Briar paced the length of her garden, the blackened patch of soil glaring at her like an open wound. Every time she glanced at it, her heart twisted with a mix of frustration and fear. The corruption wasn’t slowing down—it was spreading, inch by inch, tainting the earth and creeping closer to the rest of her plants. If she didn’t stop it soon, her entire garden could fall under Calder’s curse.

She knelt by the edge of the tainted soil, her hand still throbbing from where the thorn had pricked her earlier. Briar unwrapped the cloth from her palm, staring at the small, black puncture wound that hadn’t yet healed. It pulsed with a dark, unsettling energy, and every time she looked at it, she felt the same presence that Calder had brought with him—a shadowy, corrupt force that was far beyond anything she’d encountered.

"Think, Briar," she muttered to herself. "There has to be a way to cleanse this."

Her usual methods—focusing her magic into the earth, willing the soil to heal—weren’t working. The darkness in the ground wasn’t just a magical imbalance; it was deliberate, insidious. It felt alive, resisting her every attempt to purge it.

As Briar stood up, determined to try again, she heard footsteps rushing up the path. Myrtle appeared, panting and out of breath, with a determined look on her face.

"I got Magda," Myrtle said, her voice breathless. "She’s coming, but I wanted to get back here to help you. This dark magic—it's not just affecting the soil, is it?"

Briar shook her head, her voice tight with worry. "No. I think it’s spreading beyond the garden. I can feel it. And I think it’s tied to me. Ever since Calder showed up, something’s been… wrong."

Myrtle frowned, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the blackened soil. "Do you think it’s connected to the elements? Could this curse be targeting the balance you worked so hard to restore?"

Briar bit her lip, her thoughts racing. "Maybe. Calder seemed to know about the storm, about what I did with the elements. What if this is his way of breaking that balance again? To force me into accepting his offer?"

Myrtle crossed her arms, her face set in a determined expression. "If that’s the case, then there has to be a way to fight back. If this curse is connected to the elements, we’ll use the elements to break it."

Briar’s eyes lit up with sudden hope. "You’re right. Maybe I’ve been approaching this the wrong way. Instead of trying to cleanse the soil with just my own magic, I need to use the power of the elements themselves."

Myrtle grinned. "Now we’re talking. What’s the plan?"

Briar took a deep breath, her mind racing with ideas. The curse was too strong for her magic alone, but if she could draw power from the elements—earth, water, air, and fire—she might be able to channel that energy into the soil and break the curse. It was risky, but it was the best idea she had.

"We’ll need all four elements," Briar said, her voice steady with determination. "I can draw power from the earth, but I’ll need water from the creek, air to carry the magic, and fire to purify the curse. It has to be a perfect balance, or the curse will resist."

Myrtle nodded. "I’ll get the water from the creek. You focus on the other elements. Let’s break this thing."

Briar smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude for her friend. "Thanks, Myrtle. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Myrtle waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, please. We’re in this together. Let’s just hope we don’t blow up the garden in the process."

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Briar chuckled, though her nerves still fluttered beneath the surface. As Myrtle hurried off toward the creek, Briar knelt by the tainted soil, closing her eyes and reaching for the earth beneath her. She let her magic flow gently, coaxing the energy from the ground, feeling for the connection she had always had with the soil.

But this time, something was different.

The earth was still there, steady and strong, but the connection felt… fractured. The dark magic had created cracks in the balance, and Briar could feel the corruption pulsing beneath the surface, resisting her every touch. It was like trying to pull a thorn from deep inside the earth—painful and dangerous.

She focused harder, letting the magic build as she willed the earth to respond. Slowly, she felt the familiar hum of earth magic rising, stronger this time, but still fragile. She would need more than just the earth to break this curse.

Myrtle returned moments later, carrying a small bucket of water from the creek. "Got the water," she said, setting it down next to Briar. "Now, what about air and fire?"

Briar nodded, her mind already working on how to bring the other elements into play. "We’ll use the wind to carry the magic through the soil, to spread the energy evenly. And for fire…" She hesitated. Fire had always been the hardest element for her to control, and with the curse already fighting back, she wasn’t sure if she could handle it.

Myrtle seemed to sense her hesitation. "I can help with the fire," she offered. "I’ve been practicing with Magda’s herbs. We can burn something small, something controlled, just enough to purify the soil without letting it get out of hand."

Briar smiled, grateful once again for Myrtle’s unshakable support. "Alright. Let’s do this."

With Myrtle by her side, Briar carefully placed her hands on the ground, focusing her magic into the earth once more. She drew from the power of the soil, letting the energy flow up through her fingertips, stronger this time, more focused. Myrtle stood beside her, sprinkling a handful of dried herbs into the blackened soil, then lighting them with a small flame from the matchbox she carried.

The fire burned softly, its heat warming the air around them. Briar could feel the magic building, the energy of the earth and fire beginning to meld together. The corruption pulsed beneath the surface, resisting, but Briar didn’t let up.

"Now for the water," Briar said, nodding to Myrtle.

Myrtle carefully poured the creek water over the tainted soil, letting it soak into the ground. The water sizzled as it met the fire, steam rising into the air. Briar felt the connection strengthen as the three elements—earth, fire, and water—combined, creating a web of energy that flowed through the soil like veins.

"Now," Briar whispered, her voice trembling with concentration, "we need air."

The wind, which had been calm up until now, began to stir. Briar could feel the air around them shifting, responding to the magic in the earth. She let the wind carry her magic, spreading it through the garden, weaving the elements together like threads in a tapestry.

For a long, tense moment, nothing happened. The corruption still clung to the soil, black and twisted, refusing to let go.

But then, slowly, the darkness began to fade.

The blackened soil lightened, the twisted vines retreating as the curse was slowly burned away by the combined power of the elements. The earth, once tainted and sick, began to heal. Briar could feel it—feel the balance returning, the harmony being restored.

As the last of the corruption faded, the garden seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The plants, which had been wilting under the weight of the curse, perked up, their leaves unfurling as if they had been freed from a heavy burden.

Briar let out a long breath, her body trembling with exhaustion but her heart filled with relief. "We did it."

Myrtle grinned, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Of course we did. You’re amazing, Briar."

Briar smiled, though her thoughts were still racing. The garden was safe, for now, but Calder’s shadow still loomed large in her mind. This had been more than just an attack on her garden—it had been a message. Calder wasn’t finished with her.

Myrtle seemed to sense Briar’s unease. "You okay?"

Briar nodded slowly, though her gaze lingered on the patch of soil that had once been blackened. "I’m just wondering… what comes next?"

Myrtle placed a comforting hand on Briar’s shoulder. "Whatever it is, we’ll face it. Together."

Briar smiled, though her mind was already turning toward the next challenge. Calder’s visit had shaken her confidence, but it had also made one thing clear—her magic, her garden, her very identity as a witch was under threat. And she wasn’t going to let him win.

"I’ll be ready," Briar said softly, her eyes shining with determination. "Whatever Calder has planned, I’ll be ready."