Chapter 70 It's Happening Too Fast

Chapter 70 It's Happening Too Fast
Kael

The training courtyard is mostly dark when we arrive. Overhead security lights illuminate only parts of the concrete and frozen grass while the rest of the courtyard disappears into shadow beyond the perimeter walls. The witches finished preparing the arena hours ago, and now silver symbols stretch across nearly the entire center of the training grounds in massive overlapping circles. Most of the palace remains unaware of what is actually happening tonight. Officially, the increased security around the eastern side of the compound is because of the threat from Ashwood. Unofficially, only a handful of people know a realm is about to be opened in the middle of the training courtyard and that makes the night feel even heavier.

Elowyn’s hand tightens around mine slightly as we step fully onto the eastern grounds together. Immediately, every witch in the formation turns toward her. Not dramatic, but instinctive. The air itself feels different tonight. Nevaeh approaches first with Liora and Seren following closely behind her. All three look exhausted.

“We’re ready to begin,” Nevaeh says quietly.

I glance toward the symbols stretched across the ground. The opening circle sits at the center surrounded by six outer anchor points carved directly into the frozen ground. Silver powder lines every symbol while lanterns flicker steadily around the perimeter despite the cold wind moving through the gardens. Marcus steps toward us from the northern line while adjusting the weapon strapped across his chest.

“The guards are positioned,” he says. “Southern perimeter is covered too.”

“And Ashwood?” I ask and Marcus’s expression darkens immediately.

“Scouts lost visual on them an hour ago.”

Not good. Adrian joins us seconds later holding a tablet filled with rotating perimeter reports.

“We still have no movement from the western roads,” he says quietly. “Which probably means they’re waiting.”

“For the barrier to open,” Nevaeh says. Silence settles briefly after that because all of us know what happens if Ashwood attacks during the opening. Chaos. Exactly the kind of chaos the barrier cannot withstand. Elowyn looks toward the center circle again and I feel the shift in her immediately. Focus, fear, and resolve all tangled together. My chest tightens painfully. Tonight stopped feeling theoretical the moment she stepped onto these grounds. Now all I can think about is the fact she’s about to walk willingly into the center of something none of us fully understand. Nevaeh gestures toward the formation. “Elowyn will stand in the center circle. The anchors remain outside the primary boundary until the barrier begins responding.”

Theron steps forward from near the southern perimeter line. Even now, seeing my father standing among the formation guards instead of above them feels strange. Not king. Just another person preparing to hold the line tonight.

“Where do you need me?” he asks quietly.

Nevaeh studies the layout briefly before pointing toward the eastern anchor line.

“There.”

My father nods once before moving without argument. Cassian watches him carefully from nearby but says nothing. Honestly, I think everyone is still adjusting to this version of Theron. The one who finally stopped pretending he was right. Lysara moves toward Elowyn next.

“You should eat something before this starts.”

Elowyn blinks slightly. “Now?”

“Yes, now.”

Marcus immediately points toward the queen. “See? Finally someone else understands survival.”

“I understand that none of you have eaten properly in twelve hours,” Lysara replies calmly.

“That’s fair,” Adrian mutters.

Mara appears beside Elowyn holding half a protein bar already unwrapped.

“Please just pretend to care about your health for five minutes.”

Elowyn stares at the protein bar like it personally offended her then reluctantly takes it.  For one brief second, the tension eases then the wind shifts. Every witch in the formation goes still instantly along with Elowyn. Nevaeh’s attention snaps toward the northern edge of the courtyard.

“What is it?” Adrian asks immediately. Seren closes her eyes briefly.

“The barrier is responding.”

“What does that mean?” Marcus asks.

Liora exhales carefully. “It means Moonstone knows what is about to happen.”

Silence crashes over the group. Elowyn’s breathing catches almost imperceptibly. I reach for her hand again without thinking. Warm and shaking slightly. Nevaeh steps toward the center circle.

“We need to begin before the connection strengthens further.”

Adrian immediately turns toward the perimeter teams.

“Everyone stay sharp. If Ashwood moves, I want immediate communication.”

Marcus taps the earpiece near his collar. “Already handled.”

For once, Adrian doesn’t argue with him. The guards reposition along the outer walls while the witches take their assigned places around the formation. Above us, clouds drift slowly across the moon. Too bright. Everything tonight feels too bright. Elowyn looks toward me once before stepping closer to the center circle. Fear claws sharply through my chest immediately because I know exactly how much can go wrong. She notices the expression on my face instantly.

“Kael.”

I hate how much emotion fits inside one word when she says my name like that. I step closer until only inches separate us.

“You do not leave that circle unless I come get you myself.”

One side of her mouth lifts slightly.

“You planning on fighting the realm personally if this goes badly?”

“Yes.” The answer comes immediately and completely serious. That tiny smile lingers for half a second longer before fading again. Emotion flickers across her face afterward. She’s scared too. Of course she is. I slide one hand carefully against the side of her neck before lowering my forehead briefly against hers. “You come back to me.” Her eyes close for one small moment.

“I will do everything I can.”

The words hit harder than they should because suddenly I realize neither of us actually knows what tonight looks like once the barrier opens. Nevaeh’s voice breaks through the moment before it can become something heavier.

“Elowyn.”

Reluctantly, I step back. Elowyn exhales slowly before finally walking toward the center of the formation. Every eye in the gardens follows her movement. The future Queen of Elaris. The lost heir of Moonstone. The key to the realm. And somehow still just a girl trying to get her family back. She reaches the center circle and turns slowly toward the witches surrounding her. 

Nevaeh raises both hands first, silver light moving slowly through the symbols carved into the frozen ground. Liora and Seren join her seconds later, their magic threading carefully through the formation exactly the way they practiced.

The massive circle surrounding Elowyn begins glowing piece by piece until silver light stretches across nearly the entire courtyard. Marcus, Adrian, Mara, and I move into our assigned positions around the outer anchors while the witches stabilize the perimeter lines. Nevaeh looks toward Elowyn once everything settles into place. Then she nods. Elowyn takes one slow breath before raising her hands toward the center of the formation the same way she has dozens of times during training.

At first, nothing happens. Then the air changes. The pressure inside the courtyard grows heavier almost instantly as silver light spills between Elowyn’s fingers. Her eyes glow the moment the connection catches fully and I see the exact second she feels the realm respond. Elowyn physically flinches.

“Easy,” Nevaeh says calmly. “Hold the connection. Don’t force it.”

The symbols beneath Elowyn brighten sharply. Wind tears suddenly through the courtyard hard enough to whip hair and coats backward while several guards near the outer perimeter instinctively steady themselves. Mara’s eyes widen. Marcus swears quietly under his breath.

“What the hell…”

“Ashwood,” Adrian says sharply into his earpiece.

Of course they waited until now.

Marcus looks toward him immediately. “How many? I can’t hear anything in my earpiece.” Adrian listens for another second before swearing quietly under his breath.

“Too many.”

Radios crackle through the guards stationed around the outer palace perimeter while movement immediately erupts beyond the training courtyard. Guards reposition. Orders are shouted through earpieces. Vehicles move toward the western side of the compound, but inside the formation, none of us can move.

Not now. Leaving the anchor positions mid-opening could risk Elowyn if the the barrier destabilized completely. Mara glances toward the western wall anxiously before forcing her attention back toward Elowyn.

“They planned this,” she says quietly.

“Yeah,” Marcus mutters. “No kidding.”

Adrian presses one hand against his earpiece again.

“Hold the western perimeter,” he orders sharply. “Do not let them into the courtyard.”

At the center of the formation, Elowyn suddenly gasps sharply. Every silver symbol surrounding the circle ignites all at once. Wind tears violently through the training courtyard hard enough to whip coats and hair backward while the anchor lines beneath our feet flare brighter. Elowyn physically stumbles inside the center circle.

“Stay centered,” Nevaeh says sharply. “Do not let the realm pull control away from you.”

Elowyn’s glowing eyes squeeze shut briefly as another surge of lunar energy tears through the formation. Liora’s expression changes instantly.

“That’s not stable.”

Another rush of wind slams through the courtyard. This time the concrete beneath the formation cracks sharply down the center. Marcus stares toward the circle in disbelief.

“What the hell is happening?”

Nevaeh looks horrified.

“The barrier’s opening.”

Fear drops hard into my stomach because she doesn’t sound relieved. She sounds terrified.

“It’s happening too fast,” Seren whispers.