Tangled

Unshift 285

Unshift 285

285 Ava: Who Are You?

My eyes fly open, and I gasp. Where my hand touches the ground, a faint golden glow spreads outward. It's barely visible, like sunlight filtering through murky water, but it's there.

Heart pounding, I press my palm more firmly against the forest floor. The glow intensifies slightly, spreading further. I can feel it now, a warmth seeping up through my skin, traveling along my arm.

It's the magic from the pond. Somehow, it's not confined to the water. It's here, in the very earth beneath my feet.

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, half disbelief and half triumph. "Well, would you look at that?" Encouraged, I place my other hand on the ground as well. The glow spreads further, creating a small circle of light around me. It's beautiful, a stark contrast to the gloomy forest surrounding

1. me.

I close my eyes, focusing on the sensation. The magic feels... different from what I've experienced before. It's not the raw, primal power of the Moon Goddess, nor is it the structured, disciplined energy I've been trying to work with in my training.

This magic feels wild. Untamed. Like a force of nature that can't be reasoned with. It reminds me of the feeling I get when I'm running through the forest, wind in my hair, heart pounding with the thrill of freedom.

The glow continues to spread, pushing back the darkness of the forest. With each passing moment, I feel stronger, more alive. It's intoxicating.

It isn't under my control; it spreads without my thought or push. I'm little more than a conduit. The dark water slowly changes, from black to navy. Then, slowly, into a glossy blue that reflects

the sun.

And hints of green.

Green, from the leaves sprouting on once-dead branches. From the unfurling trees once again reaching high to the sky.

It's limited to the area surrounding me, but there's life here, where there was once nothing at all.

A comfortable buzz against my wrist catches my attention, and I glance down at the silver bracelet Dr. Blackwell gave me.

with the faintest hint of

allowed me to tap

just enjoying the

leap to my feet, heart pounding. "Who's there?" My eyes dart around the forest, searching for the source of the

Who Are

Nothing but

with sarcasm. "Why are you acting like I'm some sort of

it's coming from. The voice is...

voice sounds annoyed now. "Honestly, you humans

peripheral vision, and I whirl toward the pond. The dark

the water.

Water cascades off its form as it steps onto the shore. I take an involuntary step back, my mind

before me is... ethereal. Androgynous. Its skin shimmers with an otherworldly iridescence, like moonlight on water. Hair the color of seafoam falls in waves past its shoulders. Its eyes are the deep blue-green of the ocean, with flecks of gold that seem to dance

trying to process what

their eyes. "I'm the spirit of this place. Or I was, before it started dying. They gesture at the small patch of greenery surrounding us. "Though I suppose I should thank you for the little bit of life you've managed to

races, trying to make sense of this. A spirit? Like... a

this world capable of surprising me,

softer now. "I was just trying to

since anyone's been able to do that. Most just pass through without even

"What happened here? Why is

passes over their face. The magic is fading. Has been for

life here withers away."

ask, my

time. Without it, the

The ways of magic are mysterious, even to those of us who are born of

<

Who

closer, their head cocked. "You carry the legacy of witches,

Startled, I point at