didn’t feel like long until they arrived at Everett and Claire’s special spot. Claire looked at Everett who gave her a playful grin.
At this time of day, the Academy should have been bustling but as they hit the massive courtyard, there was no one in sight. The trees that should have held students studying underneath them barely moved in the wind. The class buildings looked like hollow husks. What was happening? Where was everyone?
Claire’s feet took her towards Helene’s garden. Surely, Andy and Helene wouldn’t have left the Academy while they were still in the Forest. Unless something had forced them to leave.
Claire breathed a sigh of relief as she rounded the class building, her Triad hot on her heels and she saw Helene bent over one of the plants while Andy sat in the doorway reading. Andy saw them first, standing up suddenly, the book in her lap falling to the ground. “You're back!”
Her greeting got Helene’s attention who stood suddenly. Both women met Claire and her Triad halfway and Claire gratefully accepted Helene’s tight hug.
“What happened here? Where is everyone?” Desmond asked as he released Andy.
Claire watched with a smile as Andy and Helene hugged her Triad. She knew the professors cared for their students but Malcolm, Everett, and Desmond had been at the Academy for a while in addition to having watched them grow up. The women were more like family than simply professors. And when Andy hugged Claire as well, Claire felt the same.
Andy answered Desmond’s question as she released Claire. “The semester has been canceled. Most of the faculty have left as well.”
“What? Why?” Claire asked. The Academy was a neutral safe ground for many students and faculty. Nothing should have been able to cancel it.
“Since you left, there have been additional attacks on the grounds. All using dark magic. When some of the attacks spilled over into witch lands, the Council was alerted. After the Council’s announcement, many families withdrew their children and the Headmaster canceled the semester entirely. The Council has also used the attacks as an excuse to slam curfews down across the Realm and limit cross territory travel,” Andy informed them all.
“They can’t do that,” Desmond said with a frown.
“They can if they make it under the guise of safety,” Andy replied.
“I don’t understand.” Claire was missing something here.
