Huter stood firm, his voice resolute as he faced his mother. “This ends now, Mother,” he declared, water magic swirling around him in a shimmering vortex. The Queen, her eyes burning with defiance, responded with a powerful wave, attempting to engulf Huter. He countered with a barrier of ice, which shattered under her assault but bought him enough time to launch a retaliatory strike. Jets of water, sharp as blades, flew towards Duhilen, who deflected them with practiced ease.
Summoning a torrent from the palace fountains, Huter directed it towards his mother in a spiraling column. Duhilen, with a flick of her wrist, split the torrent into harmless streams. Frustrated, Huter manipulated the streams into a ring of water that enclosed her. As the ring tightened, Duhilen exerted her strength, freezing the ring and shattering it into a cascade of ice shards. Huter, undeterred, created a dense fog that enveloped the throne room, obscuring their vision. Through the mist, he sent tendrils of water snaking towards her, aiming to bind her movements. Duhilen, sensing the danger, dispelled the fog with a burst of energy, the tendrils evaporating into steam.
Before the conflict could escalate further, Orin stepped between them, disentangling Huter’s magical constructs. “Stop this madness!” he demanded, his voice echoing with authority. “Talk to her, Huter. This isn't the solution.” He turned to Queen Duhilen, his tone softening. “Your fear of losing your child, the curse—it has driven you to this. It doesn't excuse the suffering you’ve caused to the Mindwalkers, but it explains your actions. The decision, however, lies with Tio now.”
Tio looked at Huter, his heart heavy with a mix of love and sorrow. “Don’t hurt her,” he implored. “But don’t forgive her either. Let that be her punishment.” Queen Duhilen, her eyes blazing with rage, lashed out with her water magic, aiming to suffocate Tio. In a swift, coordinated move, Huter and Orin blocked her attack, deflecting the water away. Disappointment etched on her face, Duhilen readied for another assault, but Huter raised his hand, summoning all his water magic. The Queen froze as the air hummed with power as Huter began a very ancient and powerful incantation meant to erase memories.
Hvarj and the Necromancer, realizing the gravity of the spell, moved to intervene, but Lysandra and Orin held them back. “No time for another fight,” Orin warned, his gaze locked with Hvarj’s. Knowing Orin’s prowess, Hvarj stepped back. The incantation reached its peak, and a light blue thread left the Queen's head, disappearing as it touched the ground. When it faded, Duhilen’s eyes were empty of recognition; she no longer remembered her son or the curse that had plagued her life. Now a new queen, a new woman stood there, unburdened by fear and distrust.
As the realization of what he had done set in, everyone in the room was struck silent. Tio, more affected than anyone, looked at Huter, pain and confusion in his eyes. “Why did you erase all her memories of you?” he sighed. Huter met his gaze, his voice heavy with emotion. “My mother died a long time ago. This woman... she’s not my mother anymore. I’d rather she live without me than continue to cause pain and death.” The depth of Huter’s sacrifice stunned them all, revealing a strength they had underestimated.
Hvarj and the Necromancer exchanged glances, recognizing the immense power Huter wielded. Huter then addressed them, his tone authoritative yet respectful. “I ask you both to be the new chancellors of the Queen, to protect her and our people.” Then he turned to Orin, sensing his concern. Orin proposed a deal, aiming to secure a future free of persecution. “We’ll leave the Elves’ realm, but the Elves must swear their magic to fight the darkness.” Hvarj, acknowledging the fairness of the proposal, agreed, and the Necromancer sealed the pact.
With the city and the new Queen under their care, Hvarj and the Necromancer prepared to train new Raincallers for the battles ahead. Before departing, Huter hugged his mother one last time, whispering, “You will be a great queen.” As they turned to leave, Lysandra, Orin, and Tio had words of parting ready, but Huter led them toward the city wall, signaling the start of their new journey. It was time to leave the past behind and face the challenges that awaited them beyond the realm of the Elves.
As they walked away from the Elves' realm, Lysandra, Orin, and Tio couldn’t shake the worry they felt for Huter. The weight of what he had done was immense, and it cast a shadow over their victory. Several times, they tried to start a conversation, but each attempt felt awkward and stilted. Tio, growing increasingly frustrated, finally stopped in his tracks and turned to Huter. “We need to talk about it,” he insisted, his voice tense. “You need to say something, Huter. We can’t just go on like this like nothing happened.”
Huter met Tio’s piercing blue gaze, the sadness in his own eyes clear. “My mother died when my father was killed in battle,” he began, his voice steady but laced with pain. “After that, she became consumed by fear and the curse. She saw threats everywhere, even in me. I lived in a gilded cage, Tio, while outside, people suffered and died because of her paranoia. I always wanted to change things, but I was terrified that I might be the one to bring destruction to our people, just as the curse foretold.”
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He paused, looking at each of his friends in turn. “But then I met you. You gave me strength and a new purpose. For the first time in my life, I had friends. I wasn’t alone anymore.” His voice softened. “I did what I had to do, for my mother, for our people, and for us. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the only way to ensure that fear and madness wouldn’t continue to rule.”
Moved by Huter’s words, Lysandra, Orin, and Tio closed the distance between them and enveloped him in a tight embrace. The silent comfort of their shared bond spoke volumes. They knew that what Huter had done required a courage few could muster. As they stood there, united in their shared purpose and the trials they had faced, it was clear that their friendship was their greatest strength.
“It’s time to go home,” Lysandra said softly, breaking the embrace. She and Huter joined their powers, creating a shimmering portal to Paris. Orin gently picked up Tio, who was still weak from their ordeal. “Once we’re home, I’ll heal you with Earth magic,” Orin promised. Tio nodded, grateful for his friend’s support.
As they stepped through the portal, the familiar sights and sounds of Paris greeted them. Just then, Orin’s phone began to ring, breaking the momentary silence. He answered it, his expression shifting from surprise to concern. Whatever awaited them on the other side of that call, they knew they would face it together, stronger than ever.
Orin’s heart raced as he heard the urgent tone of the nurse on the other end of the phone call, informing him that his mother’s condition had declined. The news hit him like a ton of bricks, and in a state of shock, he turned to Lysandra. “I need you to come with me,” he said, his voice trembling. “Huter can take care of Tio for now.” Lysandra nodded without hesitation, her face set with determination.
They rushed to the hospital, their minds swirling with worry. Upon arrival, they were met with confusion. The staff assured Orin that no one had called him and that his mother’s condition, while still critical, had not changed. Bewildered, Orin and Lysandra quickly scanned the area, checking the magical barrier they had meticulously constructed to protect his mother. Everything seemed intact, the spellwork holding firm. Orin’s phone rang again, the screen displaying an unknown number. He answered it, his pulse quickening with a mixture of dread and anticipation. “Hello?” he said cautiously.
“Orin,” a familiar, chilling voice purred. “It’s Eileen. I must say, I’m impressed by the strength of the barrier you’ve built around your mother. But it won’t hold forever. I will find a way through, and she will release the dark power she’s keeping imprisoned, one way or another.” Orin’s initial shock gave way to anger. “What do you want, Eileen?” he demanded, his voice steady despite the fury bubbling beneath the surface.
A malicious laugh echoed through the phone. “I already have what I want,” she replied. In the background, Orin heard a voice that made his blood run cold. Huter was screaming. Lysandra, who was listening on speaker, stepped closer, her eyes wide with horror. “What do you want with our friends?” she asked, her voice a mix of anger and desperation.
Eileen’s tone was smug. “I need a powerful Mindwalker, someone who can unlock the secrets of the mind. Your dear friend Tio will do nicely. As for your mother, her fall is inevitable, and then the real battle will begin.” Orin’s grip tightened on his phone, his knuckles white. “You won’t get away with this, Eileen,” he spat. “Oh, but I already have, my dear” Eileen replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “Prepare yourself, Orin. The darkness is coming, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”
The call ended, leaving Orin and Lysandra standing in stunned silence. The reality of Eileen’s threat hung heavily in the air. Orin’s thoughts raced, desperately trying to formulate a plan. His mother, Huter, Tio – they were all in grave danger, and time was running out. “We need to get back,” Lysandra said, breaking the silence. “Huter and Tio need us.”Orin nodded, steeling himself for the battle ahead. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice firm.
They rushed back home, their hearts pounding with fear and determination. Upon arrival, they found signs of a fierce battle. The room was in disarray, with scorch marks and shattered furniture strewn about. Their eyes widened in horror as they saw Huter, badly injured and unconscious, lying in a pool of his own blood. His wounds were deep, and his breathing was shallow. There was no sign of Tio. Orin immediately knelt beside Huter, his hands glowing with a soft green light as he channeled his Earth magic to heal his friend. The wounds began to close, and Huter’s breathing steadied. Lysandra, her face etched with worry, stood back and began to summon her Air magic, sensing any traces of dark magic that might lead them to Tio.
“We need something to follow,” she muttered, her eyes closed in concentration. “Anything that can give us a clue.” Orin glanced up at her, his expression grim. “Eileen has taken Tio, and who knows what she plans to do with him.” As Huter’s wounds continued to heal, Lysandra’s eyes snapped open. “I’ve got something,” she said, her voice filled with a mix of relief and urgency. “A trail of dark magic. It’s faint, but it’s there.” Orin nodded, helping Huter to his feet. “We’ll find him,” he said, his voice resolute. “This has gone too far, it’s time to bring Tio back.”