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Chapter 409
“Ralin told us you needed help,” Leesa said to Ariandre. “Is that what you need—help getting something back? What is it? And where is it?”
Ariandre considered Leesa’s questions for a moment. “The answers to your questions are both simple and complex,” she said finally. “The Seven and their companions should be here soon. Can we wait until they arrive so I can explain matters to all of you at once?”
Leesa didn’t really want to wait, but she realized nothing was likely to happen until after the Miracles arrived. After all, they were the ones Ariandre had intentionally brought into this world to aid her. Leesa was glad to hear they were expected soon—she was curious to meet them. She had been a lot like them a few years ago—a teenager with magical powers. She hoped her experiences might prove useful for them.
“I guess we can wait…as long as it’s not too long.&rdqu
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Leesa's Advent Chapter 412
The morning passes much like yesterday—a difficult, boring hike through a series of dim, narrow pathways littered with loose stones which must be stepped on or over very carefully. I keep reminding myself that boring beats most of the alternatives in a place like this, and I make sure to enjoy and appreciate the brief chances I get to walk beside Kai when a crevice widens enough to permit it.As before, determining the passage of time is difficult during our almost subterranean journey, but the muscles in my thighs are telling me we’ve walked for several hours so far without a break. That’s okay, though, because every step is bringing us closer to our goal, which Kai has promised we’ll reach sometime later today—barring any delay.When Kai stops short just a few moments later, I silently curse myself for thinking about delays. Looking over his shoulder, I see the reason he’s halted.The rift we’ve been following for the
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As the newcomers appeared out of the forest, Leesa felt as if she had stepped into her dream. She recognized each of them, and knew at least a little something about all of them, except for the last one, a warrior who looked so much like Kai she guessed he must be Kai’s brother. He was the only one she had not seen in her dream.The first girl to emerge from the trees had been Leah, the one Leesa felt the most kinship toward. Leah’s eyes had been wide with surprise. Leesa didn’t know if it was the sight of Ariandre, or of two humans from Leah’s own world.Once they were all out of the shadows of the trees, Ariandre pranced forward.“Welcome, Miracles,” she greeted. “And brave soldiers as well. I am Ariandre. It is I who brought you here. I thank you for accepting my summons.”She turned to Kai. “It is good to see you again, my friend. You have done well. Thank you.”Kai acknowledged the co
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Ariandre reached up and pulled the bandage off her forehead, exposing a perfectly round hole in her flawless skin. The wound looked to be nearly an inch deep. There was no sign of scabbing or blood—it was as if someone had drilled a neat hole into her head and somehow cauterized any bleeding.Her guests stared at the strange-looking wound, wondering what could have caused it. Leesa thought that perhaps Dominic could focus his magic precisely enough to cut such a hole, but otherwise she was as clueless as the others. She wondered if this world contained someone with magic as powerful and controlled as Dominic’s. She hoped not.“I guess this is the best place to start,” Ariandre said. “Kai and Raj noticed it right away, of course, though they were too polite to mention it.” She gently touched her forehead. “Someone has stolen my horn.”“You had a horn?” Leah blurted. She thought the experiences of the last few weeks had prepared her for almost anything, but Ariandre’s simple statement t
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Rave lept forward, throwing himself into a somersault that brought him up beneath the scorpion’s belly, safe from its pincers and stinger. He could think of no way to use his volkaane fire to slay the thing—funneling the fire down the creature’s throat seemed implausible. Instead, he placed both hands on the beast’s underside and thrust upward with all the strength in his powerful legs, using the scorpion’s own momentum as well as his supernatural strength to heave it up and over Leesa, Kai and Leah.The scorpion landed with a loud thud twenty feet behind them. Unhurt, it immediately twisted around to resume its attack, but Leah was ready now. Still sitting on the ground where she had fallen, she let loose a powerful blast of red and orange fire. The flames enveloped the beast, reducing it to a pile of smoking ash in seconds.Kai crouched down beside Leah. “Are you hurt?”Leah shook her head and smiled. “Only my pr
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