Galena

Emma joined Jace at the waterfall behind the house. Maggie was finally asleep, and Heath had ported to Picco for work. She handed him a few stones and began to skip them into the water.

After a few skips, Jace let out, “Heath says mom’s still alive.”

“That’s good news!” Emma smiled.

“It is… He also said if she dies, Maggie would be consumed by her magic. It’d be too powerful for him to stop.” He stared blankly at the water as he skipped a rock. “She would become a Void if she was consumed,” Jace let out. “You mentioned a Void earlier. What did you mean?”

Emma hesitated at first then told him about the day Maggie locked herself in her bedroom after Diana’s death. She explained what triggered the Void to come and that it wasn’t the first time a Void came for Maggie. “She said when she was younger a Void had come for her too,” she added.

Jace had looked away from Emma as she said this. He threw a rock into the pond, forcing out, “I left my sister for my own needs and she spent so many years struggling…”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it now, Jace.”

“I just wish I was there for her…”

“You are now,” Emma said, taking his hand. “She’s forgiven you, right? You two have a lot to work on, but remember the other night after you shared the same dream? You came to bed so happy that you and Maggie finally talked. She even told me how happy that made her.”

Jace smirked, “Really?”

“Yes, really” she smiled.

On their way back to the house, Jace asked how long she knew about Heath and Maggie.

“For a while,” she answered.

“And you never said anything?”

Emma laughed, “No. We pinky swore,” she grinned.

Jace let out a laugh. “I never thought she’d be attracted to a guy like Heath.”

“Heath is very charming.”

“Charming?”

Emma stopped and turned to Jace, hearing his disgust in how his friend was being described. “Isn’t he your best friend?” she teased.

“Of course, he is. But I never thought of him as charming.” He pulled Emma closer to him by her waist, “Do you think I’m charming?”

“You’re sweet, thoughtful, and handsome,” she answered and leaned forward to kiss his nose.

“But not charming?” he pouted.

Emma laughed and slipped from his arms. She took his hand, pulling him towards the house, saying, “Come on. I think Maggie’s awake.”

In the morning, Emma left with Marie and Maggie to go into the village. They were going to see Bruno, who Marie believed would help Maggie sort out her magic. Vorks referred to him as the ′magic whisperer′ because of how he was able to help anyone with their magic. Emma watched with Marie on the sidelines, as Bruno asked Maggie to remove her gloves.

Bruno looked down at her hands from over the rim of his glasses and watched the purple magic dancing around her fingers - the color gave her status quo in Len away instantly. He bowed to her, telling her it was an honor to serve a royal. He mentioned it had been a very long time since he had the pleasure to assist a High Advisor.

Maggie glanced at Marie when he said this, knowing he meant her mother. Little did Maggie know, Bruno also assisted the two High Advisors before Vivian.

Emma continued to watch as Bruno had Maggie lay on a table and close her eyes. With candles and incense, he began to chant softly, placing Maggie under a trance. While she was in a subconscious state he began to hum and walk her down a meditative state to find her magic and take control. It reminded Emma of how Maggie described what Diana would do for her, but Bruno wasn’t a Shaman – he was just good at what he did.

By evening, Emma watched Maggie’s magic draw inwards from her fingertips - Bruno’s magic worked. It wasn’t long before Maggie sat up and blinked a few times, trying to gather her surroundings. She looked over at Emma and Marie, asking if it worked.

Emma excitedly ran to Maggie and grabbed her hands, “Look!”

Maggie held her hands up and saw no magic. It was what her and Diana always worked towards. She could feel her magic, settling with her mother’s, and finding its place in the space Bruno helped Maggie create.

Maggie hugged Bruno and thanked him. She went to hand him the jewls Marie gave her, but he shook his head, pushing the bag back. “No charge for your Highness,” he said, “Just remember that only you have control over that magic. It never is and never was the other way around.”

Maggie thanked him again with a hug and left with Emma – leaving Marie to speak with Bruno.

At the house, Emma helped Maggie with her magic while Heath and Jace worked on their swordsmanship. It didn’t take Maggie long before she grew tired and asked for a break. They sat on the porch, drinking fresh lemonade, and Maggie pulled out her mother’s journal.

“Can I see it again?” Emma asked, looking at the book.

Maggie nodded and handed it to her. Emma began to flip through the pages trying to see what she could read again, but still found no luck in translating it.

“I was just going to ask you about that book,” Heath said, appearing at the banister with Jace.

“You can read this?” Emma asked, giving him a look.

“The Maji and Necro.”

“That’s what this is?” Emma turned the book to look at the string of symbols.

“Mom knew Necromancy?” Jace asked, scrunching his eyebrows at Heath.

“Vivian was well versed in each realm of magic. She never trusted the Necromancers but growing up she had tutors. They used to work with the royal family before her father banned them,” Marie answered, rocking in her chair. “The language became forbidden in Valo, so it only makes sense Vivian would write her secrets in Necro.”

Emma handed the book to Heath and he looked at the writing. He took a seat on the steps and began to go through the pages. He traced his fingers along the sentences, continuing down the page, and onto the next one.

“Anything?” Maggie asked, sitting next to him.

“There’s a lot here, but I can definitely read it. She switches from Maji directly into Necro flawlessly. She talks about what she fears will happen when you and Jace go against Garos. She brings up a few theories, but they seem to be the same thing… Garos will need a new body to host him, which Vivian thinks is Jace even though he has Kard…” He continued to read, absorbing everything as he went. “She says you’ll have enough magic when this time comes… You’ll need to draw Garos out and take in the magic from Prince Auron-” He quickly looked at Maggie, “You’re not doing that.”

“Isn’t he pure energy? Like… hundreds of Voids in one,” Emma asked, looking over at Marie. She began to worry.

“It would destroy you,” Jace let out, staring at his sister.

“There has to be another way to go about this,” Heath said, going through a few more pages.

“Vivian has faith in her daughter,” Marie said, slightly smiling at Maggie. “I don’t like the idea either, but there’s a reason why Vivian would mention this.”

Heath ignored her and continued to read, shaking his head, “She’s all over the place after writing what will happen to Maggie, so I doubt this will do anything.”

“I agree with Marie. Mom has to have a reason,” Maggie said, touching Heath’s arm.

“No. I’m not letting you do that Maggie.”

“Me either,” Jace said, crossing his arms.

Maggie’s eyes narrowed on Jace then went back to Heath. “Fine,” she said, jumping to her feet, “I’ll have Emma teach me how to draw magic.”

Emma shook her head, playing with her necklace, “I only know how to heal, Mags.”

“I’m the only one who can teach you,” Heath said, standing to face Maggie, “And I will not let you do this. That magic will rip you apart.”

“Then what else are we supposed to do?” she demanded, balling her fists.

“We’ll figure it out, but this is madness,” Jace answered, shaking his head and turning away from his sister.

Maggie glared at her brother. “If I’m truly the High Advisor, my magic should be strong enough to do what mom suggests.” She looked back at Heath, continuing, “I’m working on controlling my magic. If you teach me what to do, I can start drawing the magic and Jace can finish him off. Kard is powerful enough with Jace yielding it for us to defeat Garos. It’ll work-”

“Maggie,” Heath forced out, cutting her off, “If something happens to your mother in all of this - you inherit her magic. That makes no more room in your body for his. And I can’t help you if that’s the case. You. Will. Die.” His eyes locked with Maggie’s.

“Then I die trying. If it destroys him and saves Galena, then I have to do this.”

“No!” Heath yelled, standing his ground. Everyone’s eyes fell on him as his eyes narrowed on her. His green eyes becoming a deeper color.

Jace stepped next to Heath, seeing the pain and anger swelling inside his friend. “Maggie, think about what you’re asking us to allow you to do,” he said then added, “What you’re asking Heath to do.”

“I’m asking to save Galena. And you,” she said, looking up at her brother. “When mom left us that night, she told me to watch after you. I failed her when you left, but now I can do something about it. I can do this.”

Hearing this, Jace understood why Maggie wanted to do this. Her desire was the same as his - fulfill their mother’s wish. But it hurt him to think that Maggie had to put herself in harm’s way to do this. His attention turned to Heath who turned away and entered a door that instantly appeared before him.

“Heath-!” Maggie called out after him. He stepped through the door, ignoring her pleas. She took in a deep breath, feeling her chest shake. She looked back at Jace, “Figure out a plan. If you have nothing, then we do what mom says. With or without Heath.” She left their side going back to Emma’s.