“Forming a shield,” Imogen guessed, having seen my scales in action already.
Still processing what happened, I rubbed the back of my neck. “Kind of, but it wasn’t just that. They absorbed the blast.”
“The scales did what?” my mentor gasped, eyes widening.
“Both of your powers worked together…” Evanna whispered, a million questions seeming to swirl in her eyes.
“Yes. They did. They combined somehow, and while my Devenish magic transformed the deadly fire into its purest energy form, my scales used it as fuel. They absorbed it all until I felt recharged. Filled with unstoppable energy.”
“Do you still feel it?” Imogen’s astonishment swiftly turned to curiosity, and I understood why Dad trusted her with his research and his secret. She was as inquisitive and calculative as he was.
Gaze falling to my hands, I clenched and unclenched my fists, feeling the raw energy prickle every pore while its power swayed within my being. I felt supercharged. “Yes. It is still there.”
“And have you ever seen Raithian absorb power?”
I nodded to my mentor.
“Then your magic did not simply ‘react’ to the Warlock’s attack, Braxton.” The light changed in her expression until her whole face illuminated with admiration. “It evolved into the power you were meant to have. One born of Wizard and Dragon. A force you are the first to ever wield.”
A slow smirk began to tilt my lips, and I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself.
“No. No,” she instantly reproached, waving a finger at me. “This is not the time to get overconfident. It is the time to prepare. The last thing you want is to lower your guard around Raithian.”
“I left him in bad shape, though. Before he used the explosion as a distraction, I used the scorching sand of the Desertlands to attack him. He is severely burned. That should deter him—”
Imogen adamantly shook her head. “He is never to be underestimated.”
Reluctantly nodding, Evanna sighed. “She’s right. Every time he loses a battle, he returns stronger than we ever thought possible,” she explained. “Even if you managed to hurt him, he will find a way to strike back.”
“Can he use a spell to heal himself?” I questioned, unfortunately still unsure of the full extent of our Devenish magic. My self-healing came from my dad’s ability, but it was intensified by my magic. It was the reason that ability now took over on its own, healing me whenever I needed it. It had evolved too.
“Not really. Unlike you, he’s not a healer,” my mentor answered. “He might be able to use a spell to speed the process though, so the scars can form and his pain ebb.”
“Okay. Don’t get cocky. Got it.” I murmured.
“Let’s gather everyone in the war room,” Evanna ordered, glancing at Imogen. “You are right, it’s time to prepare.” Once Imogen bowed her head and left, Evanna grinned up at me. “I mean, you can get a little cocky.”
“Thank you all for coming,” I greeted when Evie and I entered the war room. Kingston, Imogen, Skylar, the commanders, and all the Elevated Warriors were already there.
Even Willow joined us, wearing a riding suit similar to Evie’s instead of her usual dresses. She’d been riding with Draco and Kingston whenever possible since I brought Draco and her together as soulmates.
When I walked farther in, I noticed the living map in the center of the room had already activated, its energy swaying in and out of view while it remained idle, waiting for us to use it.
“I have already informed them of what occurred with Raithian,” my mentor assured.
“Everything?” Evie asked.
“Everything.”
“Thank you, that makes things easier.” The moment we reached the other side of the table, I let go of Evanna’s hand. “Show us the Crimson Fortress,” I requested from the map, and it instantly began to change.
Zooming in on its destination, the map shifted and moved until the Hollow rose fully in the center of the table, showing us a 3D replica not only of the haunting palace, but of its dark surroundings. The depiction was far more detailed than the last time I had seen it—when we planned the rescue of the slaves—its accuracy leaving me speechless. Or perhaps I had been so taken aback by the enchanted map the first time that I failed to fully grasp it.
Either way, the sight before me now, showed way more than what I’d expected, and that was not a good thing.
“These are the Molten Mountains of the Blazelands,” Evanna noted, probably realizing my shock.
“The Blazelands?” Confusion furrowed my brow when I glanced back at her. “I thought there were only seven territories.”
“There are,” she began to explain, pointing to the map. “The Outlands is not a territory, it’s what we called part of the Lost Kingdom after the devastation of war consumed it. The Blazelands is the seventh territory. What lies beyond the Outlands, where Raithian chose to build his fortress.”
Recognition swiftly engulfed me. I remembered the Dragons showing me the volcanoes and mountains that stretched along that land during the rite, where the demon of lava and fire lived. I had assumed all of that formed the Outlands, but I was wrong.
“I understand.” Leaning over the map, I reacquainted myself with it, after all, I had only seen it once. My eyes shifted to the Highlands on the opposite side. “This is where we entered the tunnel system in the mountains to access the Hollow last time.”
“Yes, but we won’t be able to take that route anymore,” Kingston offered, joining us at the table.
“He would be expecting it,” Imogen agreed. “We can’t take any route we have taken in the past. Raithian has blocked all of them with dark magic.”
“And his wards reach the sky,” Asher reminded. “No Dragon will be able to fly through it. Many were incinerated on contact after the Uprising. Not even leaving ashes to be found. Only Azazel can withstand its force… for obvious reasons.”
Based on what they had explained to me, the wards held an unusual power that was basically as dangerous as an atomic bomb. It was the very reason I believed that if Azazel were to cross into the Mirror World under the warlock’s influence, nothing would be able to stop him. If he was ever unleashed there, the human race was done.
He shook his head. “Our attack needs to come from the ground.”
“But that would limit us too much, wouldn’t it?” Quinn asked, stepping closer to her commander.
“It would. If we don’t have the Dragons…” Harper shook her head.
“We’ll have the Dragons,” I assured. “I’ll use my magic to take care of stripping the ward so we can fly in.”
Focusing my attention on the way each barrier surrounded the Hollow, almost in layered rings, I realized why Raithian had built it there. Between the foothills fencing it, the river of lava at its feet, and an actual curtain wall of stone and steel, the palace was almost impenetrable.
It definitely wasn’t built like any other castle I had ever seen—neither in the Mirror world, nor here. It almost made me wish we could sneak in through the tunnels again, even if that was the long way around.
“Are you sure your magic can disable the Warlock King’s wards?” Charlotte murmured, unsure if it was okay to ask that question.