Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 290

Chapter 290 Ava: Imbalance

"You're really bad at taking care of yourself, aren't you?"

The little bit of life I'd managed to bring back to the forest is already dwindling, but the spirit—Grimoire, I'm pretty sure—is floating in the air when I open my eyes, lying on their side with their head propped on their hand.

"Excuse me?" What a welcome.

"Not eating. Don't even notice you have a fever. Wild magic inside of you." They shake their head. "You'll implode at this rate."

A fever? My forehead feels cool to touch. "I don't have a fever."

"Your hand is as hot as your—never mind. Not my problem if humans want to kill themselves." They roll over, presenting their back to me.

"What do you mean by wild magic? And why would I implode?"

The spirit waves their hand dismissively, not even bothering to look at me. Their indifference is frustrating.

Last time, they spoke with me after I connected with the magic hidden here.

Fine. If that's what it takes to get answers, I'll try again.

Once I focus, the hidden magic pulses beneath the lake, calling my attention.

I touch my forehead discreetly. It feels cool to me, but the spirit's words nag at the back of my mind. Could I really have a fever?

Pushing the thought aside, I concentrate on the magic thrumming beneath the water, the faintest whisper of it grazing the land. Reaching out with my senses, I try to coax it to life once more.

At first, nothing happens. The forest remains silent, the air still. But then, slowly, I feel a warmth spreading from my fingertips. It travels up my arms, settling in my chest before radiating outward.

The golden glow returns, seeping from my hands into the ground. It spreads like veins through the earth, bringing color and vitality.

strange heat building inside me, different from the warmth of the magic. It's uncomfortable, almost feverish. Maybe the

engage. To my surprise, they're hovering closer now, their ethereal

persistent

this mean you'll answer

unfathomable eyes. "Perhaps. Though I wonder if you're asking

back a frustrated sigh. Why can't magical beings ever give straight answers? Is it

law. It's just how I

forgot they can read my thoughts. "Okay, then

we start with why you're here?" They gesture to the revitalized forest around us. "You seek more power, yet you don't understand the

separated from my teacher. I'm

the problem with you humans. Never paying attention. There are no ornate rules to magic. Do you need lessons to

little different from

it? It doesn't feel that way

they're a spirit, and

lot of sass in your head for someone asking a

to keep

force of nature. It responds to your emotions, your desires, but without proper guidance, it can consume you. It isn't like electricity, flowing only within the conduits they've installed.

say consume—I was told I needed a teacher so I wouldn't

hasn't it?" They're rotating in the air, spinning slowly until

balance," they explain. "What you're doing now is drawing power from the world around you, but you're not giving anything back. It's like trying

They'd mentioned witches gave back. Is this what

"Yes."

do wizards

question. Their body continues to rotate slowly in the air, defying gravity in a way that makes my head spin if I focus on it

on a slightly mocking tone, "they think they're so clever. They've found a

to understand. "What do

use glyphs and wards as a magical dumping ground. When they feel the pressure building up, they funnel that excess energy into these constructs. Imagine a pot of boiling water. Instead of turning down the heat, they just keep adding more

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