Zyrith gasped as they were flung through the void between spaces. The sensation was disorienting, as though they were being pulled apart and reassembled simultaneously. She clung to Merlin, her nails digging into his arm, her breath ragged and shallow.
Merlin gritted his teeth, his focus unwavering as he guided the spell. "We're almost there," he said, though the strain in his voice betrayed how much effort it took.
With a loud *crack*, the spell completed. They landed abruptly in Eira's location, the golden light fading as reality snapped back into place.
The first thing they noticed was the suffocating aura of dark mana filling the room, thick and malevolent. Zyrith stumbled, clutching her chest as the oppressive energy threatened to overwhelm her.
Merlin's gaze snapped to Eira. She was kneeling beside Junior's still form.
"Eira!" Merlin shouted, his voice sharp.
---------
