Jessica followed the signal. This one was different. An erratic humming kept buzzing through her skull. Since Gwen left, she had been constantly using her sensitivity to magic to detect mist users. After a few days, it had been fine-tuned to new levels, and she could use it without backlash. She slowed down, unsure about what to do. This signal was unlike anything she had felt before. Did I find them? Is it Jake and Gareth? She walked further into the wilderness. A forest loomed in the distance, her steps bringing it ever closer.

  The call brought her deep into the woods. She stopped and looked around. This was the location from which the signal originated. There was no one: just trees, moss, and a few boulders. But the humming was getting ever stronger. The star student sat on a log, confused. What should I do now? Just wait here? No books had prepared her for this kind of situation. No book could have. She felt lost. Grandmaster, why did you give me this quest? The air on her neck stood on end. Behind me! It felt like someone was watching her. But she saw nothing unusual. The humming was now almost a shriek, splitting her skull with a hot, burning headache. I’m just making things up now. Gwen, I wish you were here with me.

  The humming stopped. She reeled at the change, almost losing her balance. Floating in the air, a huge, deformed bubble started to form. It warped the scenery in a grotesque, nearly obscene way. It grew so much that the trees on the other side appeared to be upside down. Then the giant boil burst open, like the fabric of space was ripped apart. A disgusting squelching noise was heard as a wave of greyish goo was vomited on the humus. It slowly moved outward, claiming the ground, pink iridescent lines shining on it, playing with the light.

  Jessica sprang to her feet, gaping. Then the stench hit her. It smelled like rotting death finally freed from a coffin. Both hands on her nose she felt tears in her eyes. Her feet shuffled backward involuntarily and she tripped on the log, falling on her back with a gasp.

  A dozen small shapes, slightly bigger than rats, creeped out of the goo. Their blind head was full of tendrils, tasting the air, searching for life to feed on. Two clumsy, huge pincers were used to slowly crawl. Their back ended in a tail, a bit like a lobster. Jessica sprang to her feet. The creatures stopped. Tendrils tensed at her, vibrating slightly. They coiled on themself. And didn’t move.

  Jessica's body was trembling nervously, her heart pumping blood like never before. Books didn’t prepare her; but nature did. She turned around to flee. A strange noise was heard, like an organic coil being released. Twelve projectiles of death jumped in her direction. Most missed her, dropping all around her. Flanking her. Surrounding their prey. Two latched on her legs, their claws piercing the flesh, drawing blood.

  The scholar screamed in pain and wobbled. She didn’t fall, if fleeing was not an option then she would fight. With trembling hands, she let her backpack drop and took the bag of pink mist spheres. She cracked one in her fist. A soft pink halo wrapped around her hand. A creature jumped toward her face, her punch sent it flying back. It fell on the ground with a soft squelch, turned around, shook like a dog coming out of the water, and resumed crawling toward the beacon of life.

  Jessica used sphere after sphere, sending the monsters away, but not doing any visible damage either. The pincers on her legs never let go, the pressure was getting stronger and stronger. Pain was a soft background noise now. Three nightmare lobsters jumped at her chest. She fell backward under the assault, screaming, failing to push them away. In a panic, her hand searched the bag for a sphere. She fumbled for the last three of them and clenched a fist to break them together. A strong pink halo glowed from her fist. A primal scream tore her throat. It was life refusing to die, in a final burst of strength she got back on her knees. Pincers were about to snap around her neck. Jessica threw her last overpowered attack. It went through the creature, who exploded with a soft squelch, splattering greyish-pink goo meters away. The monsters shrieked and jumped all together toward the murderer. Jessica collapsed under the onslaught.

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  ***

  Meanwhile, at the College of Magic, in a room that looked like a small cathedral, the Grandmaster and two students were making preparations. Meryn brushed her dark hair backward, then resumed etching a big magic circle on the ground. Eleonora sat nearby on a huge stone chair, carved from the rock. Big soft pillows protected her from the hardness and cold of the stone while she meditated. A bright crystal lay in her hands, its light slowly diminishing while a sparkly aura grew around her gold curls. The grandmaster was reading some huge books lying open on a big stone table. He was writing a note in the margin from time to time, a slight frown on his face.

  Meryn broke the silence, “Grandmaster, it’s ready.” The wizard finished scribbling something and then calmly walked toward the magic circles. He paced around them, his gaze locked on the intricate pattern. With a nod, he said, “Excellent work, Meryn. Eleonora?” A ruffle of fabric, and then the sweet, melodic voice answered, “I’m ready, Grandmaster.” The old man turned toward his students and laid a hand on their shoulders. He gave them a warm smile, “Let’s begin.”

  Eleonora took a new crystal, almost painfully bright. She walked toward a pedestal sitting on a smaller magic circle, laying her free hand on it, palm against the stone. Then, feeling the connection, she slowly let the accumulated power flow toward the bigger circle. The lines on the ground grew bright and started pulsating like a heartbeat. Meryn stood behind her, hands laid on her friend's shoulders. Eleonora’s eyes were closed, her face focused with tension. She whispered, “I’ll keep you safe.”

  The Grandmaster moved to a smaller stone table. Several small, intricate circles were carved on it. He observed the big magic circle powering up, then, when the time was right, he held his hands on the table. Around his fingers, the circle shone green, answering the call. His body tensed as he shaped the power, and a green half-sphere engulfed the middle of the room. The Grandmaster’s other hand hovered over a dark, unholy-looking circle. “Eleonora, now!” he ordered. The pulse of power channeled by the woman quickened and grew stronger. The young student's face winced in pain as the light of the crystal she held decreased quickly. Then relief was seen on her face, and she relaxed as she felt the pain being absorbed by her friend. Behind her, Meryn was shaking, all her muscles tense. Deep dark circles under her eyes were spreading fast.

  Inside the green dome, a shape slowly appeared. It was a strange creature, slightly bigger than a rat. It seemed it had no eyes. Tendrils covered its face and were slowly moving through the air. It had two large pincers that were used to slowly crawl on the stone floor. Its back ended in a tail, a bit like a lobster. When it reached the green dome, it slashed at it with surprising speed and power. But the barrier held fast.

  The Grandmaster looked at it for a while. Then his gaze moved to his dwindling students. Eleonora’s glow had faded to almost nothing. Blood was trickling from Meryn’s nose. The old man sighed, “Progress, it’s the first time we summon one of those weaklings. Failure, that’s not what I need.” Holding the barrier in place, he moved his hand from the dark circle to a slightly pulsing blue one. As he activated it, a giant crystal etched in the ceiling lit up. A thundering crack was heard as a bolt of lightning struck the creature. When the smoke faded away, only burned black crisp remained.

  The Grandmaster walked to a shelf and took three potions. He handed one to each female. They accepted it with trembling hands. “Excellent work today, well done. I know I can always count on you.” They drank in silence. A shade of color returned on the students’ faces as the beverage took effect. Meryn's expression remained grave. She grew pensive and finally said, “Grandmaster, what about Jessica? I worry about her, alone out there.” The Grandmaster pondered for a moment and then gave her a warm smile. “I’m sure Jessica is fine. If anything, she is safer than us.” He finished with an earthy chuckle. Meryn gave a small smile, but the worry didn’t leave her face. Eleonora slowly leaned on her friend’s shoulder. “I can’t stand up anymore, can you help me to our room?” Meryn delicately took the small woman in her arms. “Of course, let’s go.” As they left the room, the Grandmaster watched them with a smile on his face. Then, when they disappeared through the door, the smile dropped. He slowly walked back to the big table with the books and muttered, “I have new calculations to make.”

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