Elizah let her pouch fall into the grass and sat down slowly. She didn’t want to go home, not yet. She looked into the reflecting surface of the lake, and she was lost. There was no way that she could hide all the items she had about magic from her household within the time she had. She wasn’t scared of death, but she was somewhat afraid about how her loved ones would manage without her.

Micah, Roxanne and most importantly, Jayden. How would he cope with seeing her being faced with death?

She didn’t cry but instead laid flat on the grass and relaxed slowly. She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. She connected to the life force of her surroundings. She watched it in amazement as the organisms radiated life around her. There was always something new for her to see despite the many times she’d ventured in and out of the place.

She moved slowly towards a small orb of dark swirling mass and placed her hands around it. She tried to let the warmth of her palms into the dark ball but failed miserably and looked at the orb as the cold iced her veins.

It seemed to be something that was utterly rejecting everything she usually did to any dark force but was far more powerful. She tried to bring her hands towards the object repeatedly, but each time it pushed her harder back.

After some time, she was pulled out of her mixed up haze of constantly reaching out of the object when she heard a voice calling her out.

“Liz, is everything okay?” Jayden asked and touched her arm gently.

She looked around her and tried to map the location of where she’d felt the object and found a small dead patch of grass. It was strange to see that different patch, but it grew into a patch of lush green grass once again within moments.

She felt something strangely rejuvenating and like a flame through her veins, wiping away what was the anxiety and fear inside.

Jayden just continued to watch in confusion as Elizah touched the grass again and again as if she was petting an animal. He, too, had seen magic miracles, but this was a level beyond.

“What just happened?” he asked her and sat beside her.

“I’m not really sure. It was something I’ve been trying out for a long while now. I just hadn’t expected this to happen just yet,” Elizah said and still watched everything.

“Is it a trick that Jade was showing you a few days ago, for the dark half of your magic?” Jayden asked her with a small smile.

Elizah nodded, and she continued to touch the small patch of grass that was growing so fast but stopped altogether.

“But what does that do?” Jayden asked curiously.

“It was a trick where you can take energy from any other being and use it within yourself to improve the bearer’s power. It was something quite interesting,” Elizah said, and a broad smile grew on her face.

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“I can sense that you’re still worried,” Jayden said softly and took her idle hand away from the grass.

“Look, I know it’s time,” Elizah said softly. They both knew that they’d have to run or die one day.

“What do you have in mind?” Jayden asked her and her glance moved up to meet his.

“I’m going to give myself up,” Elizah said calmly, despite her words.

Jayden knew that it was a possibility that she might say that. Knowing Elizah, he thought she’d give up, but not so easy.

“You are doing no such thing,” Jayden said and helped her up. Her calm facade barely faltered. He was still clutching her hands, and her eyes were brimming with tears, which she tried her hardest to hide from him.

“I’m not sure there’s another way,” Elizah said, and she still didn’t falter.

“There must be another way,” Jayden said and gulped down the fear he had buried inside him. “Look, I’ll even be willing to help you if I have to,” he said, and Elizah still looked worried.

“There’s honestly no way that I can clear everything that’s related to magic from my room by tomorrow morning,” Elizah said and let the tears finally fall.

“I’m not afraid of the consequences. I’m not afraid of death,” Elizah said, and Jayden put his hand on her shoulder, “But I have something I want to tell you first.”

Jayden gave her a confused glance and moved back a bit before Elizah moved closer with a smile.

“Remember I told you to wait for my response?” Elizah said and gently kissed Jayden on the cheek, and Jayden went red in the face and was stunned while Elizah laughed.

“Did I surprise you?” Elizah asked, and Jayden only smiled and put a hand on Elizah’s cheek.

“Not really, I have just been waiting too long for this,” Jayden said and leaned in for a kiss. Elizah returned the kiss with equal intensity. She had a fluttering feeling inside her chest when they moved apart slowly.

“Now, I can die with no regrets,” Elizah said with a smile, and her cheeks were flushed.

“Don’t you dare say that, please,” Jayden was pleading now, “don’t you have another option?”

“I could run, but I’ll be worried about you, my mother, and Micah. I’d rather die alone,” Elizah said softly, and although she wanted to be strong, she felt her fingers tremble again.

“No. Just don’t think about that possibility altogether,” Jayden said. He placed his arm on her shaking shoulder as the tears streamed down her cheeks. He lifted his fingers and gently brushed them aside. After a while, she met his gaze again.

“I don’t know what other way I possibly have left,” Elizah said, and her voice was rough.

“Look, I have ways that I can postpone the day they come to search. Besides that, they always come days later than they should,” Jayden said with his glance changed from a grim one to a mildly optimistic one.

“Honestly, I’ve given up on this,” Elizah said and leaned over on a tree.

“Well, I haven’t. Maybe you can run?” Jayden said, and he still glanced up at her.

“I can’t.. I can’t run-- alone. It would destroy Micah and my mother. Losing them is one thing I can’t afford,” Elizah said and let more tears fall.

“I didn’t mean you will run alone you idiot, I’m coming with you,” Jayden said, “There is one option I have for that.”

Elizah gave him a confused glance,” How do you possibly plan to do that?”

Jayden smiled and said softly, “Elizah, I wish you’d give me the honour of being your light for the rest of your life. I’ll never make you feel like you have to run alone. Elizah Cohen, will you become the next Larkspear princess?”