That must have been good enough for him because more blue magic took to the night, racing in to wrap around my magic. He sent enough that it looked like he was trying to squeeze the dome and also break it at the same time. Neither happened, though I did seem to feel the pull to send even more magic to defend the advance.
“Easy, love.” Krew wasn’t touching me but was only inches from me, so his voice was almost a whisper while he encouraged me. “Keep it steady.”
Keir said to no one in particular, “Well this is just getting embarrassing now.” And then he was moving, throwing balls of magic, trying to send a breeze hard enough to move the dome, and throwing what looked like a massive chain of magic at the dome.
Each time he switched to do something, I was convinced the dome would shatter, but it held on.
Still sending a slow stream of magic with one hand, I wiped at my forehead with the other. Between the magic I had used on the lake earlier, and the seven hundred times I’d started and put out the fire today, I was feeling more exhausted than usual. Sure enough, my hand came back wet. I was sweating, trying to focus on the dome and keep it strong.
Keir was now hailing down on the dome with his magic, his blue attacking my silver at every angle. And then in a quick move, what looked like a dagger made out of magic struck through the layers of the dome. Once it broke through, the whole thing shattered.
Owen stood up and clapped. “Well done!”
I was fighting off the urge to grab my knees. I looked over at Keir, who was also breathing heavily. Granted he had just practiced with Krew, but still. At least I wasn’t alone in being winded.
“That was impressive,” Keir offered.
“I didn’t do anything extra? Like turn the grass green or something?” I asked hesitantly.
Krew placed his hand on my back. “No. Or I don’t think so anyway. Time will tell.”
Owen was walking over. “We should go again except this time have Krew add his own magic. And then see what happens.”
Krew shook his head. “Maybe tomorrow we can practice more. Jorah is already sweating. You know she already used a lot on the lake this morning.”
“Fine. Ruin my fun,” Owen whined.
I wiped my hands along my pants. “And by fun, you mean strategizing how to best use my magic?”
Owen held up his fingers with a short gap between them. “Maybe a little.”
By the time my head hit the pillow, I was again utterly exhausted. I was beginning to not fear my magic as much, as long as I could use it sporadically throughout the day. But I still didn’t trust it. I had no idea how to.
I wasn’t sure if I ever would.
* * *
Owen nudgedme with an elbow as we neared our old practice room. He put up a small traveling sound barrier around us. “You good?”
I took a deep breath and made sure my magic was pushed down. “Yes. I just hope Krew stays out of my head for the next few hours like we all agreed.”
“Remember, this is your practice run. If you mess up, it’s just with your friends, so we should be fine.”
I gave him a nod. “I know. Though I’d prefer for Gwen to not know. Not sure I totally trust her not to run to the disloyal with it. But not inviting her also felt rude.”
Owen opened the door to the room. “Yes, well, eventually the disloyal are going to find out. Hopefully it is on your terms and not hers, though.”
We were the first ones there, purposefully having arrived early. As soon as he shut the door behind us, I used my magic to move the massive table over for us to play at. I also lit the fire. And then moved the chairs too.
Owen turned to me, eyebrows up.
“What?”
He tilted his head to the side. “You used your magic. Without prompting.”
I pinned him with a glare. “Only because I am so sick of you and Krew demanding me to use my magic all the time. It’s nauseating how often I am bossed around. I just cannot stomach it anymore.”
Owen’s eyes went to the window a moment as he thought on that.
