Chapter 13

  OVERLOAD

  Several nights had passed without any news of the Becos. The apparent calm was a trap: a palpable tension hung in the air, as if everyone knew something big was about to happen. There was no sign of movement or imminent attack, yet that stillness kept everyone on edge, like a whisper of danger lurking in the shadows.

  In Julia’s office, a map spread across the table was the center of attention. Madame Liona, with her characteristic stern bearing, entered the room. Her sharp, calculating eyes swept over the witches who were explaining the Becos’ possible hideouts to Julia. Julia listened carefully, her fingers tracing the marked locations as she tried to assemble a puzzle with too many missing pieces.

  —Those places are ideal for hiding… —Madame Liona said, leaning over the map and scanning it analytically—. The Becos would need to feed on fresh flesh constantly. They must be close to forests. Attacking humans would be too risky—it would expose them. So these are the most likely hideouts. —She pointed to three spots on the map—: the abandoned mines, the WoodenBook camp, and the bat caves.

  The other witches exchanged uneasy looks. Liona added coldly:

  —It’s not safe to send any witch on this expedition. —Her voice hardened, sealing her decision—. Get a Besta and order it to send small creatures to investigate all three locations.

  Julia nodded without objection, though the tension between them was palpable. Their relationship had always been complicated, but united by a common goal, they managed to set their differences aside.

  —How is the warlock doing? —Julia asked, steering the conversation toward a delicate subject.

  Madame Liona sighed, her gaze drifting momentarily to a painting of Hecate hanging on the wall. The goddess’s solemn silhouette, illuminated by the dim candlelight, seemed to lend her strength.

  —Max has immense potential, but the eighteen years his magic was blocked have taken their toll. His energy is volatile. He can’t control the amounts he uses, and a small spell can turn into a catastrophe. —She paused, worry shadowing her face—. Let us pray Mother Hecate guides him. Though it worries me to say this… Max might be our best hope of winning this war.

  Madame Liona left the room with firm steps, her imposing figure gliding away like a shadow. As the door closed behind her, a heavy air of concern seemed to linger, as if gravity itself had shifted. The witches who remained exchanged uneasy glances, feeling that her silence had left more questions than answers.

  In the mansion’s courtyard—usually a place of peace and beauty, with perfectly kept gardens—chaos now reigned. Max, brow furrowed and face flushed with frustration, tried again and again to make his magic respond.

  —Tolle pondus, flue ad voluntatem meam —he recited firmly, impatience coloring his voice as he stared at a cup.

  Nothing happened. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried again.

  —Tolle pondus, flue ad voluntatem meam.

  This time, the cup vibrated. For a moment, Max thought he had succeeded—but then the cup shot forward like a projectile straight toward Melody, who had approached after hearing shouting and the sound of things crashing to the ground. Luckily, with a fluid motion of telekinesis, Melody stopped the object midair.

  —If your intention was to attack me with a cup, well done —she joked with a light laugh, catching it and handing it back to him.

  Max snorted, running a hand through his hair.

  —That wasn’t my intention. According to the book Julia gave me, the spell should only make the cup levitate gently. But when I try, it either doesn’t move at all or shoots off like a bullet.

  Melody studied him curiously, crossing her arms.

  —Why don’t you just use your gift? —She gestured to his hands—. You have natural telekinesis. You don’t need spells to make things float.

  Max frowned and raised a hand toward the cup to show her what happened. The instant he tried to move it, a burst of energy shook the air, throwing Melody backward. She hit the ground with a dull thud.

  —I’m sorry! —Max cried, rushing to help her up.

  Instead of getting angry, Melody smiled as she brushed dust off her clothes.

  —Now I get it —she said thoughtfully—. So many years without using your magic left you unbalanced.

  Her gaze turned mischievous—almost dangerous.

  —I think you need a magical overload to stabilize yourself.

  Max took a step back, uneasy.

  —Overload? What does that mean?

  —We’ll do a really powerful spell—one that requires a lot of energy. Quantum magic has several like that. Let me grab a special book. Come on, let’s do something spectacular!

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Melody’s excitement was palpable, like a child thrilled with a new toy. Max, on the other hand, was far from amused.

  —Are you sure this is a good idea? —he asked uncertainly.

  —Absolutely. Just trust me.

  She ran off toward the library, leaving Max alone in the courtyard. He sighed in resignation. He didn’t want to play along, but he knew arguing with her would be pointless. Besides, there was something in her overflowing enthusiasm that made him think this was more than an experiment—it was her way of coping with everything that was happening.

  Max looked at the cup in front of him, as if it might offer answers.

  “Talking isn’t her style,” he thought with a resigned smile. “I guess this is the closest thing to therapy for her.”

  Gabriel stepped out into the courtyard, drawn by the intense excitement he saw reflected in Melody’s eyes. Something about her expression intrigued him, though he couldn’t quite place why.

  He approached Max, who was sitting down, and handed him a cup of tea.

  —Thanks —Max said, taking it and kissing Gabriel softly on the cheek in gratitude.

  —How’s it going? —Gabriel asked, nodding toward the cup Max had been using for hours to practice his magic.

  —I almost hit Melody in the head with it —Max admitted, frustrated, taking a sip of tea to calm himself.

  Gabriel smiled, trying to encourage him.

  —At least you managed something.

  —Yeah… that’s true —Max replied with a faint smile.

  Gabriel glanced toward the path where Melody had disappeared moments earlier.

  —Why was she so excited?

  Max shrugged.

  —She says overloading my magic is the way to stabilize it —he answered, though his tone revealed he didn’t fully understand what that meant yet.

  Gabriel frowned, skeptical.

  —And how does she plan to do that?

  Max sighed.

  —With spells that require a huge amount of magical energy… basically, by blowing things up.

  That made Gabriel let out a nervous laugh.

  —Blowing things up? That girl needs therapy. —Concern was clear in his voice—. And you? Do you want to do this?

  Max hesitated, then nodded.

  —Maybe she’s right… I don’t know. I’m new to all of this, and her magic is the closest to mine. I trust her.

  Though unconvinced, Gabriel gave him an understanding smile.

  —It’s your decision. If you think it’s right, go ahead. Just know I’ll be by your side if things go wrong.

  Suddenly, Melody returned, carrying a book so ancient it looked ready to crumble. On its cover, the title read: Grimoire of Bolormaa. She sat on the ground in front of them, flipping eagerly through dust-covered pages until she found what she was looking for.

  —Here it is! —she exclaimed, showing the page to Max—. This spell causes a chain explosion by breaking down an object’s particles. It uses an incredible amount of magic, but to make it effective, you’ll cast it on something big… like the toolshed where they keep the gardening equipment. —The gleam in her eyes made it clear how much she enjoyed the idea of destruction.

  —Are you insane? —Gabriel interrupted, alarmed—. How do you plan to control an explosion of that magnitude?

  Melody raised a finger, anticipating the question.

  —Easy! With enchanted quartz crystals. —With a graceful motion, she made four crystals float and line up before them—. These will create a shield to contain the explosion, ensuring no one is in danger. —Her light, slightly eccentric laugh only made Gabriel more uneasy.

  —Melody, this sounds… risky —Gabriel insisted, looking at Max—. Are you sure?

  Max nodded firmly.

  —Gabriel, this place is full of witches. If something goes out of control, they can help us.

  Despite his doubts, Gabriel agreed with a mix of resignation and determination, silently promising himself not to let his guard down.

  They headed to the shed, where Melody swiftly and precisely placed the quartz crystals at each corner.

  —All set. You can begin, Max —she announced, stepping back.

  Max took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and extended his hands toward the shed, trying to empty his mind and focus on the spell.

  —Concuti omnem fragmentum, invoca scintillam, diffundatur destructio donec omnia pulvis fiant.

  He opened his eyes… but nothing happened.

  —Max —Melody said calmly—, destruction spells are born from anger. Find something that makes you furious and try again. —She placed her hands on his shoulders, lending her support.

  Max closed his eyes, letting his mind drift into the darkest corners of his memory. At last, he found it: the memory of the attack on the Grand Hall. The desperation, helplessness, and rage of that day wrapped around him like a burning cloak. He clung to those feelings, letting them grow until they consumed him entirely, turning them into fuel for his power.

  —Concuti omnem fragmentum, invoca scintillam, diffundatur destructio donec omnia pulvis fiant —he intoned, his voice rumbling like thunder.

  The instant he spoke the final words, his eyes ignited with an intense lavender glow, as if they contained the fury of a star. Mystical energy began to pour from his body, enveloping him in a crackling aura of power. Along his arms, ancient runes materialized as though carved into his skin by divine fire, glowing with the same hypnotic hue as his eyes.

  The shed, once harmless, began to vibrate violently. The walls shook, and incandescent lines appeared across its surface, tracing chaotic patterns that seemed to burn from within. The tension in the air became unbearable, as if space itself were on the verge of collapse.

  Max stood motionless at the center of it all, bathed in lavender light as the spell reached its peak. Then, with a deafening roar, a massive explosion erupted from the heart of the shed. Heat and force consumed everything, reducing the structure to ashes in mere seconds.

  Amid the chaos, Max remained standing, panting, his body still faintly glowing as the unleashed power slowly dissipated.

  He had destroyed the shed. Yet deep in his eyes, the spark of anger that had driven him still pulsed—a reminder that his battle had only just begun.

  —Your magic is lavender-colored… curious —Melody said, staring at Max in awe.

  The ground trembled beneath their feet. Melody watched in wonder, while Gabriel, horrified, noticed a crack forming in the shield created by the crystals.

  —Melody, the shield! —he shouted, but before he could do anything, it shattered, releasing the shockwave.

  Gabriel and Melody shut their eyes, bracing for the worst.

  But nothing happened.

  When they opened them, they saw Max holding back the shockwave with his telekinesis. His arms trembled from the strain, his veins glowing lavender, but he managed to dissipate it completely before collapsing to his knees, exhausted.

  From the mansion, the witches rushed out, stunned by what they had witnessed. Among them, Madame Liona watched Max with an expression of pride. A smile of hope lit up Max’s face when he saw her.

  —I knew it! —Melody shouted, jumping with excitement.

  Gabriel ran to Max, wrapped him in a tight embrace, and—heedless of the watching eyes around them—kissed him passionately, making it clear just how much he admired and loved him.