Chapter 294
Chapter 294
Lira's POV
Victoria's hand instinctively clutched the pendant, wariness flashing across her face. "Why are you asking about this, Sophie?"
"Because I saw it in my vision," Sophie replied directly, her voice low and firm.
I whipped around toward Sophie, nearly biting my tongue in shock. "You had a new vision? When did this happen?"
"Right before I was called here," Sophie said quietly, her brow furrowing, "The images weren't very clear, but I'm certain that crystal was key."
Victoria's posture shifted, her gaze growing sharp and cautious. "This crystal is extremely important, and incredibly dangerous." Her fingers lightly caressed the pendant, "What exactly did you see in your vision?"
Sophie looked at me. "It was... about your stepmother."
Linda!
"She wants that crystal, doesn't she?" Nathan asked immediately.
"This is one of the elemental crystals," I blurted, looking directly into Victoria's eyes, "How did you come to possess it?"
Victoria's expression turned shocked. "How do you know about—"
"I know about these crystals," I continued, "Purple represents Spirit, one of the five elemental crystals. My grandmother distributed them to trusted allies for safekeeping. Together, all crystals can break an ancient spell—the one that made the magic stone forgotten by the world."
"Lira," Nathan warned softly, but it was too late.
Victoria stared at me intently, her eyes filled with caution and curiosity. "What are you talking about? Who exactly are you?"
I took a deep breath, feeling destiny's weight on my shoulders. "Someone cast a spell to make the magic stone disappear from the world's memory. When this spell breaks, there will be a war targeting me."
"Linda, also known as Marianne, wants to break that spell," Nathan explained, "but she wants others to capture Lira for her."
"Marianne? Alexander's bitch of a daughter?"
"Yes. I believe during Linda's absence, she's been collecting the other crystals," I added, involuntarily shuddering as I imagined her snake-like smile.
Victoria shook her head sharply, her blonde hair swaying. "Impossible. No one would give up their crystal easily. They're far too precious."
Sophie's voice was barely audible. "In my vision, I saw Linda holding a small black pouch with different colored lights flickering inside. She said she only needed the purple one now."
The air seemed to freeze. Victoria's face turned ashen, her lips trembling.
"This means she's already collected the other crystals," Nathan said slowly, his voice carrying ominous certainty.
I felt a chill crawl up my spine. She's already collected four... just one more to trigger a war, and that one is hanging around Victoria's neck!
"We must ensure she never gets this last one," I said firmly, my fists unconsciously clenching.
Victoria's expression hardened. "She won't get it. I'd die before letting it fall into her hands."
"According to my vision," Sophie began hesitantly, "Linda was supposed to go to Lira's father's farm next Monday."
"But she's already back in town," I corrected, recalling today's unpleasant encounter, "I saw her today." Suddenly, a terrible thought hit me, "She might have been tracking you, Victoria. If she knows you have the last crystal..."
"That werewolf BITCH has been following me?" Victoria's tone was both shocked and furious, "That's just what I need."
"We can help you hide the crystal," Nathan offered.
Victoria immediately shook her head decisively. "I won't take it off, nor let it out of my sight."
"The problem is," I frowned thoughtfully, "you're still attending the concert this weekend. It's a public event, and Linda will likely make her move then."
We developed a preliminary plan: stay vigilant at the concert, protect Victoria and the crystal, while searching for any sign of Linda.
As we said goodbye, I hugged Sophie tightly, feeling the trembling in her thin body. "If you have any new visions, contact me immediately, okay?"
"Be careful, Lira," she whispered in my ear, her eyes glistening with worried tears. Then she turned to Nathan, her voice pleading. "Protect her."
"With my life," he solemnly promised, his voice filled with unwavering determination.
Before we left, Victoria added one final thought. "We must stop Linda. I have a feeling that if she succeeds, things will be much worse than we imagine."
Worse than war? I shuddered. "This is just the beginning."
---
In the evening, autumn winds rustled through the treetops, bathing the forest in golden sunset light. I stood in the center of a small clearing, eyes closed, trying to sense the wind element around me.
"FOCUS!" Stella instructed beside me, her tone urgent, "Feel the air's flow, let it become an extension of your will."
I took a deep breath, extending my hands, imagining wind dancing at my fingertips. Move, please. But everything remained terribly still around me.
"You're not even trying!" Stella sighed in frustration, hands on her hips, "This is just basic wind magic, you should master it easily."
I opened my eyes, feeling a wave of powerlessness and frustration. "I CAN'T do it!" I cried out in disappointment, "My head is filled with Linda and those damn crystals! And my father... if she really goes to kill him..."
Stella's expression softened as she stepped closer, gently placing her hand on my shoulder. "Hey, deep breath. Tell me, what's really troubling you?"
I slumped down on a moss-covered rock, feeling utterly exhausted. "I'm afraid," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper, "I'm worried I'm not strong enough to protect everyone. Linda is more dangerous than I imagined, and she's getting closer step by step."
"You're not fighting alone, Lira," Stella said softly, sitting beside me, "A true leader knows that strength comes from the team, not just the individual."
Her words offered me a glimmer of comfort. As the sun set, we continued practicing until dusk fell. Finally, as the last ray of sunlight disappeared below the horizon, I felt a surge of energy flow from within me, and the leaves around us gently swayed in response to my call.
"See," Stella smiled, her eyes sparkling with pride, "you did it."