Chapter 63: The Decision to Destroy

As we stumbled back into the safety of the forest, the adrenaline from our narrow escape began to wear off, replaced by a heavy sense of urgency. The spell was safely tucked away in the ornate box, but Gabriel’s men were relentless. We needed a plan, and fast.

“We can’t let Gabriel get his hands on this,” I said, holding the box tightly. “The power it holds... it’s too dangerous.”

Nathanial nodded, his face grim. “Agreed. But what do we do with it? We can’t just hide it—he’ll find it eventually.”

A thought struck me, chilling in its finality. “We have to destroy it. The spell and the artifact. If they don’t exist, Gabriel can’t use them.”

Nathanial looked at me, his eyes filled with concern. “Destroying them won’t be easy. These are ancient, powerful items. We’ll need a special place and the right conditions.”

“We’ll have to find a way,” I insisted. “Gabriel’s closing in. If we don’t act quickly, he’ll catch us.”

We moved through the forest with purpose, keeping to the shadows and avo