The Dragons' victory over the Serpents had become the talk of the entire city. Everyone buzzed with excitement, eagerly awaiting the upcoming hockey matches scheduled for the next day and the day after.
Though two more teams played later that day, Gwenevier didn't watch their match. She and her team were still swept up in the celebration of their win. Yet deep down, Gwen reminded herself not to get carried away—it was only the first stage of the tournament.
"Look who finally managed to pull off a win in hockey—hasn't happened in a long time," Sarah sneered. She always found a way to get under Gwen's skin.
"Well, look who's envious of me," Gwen snapped back, causing some of her teammates to snicker.
"Oh, please! Don't flatter yourself," Sarah replied with a wave of her hand, trying to act unaffected. "You're not the first to win in hockey, and you won't be the last."
Gwen smirked. "It's not just the game I'm talking about. I've noticed you're always buzzing around me—on my nerves, wanting to see me when am off the rails . That's how I know envy when I see it. So tell me, Sarah… is it my skill, or my beauty?"
Her teammates burst into laughter.
"Damn, Gwen, you hit her hard!" Lucy laughed as Sarah stormed off, face flushed with frustration.
"Don't mind her," Alicia said, stepping beside Gwen and throwing an arm around her shoulder. "You were amazing out there."
"Who cares about her," Gwen said proudly. "I have a win to enjoy."
"Our win to enjoy," Spinnet added, grinning. The team erupted into cheerful laughter once again.
The rest of the day went wonderfully for Gwen. Her brother had come by to congratulate her and even gifted her a carved wooden lion, beautifully polished and painted—a symbol of her Azrax.
Later that evening, one of the White Elders, Zolomon Theus, paid a visit. He was tall, strong, and dignified, with a silvery beard that matched his hair. Though he looked to be in his sixties, his face bore only a few wrinkles, and his presence commanded respect. Zolomon was one of the strongest White Elders, known across the land for his wisdom and power.
Gwen had a peaceful night filled with strange, slithering dreams. She awoke just before dawn, the first hints of morning brushing against the sky. Needing air, she quietly stepped outside.
She walked out of the Citadel, where she lived alongside others—, those still contesting to emerge into the Creche level, and others like herself who were fighting to advance to the next rank.
She made her way down to the hockey arena, her face lighting up with a smile as the memory of their victory filled her mind again.
"I wouldn't come out here all alone if I were you," came a voice from behind.
It was Sarah. Gwen turned, startled. She hadn't noticed anyone following her—it appeared Sarah had been watching her all along.
"What are you doing out here, Sarah?" Gwen asked, her face tightening in confusion. "Are you stalking me?"
"No. I should be asking you that, Gwen," Sarah replied, tilting her head mockingly. "And all alone too…"
Suddenly, four other girls emerged from the shadows behind her. Their expressions were hard, fists clenched—they looked like they were ready to fight.
"You see," Sarah continued with a cruel grin, "one problem with running your mouth just because your little friends are around is that when you're really in trouble... they're nowhere to be found."
"Are you threatening me?" Gwen asked, her eyes narrowing, still trying to process what was happening at such an early hour.
"Oh, this is more than a threat," Sarah said coldly. Then she gave a command. "Hold her."
Two of the girls grabbed Gwen by the arms.
"Don't touch me!" Gwen growled, struggling against their grip.
Sarah stepped forward and hit her hard across the face.
Gwen's anger flared. She was about to strike back when, in a flash of light, she found herself pulled away—a few feet from her attackers. Lucy stood beside her, her arm still outstretched. She had portalled Gwen away just in time.
"I hate to crash this pathetic party," Lucy said firmly, her eyes glowing faintly, "but this craziness ends now, Sarah."
"Get them!" Sarah snapped.
The four girls, along with Sarah, charged forward.
"Bring it on, morons," Lucy said, squaring her stance.
As they leapt toward them—
"Hold on!" Lucy shouted.
Her eyes turned a bright violet, and suddenly a portal opened beneath her and Gwen. The ground disappeared and they fell into swirling dimensional space, wind rushing past them.
"Noooo!" Gwen screamed, furious. She didn't want to escape—she wanted to fight.
They were still traveling mid-portal, the space warping and stretching around them. Gwen clenched her fists.
"Take me back!" she yelled, her voice echoing.
"Stay calm!" Lucy shouted back, trying to focus. She was just about to open the exit portal when Gwen, driven by anger, lashed out, disrupting the energy between them.
Suddenly, the portal warped—and they were thrown off course, tumbling out of interdimensional space.
They crashed out between portals and landed hard in the woods, tumbling and rolling over each other until their momentum finally slowed.
"Uurgh…" Gwen groaned, sitting up and brushing dirt off her shoulder. The dawn had fully broken now—the woods around them were bathed in a pale golden light.
Lucy scrambled to her feet, clearly fuming.
"Great! We're in the woods now," she snapped, pointing accusingly at Gwen. "If only you'd stayed calm, I would've taken us back to the rooms!"
"Oh yeah? Like I asked you to help?" Gwen shot back, still furious. "I wanted to teach Sarah a lesson! I would've—mphmmm!" She clenched her fists and let out a frustrated groan.
"They were five of them, Gwen. Five. Get yourself together," Lucy said firmly, standing with her hands on her hips.
Gwen turned her back on her, running both hands through her hair as her breathing grew heavy. She was livid.
"Don't let her get in your head," Lucy continued, her voice softer now. "That's exactly what she wants—to push you into doing something stupid. Something you'll regret."
Gwen turned back to face her, eyes sharp.
"What do we do now, huh? You don't even know where you sent us!"
"I don't know where we are," Lucy admitted, pacing anxiously. "I don't know how far we are from the city—and I don't even know if I can get us back right now."
"What do you mean you can't get us back?! You got us here, so—"
"It doesn't work like that!" Lucy interrupted, frustration flaring. "You ruptured my portal when you struggled mid-jump. That's why we crashed here. My magic isn't that advanced yet—I don't even know if I can reach that far back to the city!"
Gwen exhaled sharply, sarcasm lacing her words.
"Well, that's just great to hear."
She turned toward the sunrise.
"The White Elders always say the city lies east of the woods. Let's start walking."
Without waiting, she stepped forward. Lucy followed in silence. The forest was quiet except for the crunch of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves.
They had only gone a few dozen steps when a loud, majestic roar echoed through the trees.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"
Both girls froze, their eyes wide. The sound was deep and powerful— … and close.
They edged forward quietly, moving between trees, trying to understand what was going on. Hidden amidst the thick woods, what they saw left them stunned.
A young boy floated a few feet above the ground, velvety lightning swirling around him. They didn't know who he was—But the boy was Simma.
His skin shimmered with scales that looked like translucent glass, glowing in a swirl of soft velvet colours. Lightning accompanied the scales around his fists. With a swift wave of his hand, velvet-coloured flames rained down on the Grumms, burning the one who had killed Sonja into charred dust.
Then he turned—his gaze locking on a galloping horse coming toward him.
The rider's face… it looked familiar.
It was the man who had once told Simma he'd be there when he falls.
Simma let out a furious yell and burst forward, flames coiling around him, ready to burn the man to ashes. But the Grumm outstretched his hand, and in a flash, a jet of lightning surged toward Simma, striking him mid-air. Simma was hurled backwards, crashing violently against a tree and slumping to the ground.
Gwen and Lucy rushed to him.
"Are you okay?" Gwen asked as she reached his side.
But Simma scrambled backward, eyes wild with confusion and pain.
"Who are you? What are you doing here—let…"
"Looks like this party just got more fun," the man said, stepping forward with a smirk. "I told you I'd be there when you fall, boy."
Gwen snapped a twig from a nearby tree, her eyes glowing blue. A purple mist swirled around the twig, and it transformed into a long, sharpened spear. She struck the man.
He dodged swiftly and retaliated with a bolt of lightning, but Lucy, sensing it just in time, opened a portal that absorbed the blast. With a second motion, she opened another portal above the man's head, releasing the stolen energy back onto him.
The bolt struck him hard—giving him a taste of his own power.
Simma, summoning his last strength, raised a trembling hand and rained fire on the man, engulfing him in velvet flames before collapsing to the ground.
"It turns out…" Simma gasped, "not all Grumms… are really Grumms… some are outcasts."He took a shuddering breath. "More will come. You have to leave… while you still can. There's a city… to the west. Follow the sunset… and you'll reach it."
And with that, Simma fell unconscious.
Neither Gwen nor Lucy knew what to do—or even what he meant by outcasts.
"We can't leave him here," Lucy said urgently. "Gwen, you said the city was to the east!"
"Yeah… maybe I heard wrong," Gwen muttered. "But you heard him—we have to go. Try your portal, even if it's risky. It's our only shot."
"Okay…" Lucy said softly, closing her eyes and drawing a slow breath. Her fingers traced a motion through the air, purple sparks beginning to pulse around them.
In the distance, the sound of galloping hooves thundered closer.
"Come on, Lucy," Gwen urged, her voice shaking. "You can do this."
Lucy's eyes snapped open, glowing bright purple. She moved her hand in a circular motion, and a portal shimmered into existence, swirling with vibrant light.
"Yes—I made it!" she cried. "Quick, help me pull him in!"
Together, they dragged Simma's unconscious body through the portal, just as the Grumms burst into the clearing.
And then—With a final flash of violet light, the three of them vanished.