Page 94 of Did It Have To Be Gnomes?!
No one said anything or even moved for a good full minute, too busy trying to reteach their lungs how to breathe.
Sola let out a loudsquuuuawwwwk!And I was so glad to hear, to know, that she was alright.
We were all strewn around the room, except Chaos. Somehow, the kid had managed to remain standing the entire time. He was facing the no-longer-cursed seal, either spacing out or concentrating on it really hard.
Maybe because it was necromantic magic that had been released, he’d been able to let it fly past him, or maybe he’d made himself a personal shield or something. Who knew? Frankly, I didn’t really care as long as the kid—and everyone else—was okay.
There were gnomes all over the place—the little things had been blown around the room like debris—but most of them were dazed or just lying around like we were. A good number of them were retreating through the holes in the ceiling, so at least we knew they weren’t about to attack us again.
I hated them and didn’t want to be near them, but I didn’t have the energy to freak out or stand to get away, so I just… ignored them.
Or at least, I tried to.
“You okay back there, Win?”
He nodded against me. “Yes. You?”
“I’m good.”
“Sola?”
That made me smile. “She’s completely fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Thanks for catching me before I was blown to Oz.”
He snorted and kissed my temple. “Anytime.”
I looked over at Aeson and asked, “What about you, Ace?”
He nodded. “I’m fine.” He was still panting, just like me.
“No injuries?”
He grinned. “None at all. You?”
“I’m fine too.” I found Lyric, and for a split-second, I was scared they were seriously hurt because they were lying on their back with their arms and legs splayed out, but I could see their chest moving. “Lyric? You alright?”
They lifted a hand and waved it around. “I’m fine. Just thanking the magical universe I still have lungs. For a minute there, I didn’t think I did. You guys okay?”
Winter said, “We’re all good.” He turned his gaze back to Chaos, who was still just standing there. “What about you, Chaos? You okay?”
He didn’t reply, but his shoulders and back were moving with every deep breath he took. He was breathing hard and kinda fast, and it honestly looked a bit creepy from here.
Clucky was on his shoulder, but she looked to be in the same weird, frozen state as her practitioner.
Aeson made a face and got to his feet, approaching his brother. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before he rested a hand on Chaos’s free shoulder. “Morty? You good?”
Chaos took a few more deep breaths, then rolled his shoulders. When he turned around, everyone tensed, and fear made my heart race.
Chaos’s and Clucky’s eyes were glowing bright gold—just like the gnomes had been red earlier.
What the hell?
Gold?
The curse had been made with necromantic magic—gold magic.
