Page 52 of Fading Sun

I’ve trained for this. Well, not for this specific task, but in using my sun magic as precisely as possible.

“We won’t fail.” I turn to look at the others, sizing up the locations of their crystals. “Hold your crystals so they’re level with each other. It’ll make it easier for me to direct the light through them.”

They do as asked, triple checking to make sure the crystals are evenly lined up.

Damien’s standing closest to me. Which means I’m directing my light through his crystal first.

I take a deep breath, and my magic’s warmth swells inside me, a bright sphere of energy eager to break free and show its power.

Damien’s expression is serious as he holds his crystal steady.

I only have one shot at this. So, I visualize the beam of light, honing it to a fine point in my mind.

I can’t blast it forward like I would in battle. This needs to be steady and precise.

Now.

The golden beam streams forward, a dazzling line of energy that hits Damien’s crystal perfectly, illuminating it with a brilliant flare. The light’s filling it, reacting inside it, begging to be released.

I’m ready to nudge it in a single beam toward Morgan’s crystal, but the light splits before I can, breaking into a prism of colors I didn’t know my powers could produce.

None of them come close to hitting my target.

My heart sinks.

I failed.

I can’t bring myself to look at the others. Especially not at Damien.

The monks exchange glances, their expressions somber. “It was a good try,” the Abbot says. “But you failed the trial, and now must find another entrance to the mystical realm.”

I glance at Morgan, desperation creeping into the pit of my stomach. “There has to be another way,” I say, praying she’ll use her magic to figure this out for us.

The door is right there. We have no idea where another entrance is around here to the mystical realm, which means we have to take this one.

Morgan doesn’t reply. Damien’s staring at the giant crystal on the door as if he can make it explode with his mind, and Blaze’s hand is inching toward the hilt of the dagger.

What’s he going to do?

Attack the monks?

He can’t attack monks. They’re peaceful. Defenseless. Using our strength against them would be wrong on so many levels.

I glance at the crystal in Damien’s hand—the one I hit with my light.

It’s totally intact.

“Let’s try again,” I decide.

“The crystals can only handle one beam of light,” the Abbot repeats. “You’re done here.”

“We’re not done.” I keep my focus on Damien, who’s unfazed by the situation. “Hold the crystal back up.”

For a moment, I wonder if he’s going to say no.

“Focus harder this time,” he tells me, and thankfully, he returns the crystal back to where it was.

Morgan and Blaze ready their crystals as well, ignoring the monks.

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