Chapter 48: Rising Tensions

By: Asa Montreaux

The early morning sun streamed through the windows of Mish's room, casting soft rays of light over her cluttered desk. Her collection of magical tomes and scrolls lay scattered around, each page filled with notes on protective spells and elemental manipulation. After last night’s meeting, her resolve had only grown stronger. She needed to practice more, to hone her abilities for the fight against Crimson Dawn.

With determination coursing through her, Mish set up her training space in the backyard. The cool breeze rustled the leaves around her as she focused her energy, envisioning the barriers she wanted to create. Drawing upon her magic, she murmured incantations under her breath, weaving her hands through the air as if she were conducting an invisible orchestra.

“Fire of the heart, shield of light, protect and defend, day and night!” she chanted, feeling the warmth building within her palms. The air crackled, and with a flick of her wrist, a shimmering barrier formed around her, glowing with a soft blue hue. It flickered, wavering slightly, but she held her focus, pushing the magic to stabilize it. 

“Just a little longer,” she whispered, her brow furrowing in concentration. 

As she continued to practice, Mish couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. The danger posed by the terrorists felt more imminent than ever, and the stakes were rising. She knew she had to get this right.

Meanwhile, across campus, Sam was sitting in a secluded corner of the library, a stack of textbooks piled high beside him. After their last meeting, he’d been driven by an urge to understand more about his own abilities. He had always thought of himself as an ordinary student, but a strange connection with Hugh had started to unravel a hidden potential within him.

“Alright, let’s see what this telepathy thing is about,” he muttered to himself, flipping through a book on mental magic. He focused, trying to feel the connection he’d sensed with Hugh. Images and thoughts seemed to swirl around him, but nothing solidified.

“Come on, Sam. Just concentrate.” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and envisioning a thread linking him to Hugh. He pictured their friendship as a glowing cord, stretching out into the unknown.

Suddenly, a faint whisper reached his mind—a thought that wasn’t his own. *Sam, can you hear me?* 

His eyes shot open, a mix of surprise and excitement washing over him. “Hugh?” he whispered, barely believing what had just happened. He focused again, feeling the warmth of their connection strengthen. *Is that you?*

*Yeah! I can’t believe it worked!* Hugh’s voice echoed in his mind, brimming with enthusiasm. *You’re starting to tap into your telepathy!*

Sam grinned, feeling a rush of exhilaration. “This is amazing! We can actually communicate like this!”

*We can work on it together. This is huge, Sam! You’re going to be a powerful telepath,* Hugh encouraged, and the warmth of their connection filled him with confidence.

As their mental conversation flowed, Mish finished her practice, a sense of accomplishment washing over her. She had successfully held the barrier longer than ever before. But even as pride bubbled within her, the sense of urgency lingered. She had to push her limits further.

After showering and getting dressed, Mish headed to the cafeteria for breakfast, where she found Sam animatedly explaining his newfound telepathic abilities to Eliza. She slid into the seat beside them, still buzzing from her practice.

“Guess what? I just stabilized a new barrier spell! We’re going to be ready for anything,” Mish declared, beaming with excitement.

“That’s incredible!” Eliza replied, her eyes sparkling. “And Sam can now talk to Hugh telepathically. We’re building our own little telepathic network!”

“Seriously?” Mish laughed, nudging Sam playfully. “You’re going to need a crash course in how to keep your thoughts in check. We don’t want any embarrassing secrets leaking out!”

“I’ll work on that,” Sam said, feigning seriousness. “But we have to stay focused. Something feels off. The news is buzzing about unexplained disturbances in air traffic control.”

Just as he spoke, the mood in the cafeteria shifted. An urgent announcement crackled over the speakers, silencing the room.

“Attention, students and faculty: we have received reports of a potential terrorist attack aimed at multiple airports across the country. All students are advised to remain in the building and await further instructions. Do not leave campus under any circumstances.”

Panic swept through the room like wildfire. Students exchanged worried glances, fear etched across their faces. Mish felt her heart race as she exchanged a look with Eliza and Sam. 

“What are they trying to do?” Eliza whispered, her voice trembling. 

“They must be trying to control the planes!” Mish exclaimed, realization hitting her like a bolt of lightning. “If they manage to hack air traffic control, they could cause chaos everywhere!”

“Not if we can help it,” Sam said, determination settling in his eyes. “We need to warn everyone and get ready to fight back.”

Hugh, who had just entered the cafeteria, caught sight of his friends and rushed over, concern etched across his face. “Did you hear the announcement? We need to regroup and figure out our next move.”

Mish felt the urgency in the air, the weight of their situation pressing down on her. “We can’t just sit around. We need to practice our spells and prepare for whatever comes next.”

As they huddled together, the reality of the threat sunk in. They were about to face an unprecedented challenge, one that could change everything. The time for action was upon them, and they could not afford to hesitate.

Little did they know that the battle was not just on the horizon—it was already unfolding. Outside the walls of The Andrews School, the forces of Crimson Dawn were making their move, and the fate of countless lives hung in the balance.