Chapter 9: Where Magic Twists

“These trees weren’t this big yesterday,” Vaelira said, stepping over a thick root.

Edrin glanced up. The trunks were massive now, some wide enough to build a house inside. The canopy above let only small patches of light through, making the forest feel dim even though it was still morning.

“They’re old,” he said. “Real old. Look at that bark — nothing’s touched it in years.” Strange moss coated the trees. Some glowed faintly when the light caught them, like they held onto the sun a little too long.

Vaelira stopped walking for a moment, her staff tapped once against the ground. She didn’t say anything right away.

“Something’s wrong?” Thalen asked.

“...Yeah.” She frowned. “The codex feels off here. When I reach for the Aetherthreads, they’re… strained. Like they’re tangled or pulled in the wrong direction.”

Edrin blinked. “Uh… Aetherthreads?” Vaelira glanced at him. “Right. You don’t use magic.” She looked at the trees for a moment, then added, “Okay, think of it like this. Every mage uses the Codex, proper name is longer and… Doesn’t matter to you.” She pauses for a moment.”At the core you have Primordial Lexicon… Like a library of magic. You decipher runes from it, then read them and that’s how you cast them.” “And the threads?” “Aetherthreads connect you to that library. Usually, it’s smooth — you reach out, you find what you need.” She looked around at the twisted moss. “Here? It’s like trying to read a book underwater. The runes blur. The connection stutters.” Edrin scratched his head. “That sounds… bad” “It’s not good,” she said. “Could be the area’s just soaked in old magic. Or something else is pulling at the threads.” Thalen looked around now too, a little more tense. “Places like that exist. Ruins, cursed woods. Spots where the magic bends the rules. And even my connection to Soltheria here is… Different.”

Vaelira nodded. “Yeah. And this feels like one of them.”

A branch creaked high above them. Vaelira looked up, but saw nothing move in the leaves. “Whatever’s affecting the Codex…” she said, lowering her voice. “It’s not just magical. The air feels heavy.” Thalen nodded.

“Like a storm’s coming, but without the wind.” They walked in silence. The only sounds were their boots on damp earth and the distant drip of water from the leaves.

Then Edrin crouched suddenly. “Hold up.” Vaelira stepped closer, raising an eyebrow. “What is it?” “Tracks,” he said. “Big ones.”

He brushed away some fallen leaves. Clawed prints were sunk deep into the mud — far too wide to be a wolf or bear. The spacing was strange too, like the creature had limped or dragged a leg.

“See this?” Edrin pointed. “It’s unbalanced. Whatever made this… it’s not moving right.” Thalen frowned. “Could be wounded.” “Could be twisted,” Vaelira’s tone dropped. “If magic’s acting up here, who knows what it’s done to animals.” She looked at the moss again — some of it now curled in unnatural shapes, like it had tried to grow against gravity.

Edrin stood. “Whatever it is, it’s nearby. These are fresh.” They all glanced at each other.

“Should we keep following the path?” Thalen asked.

Vaelira gripped her staff a little tighter. “We’re not turning back now.” Edrin gave a short nod. “Alright. But keep your eyes open.” They moved on, slower now. The trail curved slightly, dipping into a low hollow. The light seemed dimmer here — like the trees had grown even closer together.

Vaelira didn’t say anything more, her grip on the staff tightening.

Behind them, something in the trees shifted — but didn’t make a sound.

Then the creature hit them.

It burst from the trees without warning — a blur of bark and twisted limbs crashing through the brush. Edrin barely had time to move. He stumbled back, drawing his bow on instinct.

The thing looked like a deer once. Now its body was half-covered in rough bark, legs too long and thin. Its eyes glowed faint blue, and frost clung to its sides like armor. Strange patterns shimmered along its antlers — runes, flickering and broken.

It screeched. Not a normal sound. it was sharp, raw — like magic gone wrong.

Thalen raised his shield just in time. The creature slammed into it with full force, knocking him back a step. “It’s corrupted!” He shouted. “Watch out!” Vaelira pulled her staff forward, already starting to cast. She focused, reaching for the codex. But the runes were strange — twisted, like they didn’t want to settle. Her hand trembled as she tried to read them.

Come on…

The spell slipped. Ice burst from her staff, but not where she meant it. A spike shot into a tree beside them, freezing the bark solid. The creature turned toward her.

Edrin loosed an arrow. It sank into the creature’s shoulder — but it didn’t stop. It charged at Vaelira, antlers low.

She gritted her teeth and forced the spell back under control. The threads were still fuzzy, but she could feel them shift. She tried again — slower, more careful.

The air around her dropped in temperature.

“Get clear!” She shouted.

Edrin rolled to the side, unleashing another arrow into the deer. Thalen raised his shield and rushed between her and the deer.

“What are you doing!?” “I can hold it long enough for your help!” Vaelira nodded and then her eyes flashed.

This time, it will work. She thought

Vaelira closed her eyes for a second. Just long enough to breathe.

She reached again — not fast this time, not forced. The codex was still blurred, but she focused on what she could see. One rune. Then the next. Slowly, carefully.

The frost answered.

A thin mist rolled from her fingertips. The air grew colder. Runes on her staff flickered to life, one after another. This time, they didn’t twist.

Her lips moved.

“Vel’arun thaess il’vorith.”

The words echoed through the trees. The creature paused mid-charge, something in its body twitching like it felt the spell coming.

Thalen held his ground, shield up. “Now!” Vaelira raised her staff — and brought it down.

A wave of ice burst from the ground in a sharp line, jagged and fast. It struck the creature’s legs, freezing them solid mid-step. The bark cracked. Frost climbed its limbs and held tight.

It shrieked again, but this time the sound was weaker.

Edrin didn’t wait. He loosed one more arrow. It slammed into the creature’s side — right between its ribs. It staggered.

Thalen stepped forward, raising his mace. “Soltheria, grant me strength,” he whispered.

The head of the weapon glowed with faint golden light — divine energy. He brought it down hard, striking the creature across the shoulder.

The bark cracked under the blow, divine light searing through the frost covered hide.

Vaelira raised her staff one last time. A sharp spear of ice formed at the tip and shot forward — fast and clean. It pierced the beast’s chest.

The glowing in its eyes flickered once.

Then went dark.

It slumped forward and didn’t move again.

For a moment, no one said anything. The air was still, cold hanging in the leaves.

Vaelira lowered her staff and let out a long breath with a grin. “Told you it’d work.” Thalen moved over to the struck beast, kneeling down. “What a poor creature… It once teemed with life, happily just enjoying itself…” he paused, closing his eyes. “Till this twist, the magic in the forest… Please Soltheria” he paused. ”Grant it the peace it deserves.” Edrin raised an eyebrow. “Praying for a beast?” “Every living creature deserves a prayer for itself. That’s why I pray before eating my food, Edrin.”

Vaelira sat down on a low rock nearby, the cold still clinging to her fingers. “Let’s take a moment. My head’s still spinning after that spell.” Edrin gave a nod and moved a few steps off the trail. Keeping watch while others caught their breath.

The frost on the ground was already melting, leaving the earth damp beneath Vaelira’s boots.

She looked around slowly. Something still felt off. Not just from the fight — deeper than that.

Then her eyes caught something strange in the dirt, just past where the beast had charged from.

She stood, stepped closer, and crouched down. “Wait… there’s something here.”

“What is it?” Thalen asked, rising to his feet.

Vaelira brushed aside a layer of leaves. Beneath them was a faint sigil — drawn in chalk, half-faded by time and weather. “Someone cast something here,” she said.

Edrin stepped up beside her, eyes narrowing. “That symbol mean anything to you?” “It’s part of a trigger ward. Old, but stable.” Vaelira looked closer. “And recent. This wasn’t here long ago.” Edrin knelt beside her. “Found something else.” A single bootprint. Pressed deep into the mud, half-covered by moss. It was lighter than his own, a slimmer shape.

He tapped it with one finger. “Someone’s been here. Not long before us.” Vaelira stared at it for a moment.

And then, between the trees — a flicker of movement.

A cloak. Deep red. Just for a second.

Her eyes locked on it. “Marwyn.” “What?” Edrin turned his head.

“I saw her,” Vaelira said quickly, already standing. “Just there — she was watching.” “Are you sure?”

Vaelira was already moving. “Yes.” They ran after her — feet pounding through damp underbrush. Branches snapped underfoot. But when they reached the spot…

Nothing.

The trees stood still. No movement. No trail.

“She’s gone,” Vaelira said.

Edrin scanned the area, but the tracks ended in soft moss.

“She didn’t want to be found,” he said.

Vaelira looked back toward the sigil. “She’s looking too. And she’s ahead of us.” Vaelira narrowed her eyes. “Probably couldn’t get past the beast. We did her a favor.”

Thalen stepped beside them, glancing between the trees. “Wait—who’s Marwyn?” Vaelira didn’t take her eyes off the woods. “A mage. We met her back in Winter’s Rest.” “She was chasing the same thing we are,” Edrin added. “Frost’s Embrace.” Thalen frowned. “And she just… Followed us into this forest?” “Seems like it.” Vaelira crossed her arms. “Or maybe she was ahead of us the whole time. Laying wards. Tracking signs.” “She doesn’t seem the type to help out,” Edrin said.

“No,” Vaelira nodded. “But she’s smart. She used us to get closer to her goal.” Thalen looked between them. “Then she’s not just chasing legends. She knows what she’s doing.” “Exactly,” Vaelira sighed. “Which means we need to move faster.”

Edrin adjusted the strap on his bow. “Think she’s still close?” “Doubt it,” Vaelira said. “She’s good at slipping away. Probably watching from somewhere else already.” Thalen tilted his head. “Do you trust her?” Vaelira chuckled. “Not even a little.” “She’s sharp,” Edrin added. “But too smug. Doesn’t strike me as the team player type. At least for the ones that seek the same thing as her.” Thalen gave a slow nod. “But if she’s ahead of us… she might reach whatever’s hidden here first.” Vaelira tapped her staff against the ground. “Then we better make sure she doesn’t.”

They stood in silence for a few moments, catching breath. The forest around them had gone quiet again.

Edrin finally broke the silence. “Still weird to think all this is for a spell. Just a name most people would laugh off.” Vaelira looked at him. “You’ve seen what magic does. It’s not just stories.”

“Didn’t say it was.” He gave her a smile. “Just saying. Chasing something old and powerful in a creepy forest? It’s very you.”

Vaelira rolled her eyes. “Oh shut up.” Thalen chuckled. “At least you admit it now” She sighed, but couldn’t stop the small grin forming on her face. “Come on. We’ve still got ground to cover.”

The trees had changed again. Their trunks no longer grew straight, but curved and spiraled like they were trying to twist away from something. One tree bent in on itself, bark split in strange, perfect lines.

Runes flickered faintly in the air between branches — not drawn, just… there. Hanging.

“This part of the forest looks even worse,” Edrin said, pulling a branch out of his way.

Vaelira stepped slower now. Her fingers brushed her staff. “We’re close to something. The codex is leaking here.” Thalen glanced up, eyes narrowing at the floating runes. “You mean this isn’t normal?” “No,” Vaelira said quietly. “When a place becomes too soaked in magic — the Lexicon sometimes slips through. It’s not supposed to be visible. But here…”

She pointed ahead. The air shimmered. Like heat haze, but colder. Thin strands floated above the ground, swaying with no wind. Some stretched between trees like webs. Others drifted loose, vanishing when touched by light.

“Aetherthreads,” she said, staring. “They’re… visible.” Thalen stepped carefully beside her, not letting his shield drop. “That’s not a good thing, is it?” “It’s not supposed to happen,” she said. “But it means we’re near something powerful.” A soft glow came from the left. Vaelira turned toward it and walked a few steps off the path.

In the center of a clearing stood something that looked like a flower, but made of crystal and faint light. Its petals were wide, almost like runes carved into glass. Energy pulsed at its center — not fast, but steady. The ground around it was untouched, no moss, no leaves.

Vaelira didn’t speak right away. She just stared.

Vaelira stepped closer to the bloom. The light from it wasn’t bright, but it made the shadows around her stretch and bend in strange ways.

Thalen held out a hand. “Vaelira. Don’t touch it.” “I wasn’t going to.” Her voice was quiet. “But look at this.”

The threads in the air shimmered more clearly here — thin strands of light dancing around the bloom, some pulling toward it, others drifting away like broken spiderwebs. They shifted when she moved.

Edrin stood beside her now, arms crossed. “So what is it?” “I think…” She leaned in slightly. “It’s not a flower. It’s a memory. A trace left behind when a spell was cast. Maybe something went wrong. Or maybe it was too strong.” Thalen lowered his hand slowly. “You mean it’s still casting?” “No. But it’s leaking.” She gestured toward the pulsing center. “Bits of the Lexicon are stuck here. This is what happens when magic doesn’t settle properly. It… echoes.” Edrin frowned. “Could that be what twisted the beast?” “Could be,” Vaelira said. “Or something worse.” They stood there a moment longer, the glow pulsing softly, steady as a heartbeat.

Then Vaelira took a step back. “Let’s move. We’ve seen enough.” Thalen looked relieved. “Agreed.” They left the clearing, careful not to disturb the threads. As they walked, the shimmer faded behind them, swallowed again by the forest.

For a while, no one spoke.

Only the sound of leaves underfoot and the hush of strange, distant wind.

Vaelira didn’t look back. But her grip on the staff stayed tight.

The threads shimmered in the air.

And she still didn’t know what they were leading her toward.