Chapter 482

120 – Ben

I try again. I still can’t touch her. This isn’t a fluke. My hand passes through her and the leaves from the brush sitting on her shoulder. Am I dead? What did the Rift do to me?

“We should feel the change soon.” The slimy voice says again. This time I focus on the two in front of me. Copyright 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions.

I think it’s only two. My eyesight is hazy at the edges. I really am starting to dislike magic. A nudge to my ribs has me looking around. I didn’t think I was able to touch anything. I take a slow deep breath and scan my surroundings. Nothing. There it is again, a poke just behind my arm. Like when Jason, Jeremiah, Tommy and I would play a blind tracking game when we were little. Then a caress to my face and it hits me. The magic! It’s the Rift!

“You f*cker! What am I doing here?!” I ask in my head, not sure if these guys can’t hear me or not and I am not taking any chances.

Another nudge to my face, redirecting my focus. “Okay, okay. I am watching.”

“As soon as we feel the transfer of power we can act.” Number two says. This voice is deeper with a more sinister undertone. They are clearly planning something and looking for a signal. What about the kid next to me though?

Bangs and flashes erupt around us. I hear trees rustling, and the ground is vibrating in what I now know is

Green Witches using the earth toneto

protect and defend themselves Shouts, smoke and a stampede of people are all around us now. The two that had been waiting for…something, have joined in the fray. Sparks in all colors leave little dots in my already blurred vision. Roots shoot up around me and kaøck me back. I didn’t think anything could touch me, but maybe that’s just the people and the setting. Magic must not have the

same rules. I get an invisible double tap on my forehead.

“So you’re saying I can get hurt and die here!? From the magic?!?” I’m yelling at the Rift in my head now. “Then get me the f*ck out of here! Why am I here?!”

Another prod to my face. I see the girl next to me stand. She can’t be more than ten. She’s nervous, but not as scared as a child should be watching a battle of magic. She’s entranced by it.

“Give us our children!” A cloaked man yells from somewhere in the mix.

“We have no one’s children.” A woman responds. The voice is vaguely familiar, but I can’t place it. Most of the people running around are in various shades of grey and black with wide hoods pulled up to mask their faces. The rest all have this same deep forest green cloak over their clothing.

I’m not sure if the Rift is slowing down the battle for my sake or if I am so used to watching battle that it feels as if time has slowed, but the black and grey cloaked figures appear to be all male based on size and the width of their shoulders. Their movements are broad and sharp, more aggressive. The forest green cloaks seem to be more ceremonial, with flecks of something metallic woven in. Not something you would see on a traveller. Their movements seem to be more fluid.

“You have them. I’ve seen their prison. You took them because of their Chaos magic. We do not choose what Selene gifts to us. They should not be punished for what they cannot control.” The man shouts back, more wild this time. His hood has slipped. His eyes have dark circles as if he hasn’t slept in days.

A man in green responds. “No Amadeus.” The girl next to me perks up at the voice, she recognizes this guy. So she’s with the green cloaks. “Chaos magic is an abomination. No one should have that kind of power! Your coven is breeding Chaos to overthrow our High Priestess The man shouts, spittle flying. I can taste his fear on the wind. He’s afraid of the black cloaks having too much Chaos power.