Chapters 71 and 72

By: Asa Montreaux

Chapter 71: The Meeting

The halls of The Andrews School were quieter than they had been in weeks, the tension still thick in the air. Word of what had happened spread quickly. Students whispered in hushed tones about the attack, how it had been stopped—by a group of students no less. The gravity of the situation seemed to settle over everyone like a heavy fog.

Hugh, Eliza, Mish, and Sam were recovering in the school’s infirmary. The elder wizards had assured them that their magical energy would replenish, but they’d need time. Their minds, particularly Hugh’s, were still adjusting to the strain of channeling such intense, creative magic.

Hugh sat upright in bed, staring blankly out the window. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and his body felt weak. He hadn’t been this exhausted since he first began practicing telepathy. Now, the enormity of what they had accomplished weighed on him. They had saved lives, but the price they had paid felt heavy. 

Eliza stirred in the bed beside him. She turned, her eyes meeting his, still bleary from the effort. “We did it,” she said softly. “I still can’t believe we actually pulled it off.”

“We did,” Hugh muttered, though the victory felt fragile in his mind. The attack was stopped for now, but the war was far from over. 

Sam was sitting up in his bed across the room, rubbing his temples. “There’s no way Crimson Dawn is going to stop. They’ll come back with something worse.”

Mish, who was propped up in the corner with her arms crossed, glanced at Sam. “I don’t think they’ll wait long, either. We need to be ready.” There was a fire in her eyes, but also a flicker of doubt. Everyone had seen how far the enemy was willing to go.

A soft knock on the door interrupted the silence. It was the headmaster, flanked by Agent Macomb. Both had serious expressions, their presence immediately drawing the students’ attention.

“You’re all remarkable,” the headmaster began, his voice deep and authoritative, but there was a hint of warmth. “What you did may very well have saved hundreds of lives. You should be proud.”

“But…” Hugh said, sensing the weight of what was coming next.

“But,” Macomb interjected, stepping forward, “Crimson Dawn won’t stop. They’ve lost a critical strike, but they have more planned. Our intelligence suggests they’re preparing something global. They want chaos.”

The group exchanged worried glances.

“What are we supposed to do?” Eliza asked, her voice tight with uncertainty. “We barely made it through this one.”

Macomb stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with something Hugh couldn’t quite place—admiration? Strategy? “You’re not alone in this. You won’t be asked to fight every battle, but you’re too valuable to sideline. The magic you used—creative magic—has been largely lost to time. Very few wizards can tap into it, and fewer still can control it.”

Hugh’s brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”

“We’ve long known that certain spells can be modified and expanded, but only the most powerful can truly rewrite the rules of magic. What you all accomplished—levitating planes hundreds of miles away, directing them safely to land—has never been done at this scale. That’s why we need you. We need your talents.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with expectation.

“We need time,” Sam said quietly. “We’re not ready.”

“And we’ll give you that time,” the headmaster reassured him. “But know this—the fight is coming to all of us. Crimson Dawn’s reach is vast. They’ve infiltrated more magical systems than we realized. We’ve uncovered evidence that they’re targeting magical institutions across the world.”

Mish straightened. “Other schools?”

“Yes,” Macomb said grimly. “And not just schools. Entire magical communities are at risk. This war isn’t just about controlling planes or hacking systems—it’s about destabilizing our entire way of life. Crimson Dawn is planning something far more dangerous than what we’ve seen.”

The days passed slowly after the confrontation, but the sense of urgency never faded. Classes resumed, though everything felt different. The attacks had shaken the magical world to its core, and now, the students at The Andrews School were left to grapple with their newfound role in the fight.

Hugh found himself spending long hours in the library, pouring over ancient texts, searching for anything that could give them an edge. The knowledge that creative magic existed—real, tangible power that could change the course of the war—made him feel both excited and terrified. They had tapped into something extraordinary, but the consequences of misusing it were still unknown.

Eliza, on the other hand, had thrown herself into her studies with renewed focus. She spent her days perfecting advanced spells, refining her control over levitation and energy manipulation. She was determined not to be caught off guard again. 

Mish and Sam trained together, working on honing their abilities and expanding their range. Mish was mastering fire spells that could be used for both defense and offense, while Sam’s telepathy was becoming stronger, more reliable. They were all evolving, pushing themselves further than they ever thought possible.

But despite their progress, the looming threat of Crimson Dawn was never far from their minds.

It wasn’t long before whispers of another attack started circulating. News reports talked of mysterious disturbances in several magical cities across Europe, and a rising sense of dread filled the halls of The Andrews School.

One evening, as they gathered in the common room after training, Eliza sat down beside Hugh, looking troubled. “I overheard some of the professors talking,” she said. “There’s something big happening—bigger than before. Macomb’s been called away. They’re gearing up for another strike.”

Hugh sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We knew this was coming. We just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon.”

“I’m scared,” Eliza admitted. “What if we’re not enough this time?”

Hugh took her hand, squeezing it gently. “We are. We have to be.”

Just as he said the words, a loud crack of thunder echoed through the night, shaking the windows. Hugh’s heart raced as the storm outside intensified. But this was no ordinary storm—it was magical.

A loud alarm blared through the halls. An attack was imminent.

Mish, Sam, and the rest of their friends rushed into the room, eyes wide with fear and determination. “It’s happening again,” Mish said, her voice steady but tense. “They’re coming for us.”

The group exchanged glances, silently agreeing on what they had to do. This time, there would be no hesitation. They were ready to fight.

As the storm outside raged, the students prepared themselves for battle once again. They had no idea what Crimson Dawn had planned, but they knew one thing for certain—they would meet the threat head-on, and this time, they wouldn’t just survive.

They would win.

Chapter 72: The All-Out Assault

The night air was heavy with tension. The grounds around The Andrews School were eerily quiet, the calm before the storm. Inside, students and professors scrambled, preparing for the inevitable confrontation that hung over them like a shadow. The magical wards around the school had been reinforced, but there was still a sense of unease. Everyone knew Crimson Dawn wouldn’t stop until they broke through.

Hugh stood by the window of the dormitory common room, watching the dark sky. His mind was racing. They had been through so much, but this felt different. Bigger. More dangerous. The whispers were growing—Crimson Dawn was preparing an all-out assault, and the school was directly in their sights.

Behind him, Eliza, Mish, and Sam were gearing up. They had spent the last few days in intensive training, honing their spells and deepening their magical reserves. But no amount of preparation could fully remove the gnawing feeling of uncertainty.

Eliza moved next to Hugh, her voice soft but steady. “You ready for this?”

Hugh glanced at her, his eyes reflecting the same determination. “We don’t have a choice, do we?”

Before Eliza could answer, the school-wide alarm blared, echoing through the stone corridors. The attack had begun.

Crimson flashes of light illuminated the grounds outside as the wards surrounding the school flickered under the strain of dark magic. Figures, cloaked in shadow, were gathering just beyond the gates, and the sounds of magical blasts rang out, shaking the very walls of the school.

“They’re here,” Sam said grimly, pulling his wand from his sleeve. “And they’re not holding back.”

Eliza’s hand tightened around her own wand. “We need to stick together.”

But before anyone could move, the front doors of the school exploded inward, sending debris flying. Crimson Dawn had breached the outer defenses.

“Get down!” Hugh shouted, pulling Eliza to the floor just as a streak of dark magic whizzed past them, shattering a nearby window. The room descended into chaos as students scrambled for cover, firing defensive spells toward the intruders who stormed the building.

Hugh’s mind raced as he grabbed Eliza’s hand, pulling her toward the nearest exit. “We need to get out of here!” His telepathic senses were overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the battle raging around them. He could feel the malevolent presence of Crimson Dawn’s wizards, their minds dark and filled with violent intent.

As they ran through the halls, the sound of spells clashing and cries of battle filled the air. Mish and Sam were close behind, blasting away at attackers as they advanced through the chaos.

They made it into the courtyard, where several students and elder wizards were already locked in a fierce battle with the dark wizards. Spells of every color flashed through the air, lighting up the night sky. Hugh could see the strain on the defenders' faces. Crimson Dawn was relentless.

“We need to split up!” Mish called out, sending a burst of fire magic toward an advancing attacker. “We’ll cover more ground that way.”

Hugh hesitated for a moment, looking at Eliza. “Are you sure?”

Eliza nodded, though her face was pale. “I’ll be fine. You take the east side.”

Hugh squeezed her hand briefly before turning to run, heading toward the section of the courtyard where the fight seemed most intense. But as he dashed through the chaos, a terrible feeling gnawed at his mind—a premonition. Something was wrong.

Suddenly, a sharp scream echoed through the air, cutting through the sounds of battle like a knife.

It was Eliza.

Hugh spun around, his heart pounding as he scanned the battlefield. His telepathy kicked in, his mind reaching out, searching for her presence. His pulse quickened as he sensed her—trapped, overwhelmed, in danger.

Without thinking, Hugh bolted back toward the area where Eliza had been fighting. His legs burned as he ran, dodging stray spells and blasts of magic. His telepathy guided him, the connection with Eliza growing stronger as he approached.

When he reached the clearing, his blood ran cold.

Eliza was cornered, her back against the wall of the courtyard, her wand raised defensively. Three Crimson Dawn wizards had surrounded her, their dark cloaks billowing in the night air. They were closing in, their wands crackling with dark energy.

“Eliza!” Hugh shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos.

She turned her head, her eyes wide with fear. “Hugh!”

One of the dark wizards raised his wand, the tip glowing with an ominous red light. He was preparing to strike.

Without hesitation, Hugh raised both hands, focusing all of his energy. He didn’t have time to think—he just acted. The world around him seemed to slow as his telepathic power surged, stronger than ever before. His mind connected with the air itself, bending it to his will. In an instant, a powerful telekinetic wave blasted outward from his hands, slamming into the dark wizards with the force of a hurricane.

The attackers were thrown backward, their bodies crashing into the stone walls of the courtyard. The force of the impact left them stunned, their wands falling from their hands.

Eliza stumbled forward, her breathing ragged as she clutched her wand tightly. “Hugh…”

Hugh rushed to her side, pulling her close as he scanned the area for any more threats. His heart was still racing, the adrenaline making his hands shake. “Are you okay?”

Eliza nodded weakly, though her face was pale. “I… I think so. I thought they were going to—”

“Not on my watch,” Hugh said firmly, his eyes still scanning the battlefield. “I’m not losing you.”

Before they could catch their breath, another explosion rocked the courtyard. The battle was far from over. The elder wizards were still fighting, and the Crimson Dawn forces weren’t letting up.

“We need to regroup with the others,” Eliza said, straightening up. Her voice was steadier now, though her eyes still flickered with fear.

Hugh nodded. “Let’s go.”

They moved quickly, dodging spells and debris as they made their way back toward the main part of the courtyard. Mish and Sam were locked in a fierce battle with several dark wizards, their wands flashing with fire and telekinetic energy. The sight of their friends fighting only strengthened Hugh’s resolve.

They wouldn’t go down tonight.

As they joined the fight, Hugh felt a surge of determination. This wasn’t just about defending the school anymore—this was about protecting the people he cared about.

And he would do whatever it took to win.

The battle raged on for what felt like hours, the night sky lit up with the glow of spells. But slowly, the tide began to turn. The defenders, bolstered by Hugh and his friends, pushed back against the Crimson Dawn forces. The dark wizards retreated, their numbers dwindling as they were forced to flee the school grounds.

By the time the last of the attackers had been driven off, the courtyard was littered with debris and scorch marks, the signs of a hard-fought battle. But they had won.

Exhausted but triumphant, Hugh stood in the center of the courtyard, his chest heaving with labored breaths. Around him, his friends gathered—Eliza, Mish, Sam—all battered and bruised but alive.

“We did it,” Sam said, his voice filled with disbelief.

Hugh nodded, though his mind was already racing ahead. This was just one battle. Crimson Dawn wouldn’t stop until they were destroyed. But for now, they had bought themselves time.

And time was exactly what they needed.