The tension from the king’s warning still clung to the air as Aric and I made our way toward the edge of the city, where the wards were said to be located. I kept pace beside him, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. The idea of sabotage didn’t sit well with me. If someone had really tampered with the city’s defenses, what else could they be planning?

Aric hadn’t said much since we’d left the castle. He moved with purpose, his face set in that same hard mask I was starting to get used to. But I could tell something was eating at him. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders tense, like he was holding himself back from snapping.

I decided to break the silence. “So... what exactly are we looking for when we get to the wards?”

“Signs of tampering,” Aric replied, not breaking his stride. “Anything out of place. The ward-keepers maintain the magic, but I’ll need to check it myself to see if it’s been disrupted.”

“Right,” I muttered. I wasn’t sure what I expected “ward tampering” to look like, but I doubted I’d recognize it.

As we passed through the crowded streets, my thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of someone calling out.

“Aric! Over here!”

Aric stopped abruptly, his head snapping toward the voice. I followed his gaze and saw a young woman weaving through the bustling market crowd, her face lit up with a bright smile.

She was about Aric’s height, with long auburn hair that swayed as she practically bounced toward us. Her emerald-green robes were embroidered with intricate symbols that shimmered in the light—clearly marking her as someone important. The energy radiating off her was almost palpable.

Aric let out a long-suffering sigh. “What are you doing here?”

“Hello to you too, brother,” she said, grinning as she came to a stop in front of us. Her eyes flicked to me, curiosity sparking in her expression. “And who’s this? Don’t tell me you’ve made a friend.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Aric cut in. “This is Cal, he’s a fallen who’s proved peaceful. He’s under my protection.”

“Ahhh, the peaceful fallen,” she said, looking me up and down with interest. “I’ve heard about you! You must have so much untapped potential.” She clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Oh, this is wonderful. You must let me teach him!”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh... teach me?”

Aric shot her a look. “We don’t have time for this, Elara.”

“Elara, huh?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “And you’re Aric’s sister?”

Elara grinned. “The one and only! And yes, I’m the much more charming and pleasant sibling, in case you were wondering.”

“Enough,” Aric snapped, clearly not in the mood for banter. “We’re on our way to investigate the wards. There’s no time for distractions.”

Elara waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, relax, Aric. It won’t take long. Besides, if Cal is going to be stuck in this world, he should at least learn how to use the magic he has access to. You can’t just keep him running around untrained.”

Aric’s jaw tightened. “He’s not ready.”

“And how will he ever be ready if you don’t let him practice?” Elara countered, her tone still light but with an undeniable logic behind it. “He’s got the potential to be powerful, Aric. You know that!”

I glanced between the two of them, feeling a little like a kid caught between arguing parents. As much as I didn’t want to get in the middle of a sibling spat, I had to admit that the idea of learning how to control my magic was... appealing.

Aric crossed his arms, clearly torn. “We have more important matters to deal with right now.”

Elara’s smile didn’t waver. “It won’t take long, I promise. Just one spell, teleportation—wouldn't that be so useful?”

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Aric opened his mouth to argue, then hesitated. I could see the conflict on his face—he didn’t like the idea, but at the same time, he knew she had a point.

Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. But make it quick.”

Elara clapped her hands in delight. “Perfect! You won’t regret this, I promise.”

I wasn’t sure about that, but I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to learn something useful. Elara motioned for me to follow her a few steps away from Aric, her bubbly energy practically infectious.

“Alright, Cal,” she said, her voice bright with excitement. “Teleportation is actually easier than it sounds, especially for someone who has as much magical potential as you. You’re going to love it.”

I nodded, trying to focus. “Okay, what do I do?”

“First, close your eyes,” Elara instructed. “Now, picture a place you’ve been to before—somewhere you can see clearly in your mind. It has to be a place you’ve seen.”

I furrowed my brow, thinking back to the castle. The room I’d been given there was still fresh in my mind, every detail clear. I could picture the bed, the desk, the window overlooking the city below.

“I’ve got it,” I said.

“Good,” Elara continued. “Now, focus on that image. Feel it. Imagine yourself standing there, and let the magic pull you toward it.”

I took a deep breath, concentrating on the image in my mind. I could feel the faint hum of magic beneath my skin, like a low vibration. I wasn’t sure how to pull it, but I tried to focus on the sensation, letting it guide me.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then, with a sharp tug, the world seemed to lurch around me. My stomach flipped, and I felt a rush of air, like I was being pulled through a narrow tunnel. The sensation was dizzying, and when I opened my eyes, I wasn’t standing in the street anymore.

I was back in my room at the castle.

I blinked, trying to steady myself. The teleportation had been fast—instantaneous, really—but the sensation of moving that quickly left my head spinning. I took a moment to catch my breath, looking around the room to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.

“Wow,” I muttered. “I actually did it.”

I tried again, this time trying to return to Aric and Elara. Another sharp tug, and I found myself back in the street where I’d started, Elara standing in front of me with a delighted grin.

“Well?” she asked. “How was it?”

I let out a shaky laugh. “That was... insane.”

“See?” Elara said, turning to Aric with a triumphant smile. “He’s a natural.”

Aric didn’t look particularly pleased, but he didn’t argue. “Just don’t use it without thinking,” he said sternly. “Teleportation, like any form of magic, is dangerous if you’re not careful.”

I nodded quickly. “Got it.”

Elara clapped me on the shoulder, beaming. “Now you’ve got one of the most useful spells in your arsenal. You’ll be zipping around in no time.”

I couldn’t help but smile. The idea of being able to teleport wherever I wanted was... well, pretty damn cool.

Elara stretched her arms over her head, her energy still as bright as ever. “Well, I think that’s enough excitement for today. I’ve got a shopping trip in Silverport I need to finish.”

“Shopping?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, yes,” she said, laughing. “A girl’s got to treat herself, right? I’m picking up some potions and maybe a new spellbook. You know, the usual.”

She turned to Aric with a wink. “Try not to be too grumpy while I’m gone, will you?”

Aric rolled his eyes. “Just don’t get into trouble.”

Elara blew him a kiss, and got pulled through a portal, leaving nothing but a faint shimmer in the air where she’d stood.

For a moment, everything was still. I stood there, trying to process what had just happened, while Aric let out a long, weary sigh.

“She’s ... a lot,” I said finally.

“She’s reckless,” Aric muttered, crossing his arms. “But she knows what she’s doing.”

I glanced at him, trying to read his expression. For all his grumbling, I could tell there was a lot of respect—and maybe even affection—underneath the surface.

“Thanks for letting her teach me,” I said.

Aric looked at me for a moment, then gave a reluctant nod. “Just don’t get cocky. One teleportation spell doesn’t make you invincible.”

I chuckled. “Trust me, I’m not getting ahead of myself.”

Aric nodded, and without another word, he motioned for us to continue toward the wards. I followed, feeling a little more confident than I had before.

Maybe I was finally starting to get the hang of this.