Chapter 31

Mel wiped his mouth after drinking from the pond Leo had told him about and stood up, grinning. "Me, in a band. I can barely believe it," he said, a spark of excitement lighting his eyes. "I've never even touched an instrument, and here I am, the lead singer already."

He leaped into the air, his energy spilling over as he hovered, a laugh escaping him before he playfully flipped upside down, dangling from a tree branch with his legs swinging. His reflection in the pond mirrored his upside-down grin, and he took in the sight with a kind of wonder.

"And soon, I'll get to visit the Ironclad Isles too," he added, his voice soft with anticipation, the adventure ahead gleaming in his gaze.

As Mel hung upside down, he caught sight of Bimoth approaching. "Oh, hey, Bimoth. What brings you here? Shouldn't you be guarding Princess Rue?" he asked, flipping down from the tree with effortless grace.

Bimoth stopped a few paces away, crossing his arms coolly. "Didn't know that was my job now," he said flatly, his tone sharp enough to cut.

Mel rubbed the back of his head, feeling the tension in the air. "Oh, I just thought—"

"What? That I'd babysit your girlfriend for you or something?" Bimoth interrupted, his glare piercing.

Mel frowned, utterly baffled. "Girlfriend? What are you even talking about?"

Before Mel could get another word in, Bimoth punched a nearby tree, splitting it cleanly in half with terrifying force. The loud crack echoed through the clearing, making Mel tense instinctively.

"I know what's going on between you and Princess Rue," Bimoth snarled, his voice dripping with possessiveness. "And you'd better remember—she was mine first."

Mel's eyes widened as he stammered, trying to make sense of Bimoth's words. "Listen, Rue isn't yours, and she definitely isn't mine. She's her own person. Maybe you should head back to your kingdom and cool off." His voice steadied with authority as he turned to walk away, heading back to his band.

Before Mel could take another step, Bimoth's boot connected with his back in a thunderous kick, sending him hurtling into a cluster of boulders. The impact rattled through Mel's body as he struggled to his feet, blood trickling from his nose. "Another fight?" he muttered under his breath, spitting blood to the side. "Dammit!"

Bimoth was already charging, his knee aimed squarely at Mel's head with ferocious intent. But this time, Mel was ready. He grabbed two sturdy sticks from the ground and deflected the blow with surprising precision, forcing Bimoth to stumble back in shock.

"Surprised?" Mel said, twirling the sticks deftly. "I've been working on a counter for that titan strength of yours."

Bimoth's eyes widened, his confidence visibly shaken.

Moments later, Mel strolled back to his band, brushing off dirt and adjusting his disheveled clothes. A few bruises marked his skin, but he looked far better than after their first encounter. "Sorry I took so long, guys," he said, exhaling and straightening his shirt.

"It's fine," Piper replied, glancing at him as she packed up. "We were just about to head in anyway."

Bimoth leaned heavily against a boulder, his body battered and streaked with cuts, blood dripping onto the ground. His chest heaved as he stared at the space where Mel had been, frustration twisting his features.

"That bastard…" he muttered, his voice hoarse. "I thought I was overpowering him physically. I pushed my strength as high as it could go—way beyond what most people could handle." His fists clenched, trembling with anger. "But then… he dropped his power. He lowered his own strength, forcing mine to scale down to match. He tricked me—made it so my two was only slightly above his one. All that effort, and I wasn't any stronger than him in the end."

He slammed his fist into the boulder behind him, but his anger didn't stop there. "And then… that magic. His magical power is off the charts. He's not just some fighter; he's a genius who knows how to outthink, outmaneuver, and outlast."

Bimoth's shoulders slumped as the weight of realization sank in. "I can't stay here. Not like this. Not where I'm always two steps behind."

Pushing himself off the boulder, he limped toward the shadows, his figure disappearing into the encroaching darkness.

In the heart of The Hissing Haven, Donatello moved silently through the bustling streets, clad in a sleek, black outfit that cloaked him in shadow. His face was obscured, only his sharp eyes visible beneath the hood. Around him, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as vendors and workers prepared for the upcoming music festival. Strings of lanterns swung overhead, casting flickering light onto the busy scene. Donatello's gaze swept across the activity, his lips curling into a faint smirk as he observed the vibrant chaos.

But then, his attention shifted. A pulse—a distinct ripple of magic—reverberated through the air, faint yet undeniable. He froze for a moment, narrowing his eyes as he concentrated on the source. A wizard, he realized, the sensation unmistakable. No—there were three of them.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips as he tilted his head, sensing more. "Hmm," he murmured under his breath, "youthful energy. They're young… and they're close." His eyes locked onto a towering stall ahead, its ornate design and colorful banners standing out amidst the crowd. The sensation emanated from within.

"Inside that stall…" he muttered, his tone laced with anticipation. As he approached, his fingers flexed instinctively, a crack echoing softly as he tightened his knuckles. "It's been far too long since I last hunted a wizard," he thought, his smirk growing sharper, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and malice.

But before he could take another step, his body tensed. A chill ran down his spine, his instincts screaming at him to stop. A second magical presence—far more powerful, far more menacing—suddenly enveloped the street like a suffocating fog. The sheer force of it made him break into a cold sweat. His breath caught as he slowly turned, his eyes widening at the figure standing behind him.

There she was a woman with an aura so oppressive it made the bustling streets feel deathly silent. Her long black robe swayed lightly with the breeze, and her piercing eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine. Though he didn't know her name, the way she carried herself spoke volumes—this was someone far beyond his understanding.

"Excuse me," Yaga said, her voice smooth yet edged with authority as she placed a hand on her hip. "Have you seen three kids? A girl with red hair, a girl with blue hair, and a boy with green hair?"

Donatello stared at her, his confident demeanor crumbling for a split second. He swallowed hard, his mind racing to process her presence. "Who… is she?" he wondered, his fingers twitching nervously.

For the first time in years, the thrill of the hunt was eclipsed by something else entirely: fear.

"Never mind," the woman said casually, her piercing eyes seeming to dismiss him as insignificant. "I guess you didn't." She walked past him, her robes flowing like liquid shadows in the dim light.

Donatello stood frozen, his breath coming in shallow, trembling gasps. His entire body felt as though it had been crushed under the weight of her presence. He dared not turn to follow her with his gaze, instead staring straight ahead as beads of sweat rolled down his temple.

"What… was that?" he thought, his mind racing. His hands, which had once cracked confidently in anticipation, now shook uncontrollably. His chest rose and fell as he tried to steady himself, but the raw fear clinging to him like a second skin made it impossible.

"Four…" he muttered under his breath, barely able to form the words. "Four wizards here… and one of them—" His eyes widened as the realization hit him like a tidal wave. "One of them wields extraordinary magical power."

Without a second thought, Donatello stepped back into the shadows, his movements quick and deliberate. "I came to my home kingdom for…" he started, his words trailing off as the gravity of the situation sank in. His fists clenched as he forced his breathing to slow.

"No," he whispered, his voice laced with panic. "I have to get out of here."

And with that, he vanished into the night, his figure disappearing into the darkness as though he had never been there at all.

Yaga wandered the dimly lit streets, her shoulders heavy with exhaustion. She sighed deeply, running a hand over her weathered face. "Those damn kids," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration and regret.

But then, unbidden, their last words echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain.

Flashback

Inside Klaus—Baba Yaga's ever-moving house—the air crackled with tension. Sera slammed her fists against the table, shattering it into splinters, her red eyes blazing with fury. "I can't take this anymore!" she growled, her voice breaking. "We're kids, Yaga! Kids! We shouldn't be running from the Magisterium for the rest of our lives. Melanthius gets to have a normal life outside of hiding—why can't we?!"

Yaga sipped her coffee without flinching, her eyes fixed on the swirling liquid. "I'm not having this conversation again, Sera," she replied coldly. "You're wizards. Extraordinary ones. That makes you targets. You'll be hunted for your powers until your dying breath."

"Bullshit!" Lumi snarled, stepping forward. Frost coated her clenched fists as she punched the wall, leaving an icy crater behind. "If we're so extraordinary, then why the hell can't we go to school like everyone else?!" Her voice wavered, a mixture of anger and desperation. "We've been locked up in this stupid house for fourteen years, Yaga. Fourteen years of nothing but running and hiding!" She inhaled sharply, her icy breath visible in the room. "Our parents were killed because of their status, not ours! That shouldn't have anything to do with us!"

The shattered table reformed with a flick of Yaga's wrist, the wood snapping back together as if time itself had reversed. Slowly, she stood, her eyes twitching with restrained fury. "Oh, you think this is easy, do you?" she hissed, her voice rising. "You think it's easy for me to raise three magical brats while staying one step ahead of the Magisterium?!"

Her voice became a roar, her magical aura swelling and making the room tremble. The children instinctively stepped back. "You want freedom? Fine! Go out there! Explore! Find out how cruel the world really is! Jump into a damn volcano if it suits you!" She threw her hands up with a maniacal laugh, her voice dripping with venom. "But don't come crying to Baba Yaga, baby! I trained The Merlin Shadowbane and thousands of other powerful wizards! Do you think I owe you anything?!"

Her laughter echoed like thunder, her expression wild and unyielding. Before any of the children could respond, Klaus jolted to life. The house groaned, its foundations shifting, and with a shudder, it abandoned them, disappearing into the horizon as the stunned children were left behind.

Present

"I'm a failure as a parent," Yaga whispered to herself, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes. She sniffled, brushing them away hastily, and continued walking. Her usual confidence was nowhere to be found, replaced by a profound sense of regret that clung to her like a shadow.

She looked up at the distant lights of the festival and let out another heavy sigh. "Those damn kids…" she muttered again, her tone softening with a trace of longing. Yet her feet carried her forward, her pride refusing to let her turn back.

Sera, Lumi, and Caius sat huddled in the cramped iron cage. Frustrated, Sera gripped the bars and tried to melt them with her fire magic, flames licking harmlessly against the metal. She growled and switched tactics, pulling on the bars with all her strength, but they didn't budge. Out of options, she grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it at Varek's assistant, hitting the wall near him.

"Hey! Are you really okay with kidnapping three 14-year-olds?!" she snapped, glaring at him.

The assistant leaned back lazily in his chair, a smug grin spreading across his face. "You think I care? I study under Varek, and he's got bigger fish to fry. The man comes from a long line of wizard hunters, you know. His family disowned him after he failed to take down Merlin Shadowbane. But now?" He chuckled darkly, gesturing toward the cage. "Now he's got you three. And guess what? Melanthius Shadowbane himself is supposed to show up at the music festival. Varek's got plans for all of you."

Sera froze, and her jaw dropped. Lumi's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned forward. "Wait, Mel is coming here?"

"Yep." The assistant's grin widened. "That means Varek will have four wizards locked up in The Hissing Haven. Who knows what he'll do with you staff-huggers!" His voice twisted with venom, and the insult made Lumi bristle.

"Such foul language!" Lumi snapped, fists clenched. "What's your problem with wizards anyway?"

Sera joined in, scowling. "Yeah, what do you even want from us?!" She bit the bars in frustration, only to recoil with a wince.

"Want?" The assistant's smirk grew cruel. "We don't want anything from you. We hate you lot—mages, witches, wizards. All the same. Your magic is a gift you don't deserve, and we know how to take it." He leaned forward, his tone turning icy. "Clinton Peters—the first man to uncover the truth about wizards—figured that out ages ago. He befriended your kind just to betray you. Stripped wizards of their magic, made it his own, and passed it to others like him. That's how the manascares began. Wizards? You're not even human—an entirely different species."

Before he could continue, his attention snapped to Caius, who had inexplicably transformed into a llama and was lying sprawled in the cage.

"Why the hell is he a llama?!" the assistant barked, pointing at Caius in bewilderment.

"We don't really know," Lumi said with a shrug.

Sera leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "Tell us more about Clinton," she pressed, gripping the bars.

The assistant snarled and zapped the cage with a flick of his wand. The sudden jolt sent Sera flying back with a yelp.

"Shut up, you damn wizard, and stay put," he spat. "Once Melanthius gets here tomorrow, you'll all be dealt with."

Before anyone could respond, Caius casually spat llama spit right into the assistant's face.

"Ugh, goddammit!" the man roared, stumbling backward. He stormed out of the room to clean his face, leaving the trio alone.

Caius shifted back into human form, brushing off stray bits of hay as Lumi crouched beside Sera. "We have to get out of here," Lumi said urgently, her voice low but determined.

Sera leaned back against the cage bars, sighing. "We can't miss Mel's performance, after all."

Meanwhile, back in the Auroria Dominion, the next morning…

At precisely four in the morning, Melanthius, Piper, Leo, and Tomas stood outside the towering gates of the castle, travel bags slung over their shoulders. A chill hung in the air, and the faint light of dawn had yet to break through the darkness.

"Mel, where is she?" Piper asked, her voice sharp with impatience as she rubbed her arms for warmth.

"Yeah," Tomas chimed in. "Rue's our ride to the Ironclad Isles, and unless one of us learns to sprout wings, we're not getting there without her. We don't exactly have money for carriage teleportation, you know."

Mel tapped his foot nervously, glancing at the castle's towering spires. "Don't worry. I'll check on her. Stay here," he said, slinging his bag higher onto his shoulder.

Jogging up the wide stone steps, Mel pushed open the heavy front doors and entered the dimly lit halls. "Rue!" he called out, his voice echoing. No answer.

He made his way to her room, knocking lightly on the door. "Rue? Are you in there?"

"Go away!" Rue's voice snapped from the other side, sharp and uninviting.

Mel frowned, confused. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted to come with us to the Isles."

There was a pause before she responded, her voice tinged with frustration. "I'm not going. Bimoth and I had an argument, and the deal was clear—if he's not going, then neither am I!"

Mel pressed his ear against the door, his brow furrowed. "But… you seemed so excited to go…" His voice softened, disappointment creeping in.

"I was," Rue admitted. "But my parents don't think it's safe for me to be around you, Mel. I'm sorry." Her voice wavered slightly, but her words carried a finality that made his heart sink. "Now leave me alone."

Mel clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "It's really like that, huh?"

There was another pause, and when Rue spoke again, her tone was heavy with guilt. "I'm sorry, Mel. I have… more important things to take care of right now."

Mel bit his lip and stepped back from the door, his shoulders slumping. "Alright… I understand," he said quietly, turning to leave.

Rue cracked her door open just enough for her hand to emerge, a faint hiss of steam escaping from her room. She tossed a watch to Mel, who caught it with a puzzled expression.

"What's this?" he asked, inspecting the sleek device.

From behind the door, Rue kept herself hidden, her voice clipped but firm. "It's a teleportation watch. Press the button, and a carriage will appear to take you anywhere you need to go."

Mel glanced at the watch, then back at the door, his expression softening. "Thank you, Rue." He bowed slightly, his voice sincere, before turning to leave the castle.

Once the sound of his footsteps faded, Rue let the door swing shut and wheeled herself back into the chaos of her room. The air was thick with steam, and droplets of sweat clung to her brow. Her workout clothes clung to her skin, evidence of the grueling effort she'd just exerted.

The floor around her was scattered with half-finished projects—cybernetic limbs, wires, and intricate tools strewn about like the aftermath of a storm. With a soft grunt, she slid from her wheelchair to the floor, lying flat on her back as she stared at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.

Steam swirled lazily above her as she muttered to herself. "There's still so much to finish…" Her fingers twitched, itching to get back to work, but for the moment, she allowed herself a brief reprieve amidst the chaos.

Mel stood with Piper, Leo, and Tomas, holding the watch Rue had given him after explaining how it worked. Piper crossed her arms impatiently. "Alright, stop stalling and summon it already!"

Mel tapped a few buttons on the watch. In an instant, an elegant carriage appeared before them, shimmering in hues of amethyst and silver. Two horses, perfectly matching the colors of the carriage, pawed at the ground as if waiting for orders.

"Whoa…" Tomas muttered, eyes wide.

Mel ran his hand over the smooth surface of the carriage door. "I remember Draven using something like this once," he said absently before opening the door and stepping in.

Once everyone was seated, Mel tapped the destination on the watch: Hissing Havens. The air around them warped and twisted, streaks of vibrant color blending and dancing in every direction. A moment later, they landed smoothly in the bustling streets of the Hissing Havens—one of the largest islands in the Ironclad Isles and the site of the much-anticipated music festival.

The group stepped out of the carriage, their heads swiveling as they took in the sights. The streets were alive with activity—vendors shouting, children laughing, and performers dazzling small crowds with their tricks.

"Whoa, that was incredible," Piper whispered, looking around in awe.

"And this place…" Mel trailed off as he took a step forward. His breath caught in his throat as he gazed across the water. In the distance, separated from the vibrant chaos of the Hissing Havens, was a smaller island shrouded in darkness. A towering, ominous structure stood at its center—Caldara Bastille.

Mel's chest tightened, his heart sinking. "This is where I was raised…"

Inside Caldara Bastille, Caldric burst into the warden's office and rushed to the window, binoculars in hand. Pressing them to his face, he scanned the bustling streets of the Hissing Havens until his eyes locked onto a familiar figure. "LOOK! IT'S MEL!" he shouted, slapping his secretary on the arm.

"I see him," she replied flatly, taking the binoculars from him for a quick glance before handing them back.

Caldric, undeterred by her lack of enthusiasm, leaned out the window and bellowed with all his might, "MEL!"

Back in the Hissing Havens, Mel froze as the deafening shout reached his ears. He rubbed at his ear, looking around in confusion before squinting at the distant tower of Caldara Bastille. Somehow, he spotted Caldric waving wildly, even though an average person would've needed binoculars to see from that distance.

"OH, HEY CALDRIC!" Mel called back, cupping his hands around his mouth. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"I LIVE HERE!" Caldric yelled, his voice carrying unnaturally far. "I HEARD YOU'RE PERFORMING TODAY! SINCE YOU ARE, I WANNA PERFORM TOO!"

Mel blinked in surprise, then yelled back, "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEAK UP, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

Caldric huffed in frustration. "DON'T WORRY, MEL! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO IGNORE ME!"

"NO, I DON'T HAVE TO PEE! THANK YOU!" Mel shouted, Tomas, Piper, and Leo stifled their laughter as the group continued walking through the vibrant streets of the Hissing Havens.

Back at Caldara Bastille, Caldric hurled the binoculars onto his desk and began pacing like a caged beast. "That nappy-haired brat! He thinks he can just waltz onto my islands like we're old friends?!" he ranted, spittle flying from his mouth. "Well, the joke's on him! This isn't a reunion—it's payback!"

His secretary, sitting calmly at her desk, raised an eyebrow. "Payback for what? The last time you saw him, he didn't even know who you were. And let's not forget—it's a music festival. What are you planning to do? You can't even sing. Your voice sounds like a kitchen disaster. Pots and pans clanging together, remember?"

Caldric froze, insecurity flashing across his face. "It's not that bad…" he mumbled, but quickly regained his bluster. "Anyway, my singing is irrelevant! I'll sabotage his performance… from afar!"

"Ah, because you're terrified that he'll do to you what he did to the wardens?" she said with a smirk. "Speaking of them, is it really smart to talk about Melanthius so casually? They might overhear and try to escape."

"You'd think that, wouldn't you?" Caldric sneered, turning to his computer. He pressed a button, bringing up a grid of four surveillance feeds. The screens displayed the prison's most infamous inmates—Jessica, Sonic, Ingrid, and Clay—all of whom had suffered humiliating defeats at Melanthius's hands.

Jessica lay sprawled on the floor of her cell, muttering incoherently. "Merlin… Melanthius… Shadowbane…"

Sonic, in a padded cell, ricocheted off the walls, laughing maniacally. "Let's fight again, Melanthius! Let's see who bleeds first!"

Ingrid sat curled in a corner, rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. "Please… don't send me back out there with him… please…"

Clay's cell was the most disturbing. His walls were covered in the word Melanthius, written over and over in blood. He knelt on the floor, praying fervently. "All hail Melanthius… All hail the Shadowbane…"

Caldric's secretary grimaced. "Yikes. They're completely unhinged."

"Exactly," Caldric said, switching off the feed. "That's what happens when you cross Melanthius. We've tried everything to rehabilitate them, but it's a lost cause. He turned them into lunatics."

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the island, Yaga was holed up in a secluded area, where Klaus, her sentient wooden house, sat hidden in plain sight. Yaga slumped inside, sipping wine from a cracked goblet.

"I've searched everywhere for those kids," she muttered, her words slurred. "Maybe they got lost. If they did, they'd come back to Klaus eventually… ugh, I feel sick…" She clutched her stomach, nearly retching.

Suddenly, she froze mid-sip. "Wait a minute," she murmured, her eyes narrowing. "They're not lost… which means only one thing." She stood abruptly, her face darkening with realization. "Someone's taken them!" She began pacing as the thought sank in. "Now that I think about it, when I passed near the festival grounds, I felt… something. Something that drained magic. That's it! Someone kidnapped my babies!"

Klaus groaned loudly, the creaking wood sounding almost like a reprimand.

"What do you know?" Yaga snapped, swaying slightly. "I'm brilliant when I've had a drink!" She took a shaky step forward, only to have Klaus slide a chair in front of her.

"I don't need your attitude!" she barked, but the house responded by wrapping her in a warm blanket, gently forcing her to sit.

Yaga let out a heavy sigh. "Fine, fine, you win," she muttered, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "Who'd even have the guts to kidnap those three? They're more trouble than they're worth…"

She sank deeper into the chair, a dark determination flickering in her wine-clouded eyes. "Whoever they are, they're going to regret crossing me."

In the hotel room, Mel stretched out on the bed, letting out a groan. "I think I've got carriage-lag. How long until the music festival starts?"

Piper, buried under her blanket with her laptop open, barely glanced up. "Three days. Apparently, the festival head wants us to soak in the Ironclad Isles and get familiar with it before the big event. We might've gotten perks if Princess Rue had tagged along."

Mel smirked, running a hand through his hair. "I think I've got enough perks already—as the savior of Atlantis and the Auroria Dominion."

Piper let out a dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, we get it—you're amazing."

Mel raised an eyebrow at her tone. "Is there a problem?"

She snapped her laptop shut and stood, glaring at him. "The problem? We get it. You're the son of Merlin, king of Atlantis, former black card, and twice the savior of Auroria Dominion. Meanwhile, the rest of us 'normal' people are stuck with our regular genes. You don't have to remind us."

Her words hung in the air, and the room fell silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioner.

"Wait, hold on," Mel said, sitting up on the bed. His tone was calm but firm. "I've never put anyone down, not on purpose. If it came across that way, then I'm sorry. But that's not who I am. I gave up my black card for my friend, Piper. And this magic of Merlin? It's not some gift I wanted—it's a curse. A lingering shadow that makes me a target for the rest of my life."

He looked down, clutching his chest as if the weight of his words pressed on him.

Piper's expression softened as she lowered her gaze. "I… I didn't realize it was that hard for you. But you're always smiling, always keeping it together. If it's such a curse, then… why?"

Mel looked up and smiled—a genuine, warm smile despite the pain in his eyes. "Because if I let those bad emotions show, I'd look weak. And it's not just that—I don't want anyone to worry about me. People rely on me. So, I keep going."

Piper nodded slowly, guilt creeping into her chest. She had been planning to use Mel's fame to gain an edge in the contest, but now, seeing him like this, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. Behind the legend, Mel was just a boy carrying the weight of the world.

A sudden sniffle broke the moment, and both Mel and Piper turned toward the closet. With suspicious looks, they approached and flung the door open. Inside stood Caldric, his eyes watery and his expression sheepish.

"S-such a sad story, Mel!" Caldric stammered, wiping a tear.

Piper folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Why is he in our room?"

Caldric straightened up, clearing his throat in an attempt to regain composure. "I, uh… I'm here to sabotage your performance, Mel!" He tried to sound confident, but his nervous grin betrayed him.

Mel exchanged a glance with Piper, then slowly turned back to Caldric.

"AHHHH!" Caldric's scream echoed as he was hurled out the window, landing with a loud clang on a pile of pots and pans stacked outside.

From below, he groaned. "Ow…"