The rock slips from my bloody fingers after one last desperate strike. Nothing. Not even a crack. My legs give out and I slide down the wall, pulling Princess Paws close as another coughing fit wracks my body.
Fine. If brute force won't work, maybe...
I close my eyes and reach out with that odd awareness I've been developing. The purple lines under my skin pulse, and suddenly the darkness behind my eyes lights up with dozens of flickering lights. People. So many people, all moving with purpose. Toward us.
My heart pounds against my ribs as one particular presence blazes brighter than the rest. The energy signature feels familiar—but I don't know who it is. Maybe it's Eliana.
It's impossible to tell. Not using my magic often definitely has its limitations.