Fifth hour, part 1

Things were calm for approximately four hours after that. Several times during that time, Cael forced his senses out and pushed through the migraine-inducing brightness of the mana maelstrom. He could sense nothing but the maelstrom in all directions, no matter how far he looked. It was impossible to tell, at that point, how fast it was passing, if at all.

On the fifth hour, following Astnar's worst predictions, the maelstrom grew worse. It seeped through the thick ice bit by bit until reaching the people huddled in its depths.

Spells sizzled out. Artifacts overcharged and crackled dangerously.

Suddenly, there were no barriers to separate two subduedly hostile parts of the group from each other. But that was just one concern.

"It hurts!" Mimi whined, crawling towards Cael to hug his stomach and curl over his knees. "Master, it stings! Please, protect Mimi, like the last time!"