A/N: Sorry about the lengthy delay. I had to add the entire top 3k words to the story and got distracted by a new ship several times along the way. There shouldn't be any more similar droughts for the rest of the story.
Standard Disclaimer: These lovely characters ain't mine, I just play with them gently. Please don't sue me. The mistakes are mine, though.
Chapter 20 – A Journey Interrupted
Now halfway between the idyllic lake and the outskirts of the sprawling forest they have been venturing through, Regina can still feel waves pure frustration wafting from Snow. For just a moment, Regina had let down her guard, allowing Snow nearly bypass her defenses than she had in a very long time – not since that last futile attempt to persuade Regina to drop their feud rather than be executed. To sneak so close to victory only to have it snatched away at the last second had to be a kick in the teeth from a bucking stallion. Imagining the metaphor as reality makes Regina smile.
Maybe she won't be so quick to take a mile when given an inch, she thinks, then immediately dismisses the possibility as highly unlikely. Snow has yet to learn when to give up on anyone or anything, especially Regina, therefore asking her to now seems as rational as asking ice to not be cold. Frankly there seems more chance of hot ice than Snow giving up on mending their broken relationship.
"We're almost there," she yells over the clap of Lucas's hooves upon the golden thoroughfare. When Snow's grumpy grunt of acknowledgement is not followed up by a snarky comment, Regina settles back in for the rest of the ride, content to revel in the petty amusement her companion's discontent inspires.
No more is said for quite some time. Minutes pass by as if seconds and then an hour as if half that. Lucas makes good time upon the Yellow Brick Road, having really hit his stride upon the increasingly smooth surface, which is owed both to the forest starting to thin and their encroaching proximity to the capitol. For that reason, they emerge into a wide, rolling plain just in time to catch the nethermost rim of the sun dip down below the inverted earthen bowl that conceals it each and every night. Regina reins in Lucas to momentarily enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view.
In the near distance, the Emerald City is nestled within a crescent valley encircled on three sides by a towering mountain range that eclipses anything to be found in the Enchanted Forest. Tall jade spires jut into the air like tapering fingers raised in greeting to those who have just broken free from the oppressive darkness of the forest. An enormous wall dotted with siege towers encircles the entire city, so vast and high as to defy the imagination. Meanwhile the Yellow Brick Road, which snakes a sinuous path through a lowland dotted with hedgerows and modest copses of oaks and cottonwood trees, slithers ever onward until terminating at the great gate towers buttressing the central portion of the wall. As long as Regina lives, she will never forget this moment and how tiny and insignificant she felt in the face of such magnificent splendor.
"Wow," Snow says, equally awestruck. "That's a really big city."
Regina chuckles. "You have a gift for understatement, dear. But yes, it is quite impressive is it not?"
She feels rather than sees Snow's answering nod as her eyes settle upon the great domed palace situated at the center of the Citadel's massive commons. Her heart speeds up and her muscles flex in anticipation. Their target is at last in sight. Somewhere within those walls they will either find a map detailing the exact location of the Grove they are seeking or else ferret out someone who has been there. And then they can get on with the business of saving Red.
A jubilant smile spreads across her lips as she makes to spur Lucas on toward their next objective on this all-important quest. But just before she kicks, Snow gasps and tightens her arms reflexively tighten around Regina's waist. She cranes her neck to the limit to see what's wrong only to find Snow staring out to the right. Regina follows her companion's eyes and echoes the surprise she heard moments ago upon glimpsing a line of horsemen approaching their flank. Soldiers in chainmail and tabards of green and gold with longswords at their hips. Regina curses herself. In her exuberance at being so near to the Emerald City, she had failed to spy out their surroundings upon exiting the forest.
For a split second she considers spurring Lucas onward and racing the mounted squad to the gates of the city but dismisses the idea as impractical. Not only is Lucas unaccustomed to such lengthy gallops and is unsuited to the task of outpacing military-bred horses, fleeing now will attract the sort of unwanted attention they have been trying to avoid. Her actions back in the village with Darion withstanding, stealth is by far the preferable approach to entering the city without prompting any suspicion. If they do not face these men here and now, either to explain their presence in a satisfactory manner or dispose of them by other means, they will be chased all the way to the gates. In which case their journey would come to an abrupt end. Regina is powerful. Powerful enough to take this squad without breaking a sweat. But the garrison housed within the Citadel is another matter entirely. In other words, there is no choice but to stay and handle the situation whatever it takes.
"I'm going to try and talk us out of this," Regina tells Snow as they watch the handful of men dismount thirty yards or so away then begin to approach on foot. "But if I can't, be ready to fight."
"Alright," Snow replies, tension radiating from her frame as she slips her arms from around Regina's waist. "Just try to be nice this time."
Regina plasters on a politicking grin. "I was nice last time." She then fixates on the soldiers before Snow can say another word and guides Lucas to turn toward them. "Greetings, gentlemen. My name is Regina and my companion here is called Snow. We're here to visit family in the Emerald City." The swiftly conjured lie flows as naturally as honey from the comb.
The squad leader deliberately locks on to their weapons as he and his men form a perpendicular line to them. "Visiting family in the city armed to the teeth? I find that interesting."
A man of middle age, the captain is of average height and is well built with long, flowing raven locks and a neatly trimmed beard. Fox-like eyes peak out from beneath thick brows, clever eyes that are adept at spotting untruths if Regina is any reliable judge. His expression conveys a cynicism that is unlikely to be swayed with words alone. As subtly as she can, she starts gathering magic at her fingertips.
"You shouldn't," she answers. "Our weapons are merely for our protection. Surely you understand there are many dangers out there for two women far from home and traveling alone."
The captain rests his hand on the pommel of his sword. "Of course. Then again, my men and I patrol this area daily and I've had this post going on a decade. Never seen you two before today. That makes me inclined to be suspicious. Surely you understand."
Regina grits her teeth at having her words so casually tossed back into her face. Mastering her emotions, she nods a concession. "Certainly. You have a job to do and you are doing it well from where I sit. As for your other concern, you wouldn't have ever seen us before. Our relatives only recently moved to the City. This is our first visit."
The captain's dark brows arch with unconcealed interest. "Oh? Where are you from then?"
"A little backwash village to the south far away from here. You wouldn't have heard of it."
"Ah! What a pleasant coincidence." The captain's expression melts into a smarmy, reptilian smile. "I also hail from the south and know every hamlet between here and Quadling Country. What's the name of your village? I might even have visited during my youthful adventures."
With every word, Regina feels the noose tightening around their necks. She's talked herself into a corner now and knows she probably won't be able to wiggle out without giving them away. Though their intentions being sussed out is probably a mere formality now. The captain clearly has already taken their measure with great accuracy. All that remains is for someone to make the first move.
"Unlikely," she says, using her peripheral vision to watch for any hint of movement from the other men lined up before them. "As I said, it's a nowhere village several miles west of the Green Lake. Not many come through our parts. Which is the reason our relatives relocated."
"Hmmm. As of two years ago, there were no villages west of Green Lake. I think you're lying. That said, I'm a reasonable man. Tell me why you're really here and I might just be persuaded to let you go."
Regina is also good at spotting lies, and that is as surely one as those she has been spouting. She also does not need an interpreter to translate the greedy way she and Snow are now being eyed by the captain or the rest of his men. Their mouths are practically watering like a pack of starving hyenas who fortuitously stumbled across two fresh doe carcasses. There will be no convincing these men to let them go without purchasing their silence with gold or their bodies, and neither of those options are up for discussion. Only one avenue of escape remains.
"Somehow I doubt that," she says, a spell already formulating in the back of her mind. "However, in the interest of expedience, I'll tell you why we're here."
"Regina..."
Regina cuts off Snow's objection by reaching back and grasping her arm tightly. "Quiet now. Remember what I said? We'll be going with option number two." Although Snow returns the grip on her arm with as much force as she can muster, she obeys Regina by surreptitiously sliding her left hand down to grasp at her sword only to stiffen upon remembrance that she'd loaned it to Jefferson. Not rubbing Snow's nose in the stink of that foolish decision will be very difficult for Regina should they survive this encounter.
To the Captain, she then says, "Forgive the interruption. Where was I? Oh, yes. I was about to tell you that I'm here to kill that green-skinned bitch you call a ruler."
Widening eyes and the flinching muscles of a forearm grasping a sword handle provide Regina all the impetus she needs. Without warning, she summons a fireball and lobs it at the Captain, only for him to swerve out of the way at the last second. His men scatter like rats shouting at the top of their lungs, "Sorceress! Sorceress! She's gonna roast us all!" Only his iron will in the form of sternly barked commands corrals them before they scamper away, leaving him to Regina's mercy.
While this is happening, Snow deftly rolls off of Lucas, slides her bow off her shoulders, nocks her first arrow, and takes up position at Lucas's wide rear flank. Regina joins her companion on the ground, albeit wedged between Lucas and Snow and their foes. As the soldiers begin to charge over the thirty yards separating them, she unsheathes her sword in preparation for combat. When the squad is halfway across, a breath of air gusts past her cheek, preceded by the thwap of a bowstring against leather bracers. An arrow lodges into the eye of the man to the Captain's left. Five heartbeats later, another thwap and the man at the Captain's right falls with an arrow shaft through his throat.
Two down, four to go. Save some for me, Snow, Regina thinks, sneer in place as she tightens her grip on her sword.
One more assailant dies before Regina enters the fray, the leftmost man who takes Snow's final arrow to the temple. He drops like a felled log to the enraged cries of his comrades. And then surge at Regina, who grins as the rush of combat descends upon her. Springing forward, she meets them a few feet in front of Lucas. The men now flanking the Captain advance on her first, hoping to corral her and then push her back until Lucas's massive bulk is hemming her in so that they can finish her off much more easily.
Fat chance of that. I'd rather die on the attack than be transformed into a human sieve.
Needing to take the initiative, she remembers the advice of her old fencing instructor. A veteran of many wars, he used to regale Regina with tales of his battlefield exploits as he put her through the paces with a grueling intensity she would later learn to appreciate. Normally, as per her parents' instruction, he only focused on the mano a mano engagements typical of fencing competitions, but there were exceptions. In addition to being hyper-competitive Regina is a curious soul by nature, so she kept imploring him for massed combat training until he eventually caved to her stubbornness. His first lesson included roping in a couple of stable hands that were decent swordsmen to teach her several methods to overcome disadvantageous odds. The one she came to prefer was striking out immediately and aggressively at the most formidable opponent in the hopes that eliminating them would demoralize the others, thus creating holes in their defenses via rage or fear or rendering them ineffective altogether when her attentions turned to them after the main target was down.
Utilizing that tactic is a giant risk, but it's one I have to take. Regina grits her teeth as dreadful resolve spurs her forward. In a matter of seconds, she will either have dispatched her enemies or she will be dead. And that's just the sort of high pressure, zero margin for error environment she was bred and painstakingly prepared to thrive in.
Ducking under a swiping blade as she closes in, she rolls forward head over hell, pops back up on her feet agile as a cat, and cuts through the Captain's lagging defenses before his men can even respond to her unexpected offensive. Two parries of sideswipes, one block of an overhead swing, and a sidestep of a slash at his gut are all the veteran soldier can muster before Regina neatly skirts his clumsy, rushed reply and slides her blade into the left side of his chest. After a choked groan, he falls backward to the ground with a great thud.
Everything stops for several heartbeats. Regina surveying her kill with prideful satisfaction and the remaining soldiers looking on in shocked dismay. Then a voice in the back of her head starts screaming that the fight isn't over yet. Turning back toward the two men left standing, she levels them with an inviting smile.
"Who's next?" she says, then assumes her favorite pose, knees slightly bent, sword arm at a ninety degree angle over her head with her other arm extended out.
And then something unexpected happens. The two men glance at one another, a frenzied conversation taking place in the midst of the tense silence. One of them cuts eyes back toward the forest, the other nods, and a split second later they are both sprinting away as fast as their feet can carry them.
Ordinarily, Regina might have let them go. But this mission being what it is means she cannot afford to leave survivors of this encounter to potentially spread news of what has happened back to the city. Back to Zelena. That can't happen. Red's life depends upon it.
The men are barely away when Regina casts a spell that binds the legs of one, sending him careening forward into the dirt. The other she spears through the spine with her sword in one clean toss, a skill she has always been rather proud of. He falls in a heap of jellied limbs then goes still. With the final remaining opponent disabled, Regina takes her sweet time fetching her sword out of the back of the man she skewered and then saunters over to the remaining victim waiting to be dispatched.
"She'll stop you," the man says, eyes wild with terror and rage.
Regina smiles confidently, all teeth and no quarter. "I don't think she will. You've seen what I can do. I'm her equal in magic and no one here is my equal with the blade."
"You haven't met Jilly yet."
Regina's brow quirks up. "Who?"
"The most dangerous and beautiful woman in the realm. She's killed more men than anybody but the Witch since she came here. Best with the sword, too," the man boasts, clearly believing his assertion.
She has never heard of such a person, which is not that surprising seeing as she knows next to nothing about Oz except what little her prior research and her experience to date traveling through this strange world has yielded. Not that it would matter if she had anyway. Whoever should oppose the mission to save Red will meet the same fate as these men. Be it Zelena or this Jilly character.
"Not anymore, she's not," she says. "And I'd wager her kill count pales in comparison with mine." That old, familiar streak of malice creeps outside of its container then, and as Snow lingers hesitantly behind her shoulder, she strides up into the soldier's personal space. "When the Witch came to my realm, cursed my wife and killed our friend, she awakened a monster that has been sleeping for a very long time. Well, she's awake now. Awake and thirsty for blood. So I do hope I come across this Jilly person while I'm here. I'd love to add another trophy to my already impressive collection, which is about to grow by one."
Just as the man opens up his mouth to reply, Regina flicks her wrist, a grotesque sneer twisting her lips, and spears her razor sharp blade upward through the soft tissue of the man's underjaw. Eyes blowing wide, he gurgles helplessly as blood gushes from the wound. Upon encountering the expected resistance of bone at the top of his mouth, she pushes harder until she feels his palate give way to inevitability. And then the blade slides home into gelatinous gray matter. She watches with grim satisfaction as her victim's eyes glossify, he twitches a time or two, and then goes limp as a ragdoll. To prevent herself from being knocked over along with him, she swiftly slides her sword free then gives him a helpful shove backward. The ground thuds with the impact of the sixth man to be relieved of the pains of life in as many minutes.
"Regina...why? He was helpless!"
The disgust evident in that question is enough to provoke Regina's fury. She swirls on Snow, blade dripping blood, eyes flashing with an animus that refuses to abate after the excitement of the kill.
"Don't you dare question my methods. If I had let him go, he would've run to the first village, saddled a horse, and rode straight for the City. And then what would have become of our quest? I could not permit that to happen. I did what I had to do, just as I warned you I would before we departed." When Snow does not respond, appearing far too terrified, she glances around at the bodies strewn about the field and realizes they cannot afford to leave them there. Discovery would surely sound an alarm that might end their expedition prematurely. "Now, help me dispose of these bodies."
Snow gapes at her a heartbeat before squawking out her reply. "How are we supposed to do that? Last I checked we don't have any shovels."
Out of the corner of her eye, Regina glimpses the line of trees and shrubs announcing the forests end. A fantastic plan then pops into her mind. "Who said anything about burying them? There's a perfectly good forest nearby teeming with all sorts of creatures, many of whom I'm sure are quite famished. We'll simply load the bodies up on Lucas here and deliver them a hearty meal."
For a second it looks like Snow might object to the callous but efficient plan, but then she catches Regina's glare and wisely thinks better of it. "Fine. Let's get this over with and be on our way."
"I couldn't agree more, dear," Regina says, smiling, and then they go about the unwholesome business at hand.
The process of dragging six bodies over to Lucas, hoisting them with great difficulty up and over his back two per load so that they are draped over him like fleshy blankets, and then guiding Lucas back into the fringes of the forest where they quickly unload them takes far longer than Regina would have preferred. But Snow does not complain any more and they get the job done, so she is rather happy with the results. By the time they are done, the sun has nearly disappeared, leaving them little time with which to complete the journey to the Emerald City. While would be more prudent to camp out in the forest for the night and wait until dawn to resume the journey, Regina is uninterested in prudence.
They set out back down the Yellow Brick road immediately after making their last deposit within the forest. As Regina spurs Lucas into a steady trot, she offers an earnest prayer to any gods that may be listening that the rest of the ride prove uneventful. And for once, miracle of all miracles, they actually listen.
It takes another two hours and change for them to reach the outskirts of the Emerald City on horseback. The ride is accomplished in total silence, for which Regina is eternally grateful. Any more of Snow's uppity lip and she'd have seriously contemplated unseating her with Lucas at full gallop.
Once right outside the city gates, they find an available hitching post where Regina carefully ties Lucas. Before leaving him, she casts wards over him just in case. She can't have any harm coming to the beautiful creature who is fast burrowing into her heart.
With their transportation secure, they spend another half-hour attempting to infiltrate the loosely guarded entrances. Night has fallen in earnest, so only a skeleton crew is left to man the posts at each lofty gate within the city's impressive siege walls. After much frustration, they are finally able to slip through by feigning they belong to a party of bedraggled merchants. Regina aids the disguise by magically altering their clothes to appear more dirty and crude. The road-weary group are filtering into the city to sell their wares when the markets open on the morrow at dawn, which is drawing much nearer than Regina would have preferred. Already the faintest hints of red and orange can be seen over the horizon. They must hurry if they're to use the cover of night to slip inside the castle.
Once through the gates, they immediately make their way toward the palace from whence Zelena has long ruled Oz unopposed. As they arrive at a row of bronze statues nearby a large courtyard surrounding the Palace, Regina spots their hired hand awaiting them.
Darion is nonchalantly leaning back against a depiction of a stout, bearded human man clutching the hand of a tall, lithe faerie woman with pointed ears that curve slightly backward rather than straight up as those of the elves. Each holds a bejeweled eagle scepter in the outer hand, arms extended toward the sky. The engraving on the pedestal is barely visible with the low light of the many wrought-iron lamps lining the street. It reads:
KING PASTORIA AND QUEEN LURLINE
VICTORS OVER THE DARK ELVES AND VANQUISHERS OF THE BEAST FOREVER
MAY THEIR REIGN BE PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS
"I've done as you asked," Darion says in lieu of greeting, arresting Regina's attention from the marvelous statue. "The Witch departed hours ago. Now, release me from my oath and pay me what I'm owed."
Regina appraises him slowly, pleased that he squirms uncomfortably under her gaze. "Not until you've done one last thing," she says, no quarter to be found in her tone. "Is there a way in to the palace we can use to avoid detection? Zelena may be gone but I'm sure she has alerted her servants and guards to be on the lookout for us."
Darion narrows his eyes, looking like he wishes to refuse. His resolve wavers under Regina's relentless glare. "There is a way," he sighs. "A servant's entrance to the east is attached to the scullery. Maids and guards are almost constantly milling in and out of it at every hour. This late, it will not be heavily guarded. Most of the garrison is either asleep or on patrol about the city or outside the walls."
She hums her assent, then taps her chin a few times. "What about once we're inside?"
"Go through the scullery. It will take you into the main hallway," Darion replies succinctly. "Follow that north through a series of corridors that will eventually lead to the Royal chambers. That is where the Witch has taken up residence. If there are any maps of the Grove, you will find them in her chambers. You will know them when you see them."
Satisfied she has the information that she needs, Regina gives him a condescending smile. "Thank you, Darion," she drawls. "Your help has been most appreciated." She produces a sizable pouch of gold from her belt, his promised payment, and then tosses it to him before waving off into the distance. "Scurry away now like the rat you are. I release you."
Darion makes a noise of offense as he catches the pouch, but does not comment as he pushes off from the wall. He sulks off into the city beyond, his reward jingling with every step.
"Do you think that was wise? Letting him go?" Snow asks, seeming apprehensive.
Regina looks at her with unveiled surprise. "Would you have rather I killed him?"
Snow's eyes grow wide. "No! Absolutely not! I just..." she sighs and scrubs her forehead. "I worry about whether he will find the nearest patrol and report us."
"He won't," Regina assures her with a secretive smile. "When I waved in his direction just now, I cast a spell on him that will block his memory for at least three hours. It should be taking effect right about now and will buy us enough time to do what we must and get out."
While Snow looks a tiny bit sick at Regina possessing that kind of power and the ability to use it without being detected, mainly she appears relieved. "Well, that's a relief," she breathes, and Regina smiles internally at her accurate diagnosis of Snow's moods. "Let's get on with it, then. I don't want to be around when that spell wears off."
"A splendid idea," Regina chirps, and then moves away from the shop and tentatively toward the large, open courtyard which is not even obstructed by so much a single tree.
Because of how risky it is to cross, even at night, she decides to circle around the palace along the edges of the developed section of the city which would normally be alive with bustling activity in the daylight. What few nocturnal citizens prowl the streets are either ambivalent to the presence of two strange women or ignore them altogether. That their presence here is unremarkable indicates that Zelena has not instituted any sort of curfew, which works in their favor. To further blend in and deflect suspicion, she takes Snow's hand, much to the surprise of her diminutive companion.
As she leads them around the circular outskirts of the commercial portion of the city, Regina explains herself to Snow out of the corner of her mouth. "Act like we're relatives traveling together. It didn't fool the soldiers but it should work well enough here."
"Got it," Snow nods curtly. When they pass by a middle aged woman flanked by two hawk-nosed men who peer at them curiously, Snow elbows Regina and points to one of the towers rising up above the Palace. "Look, cousin," she says with exaggerated excitement, "the tips of the towers are like glowing emerald onions!"
"So they are, cousin," Regina replies, smiling down at Snow, and it turns more appreciative when she notices the woman give them a welcoming smile of her own before passing by. She winks at Snow, in good spirits. "Well done."
"Thank you," Snow beams, but her joy is short lived when she turns and spots something in the near distance. She indicates toward it discreetly. "Look. It's the scullery."
Regina follows the direction of Snow's finger and sees that they have rounded the palace to a portion containing a door that is currently closed. She recognizes it as the scullery door by the maid that comes out a second later carrying a large basket, presumably to pick up supplies ahead of another long day of grueling labor or perhaps a load of laundry from some important citizen who is afforded the privilege of the highly skilled Palace staff caring for their linens. The woman, in her overconfidence born of routine, leaves the door propped open. It is an opening Regina cannot allow to pass by without seizing it.
She takes a quick look around, and when she sees that there are even fewer people out and about in this section of the city, she tugs Snow by the hand and all but drags her across the courtyard. By the time they step through a servant entrance left open by the careless maid, the sun has inched over the horizon so that it casts a faint orange onto the pavement and buildings of the still brilliantly shining city.
Once inside, she whispers at Snow, "Stay close. I can conceal us with my magic, but it works best at proximity." Snow nods and shuffles up to Regina's side. Summoning her power, Regina casts a spell that slightly alters their visages and transforms their clothing into the garb similar to that worn by the scullery maid she'd seen exit just moments before.
"Come," she then instructs, pushing away from the wall, "we've no time to dawdle."
To further sell their disguise, she pilfers an empty linen basket, and then maneuvers through the scullery into an abandoned hallway. The lack of servants milling about is worrying, but Regina does not allow that unfortunate detail to deter her. Waving Snow on behind her, she steps out and makes her way down the northernmost hallway. Thankfully her lucks holds true, and after rounding several corners, they arrive at what appears to be the royal wing of the palace. It is a far cry from what she had expected given the grandeur of the Emerald City.
The hallway belonging to the Royal Family of Oz is permeated in shadow, quite unlike other corridors which are at lit by candlelight and seem regularly polished and cared for in spite of the current occupant, and appears strangely dead considering it is made of brick and mortar and wood and metals which do not live. Nevertheless it is dreary and sorrowful as if having been sucked dry of what scant expressiveness belongs to such inanimate materials. There was once a time Regina's own wing of the Dark Palace had resembled this mournful hallway. As with everything else in her life and kingdom, Red has breathed new life into the castle, in the process banishing many of the shadows Regina cast over it during her precipitous descent into madness. This hallway reminds her of that dark era that she has unkindly dubbed The Dark Days. It is disturbing in a way that makes her aware of just how hopeless she'd once been and how she might again be should the mission fail.
With reinvigorated determination, she squares her shoulders and begins her search with Snow following close behind. It takes inspecting nearly every room along the corridor before Regina sticks her head inside the last chambers and spots the ostentatious green and black décor. She knows in an instant she's in the right place.
After a preparatory breath, she slips in through the door and then shuts it behind her once Snow joins her inside. Turning toward a nearby sconce, Regina snaps her fingers, and it comes to life, bathing the room in a soft orange glow. Her purpose for infiltrating Zelena's chambers is to find something, anything that could provide a clue as to her sister's plans or perhaps give an insight any potential weaknesses. But before she can even begin the search, she sees something glinting in the corner of the room, something large and green and shrouded in shadows.
"Zelena," she growls, her magic flaring to life on instinct. She reflexively raises her hand to summon a fireball and wastes no time in launching it in the direction of her sister.