"Do not be sad," Gwyneth said, caressing Amaya's back as they stood atop the highest hill on the island. It was late at night. She wanted a breath of fresh air after going around town playing and shopping. Amaya felt stifled. Too much impurities in one single island. Amaya closed her eyes and gathered her magic on her fingertips. She released it slowly, gently caressing the surface of the earth, trying to lessen the impurities and cleanse what little she could only so that she could breathe easier.
"You good?" Grell asked, trying to hide his worry but his grip on her arm betrayed her.
"This much is okay," Amaya smiled confidently, "I spent ten years recuperating and honing my magic. I did not just take a day off, you know," she smiled. Her eyes softened at their worried faces. She looked at them and then gestured towards an empty field not far from them.
"What?" Morrigan asked when Amaya took her arm and dragged her there.
"I am going to teach you to gather the magic in one area and close the portals," Amaya told her, "Mavi, Mairin, come," she beckoned them and they came, ready to learn.
"No clubs?" Grell asked, disappointed.
"Especially for you," Amaya stuck her tongue out at him before standing in a circle with Morrigan, Mairin, Luca, and Mavi.
"It always baffles me that I keep forgetting that Luca has more magic than me," Allerick said, pouting.
"Try being dead a few times, then," Luca joked. It has been so long that even he can make fun of his own deaths now. Well, he wasn't one to hold grudges so his death was never really a personal issue to him. Even when it was.
"Bring your magic to your fingertips and slowly spread it. Hold it like a rope. A vine. Use it to search for the magic of the earth and have your rope intertwine with it. Come, try," she encouraged the other magic users as she slowly demonstrated.
Luca, Mairin, and Morrigan all closed their eyes and tried to do as told. Their fingers were tingling. Their magic stretched into a thin vine, caressing every inch of the earth, searching, asking for permission. The earth's magic was pure. Unclaimed. Earth's magic was kind but unforgiving. The warning bells rang in their mind and they tried to call their magic back but then another set of light engulfed theirs and the earth's magic, gently guiding it so they intertwined with each other.
"Gently," Amaya's soft whisper drove away their nervousness. They calmed their breath and let Amaya's magic guide them.
The magic intertwined and they slowly guided it inside them, locked in a safe place before slowly releasing them back to where they belong. Offering a silent thank you, they opened their eyes and smiled at each other. Amaya, looking proud, told them, "Practice more."
"You have a plan then?" Lovis asked, studying Amaya's face.
Amaya hummed and sat on the ground. Her hand gently caressed the grass as she pondered. "I do," she said and after the rest of them joined her on the ground, she started relaying her thoughts.
The plan involved them separating, which drew a series of complaints from her confidants. But they listened as she told them that it was the only way to ensure the closure of the portals fastest and safest. They will travel in pairs. A knight and a magic user to locations with the most magic and did what Amaya had just taught them. They will keep traveling to their assigned destinations until the last location, England, where they will regroup.
Allerick will travel with Mavi. Morrigan with Lovis. Mairin with Payton. Gwyneth with Luca and Amaya with Grell to which Grell winked at. The magic users will practice gathering the earth's magic first and how to set an alarm and trap so when the door opens, they could close it immediately and prevent one from reopening at the same location again.
"Tell the Underground Council of our meeting and have their branch offices cooperate with us," Allerick told Lovis who immediately nodded and took out his phone to call the Underground Council's Headquarter.
"The magic users can practice with me a few more times," Amaya said as she got up, "all of you can go make other preparations," she told the Knights and the Queen, shooing them away.
"Yes, My Lady," the Knights bowed in unison before turning to leave, leaving the magic users to practice on their own which turned out to last three days and three nights, and by the time they went back home, they looked so haggard and they couldn't even stand. Sure, they were immortals, but that didn't mean that they weren't able to feel exhausted. They crashed into their beds and slept for the whole day afterwards and only woke up at noon.
"Lunch?" Gwyneth, who was in charge of checking whether they were still alive or not, asked when she went inside Amaya's quarter and saw that she had already woken up.
Amaya hummed and got up from the bed and went into the bathroom to freshen up. Gwyneth stood outside the door, ready with Amaya's robe. She had also chosen Amaya's clothes for the day and she laid them down nicely on the bed. She helped Amaya with her clothes and braid her hair when she was done drying it.
They both then went to the dining room where the rest of the residents were already sitting down, waiting for their meals to be served. Amaya sat at the remaining seat, at the head of the table across from Allerick who took the other end. They all stood up when she came in and Amaya couldn't help but chuckle lightly at their deep-rooted civility.
"Serve the meal," Amaya ordered.
Gwyneth, who was in charge of the household, nodded towards their helpers who stood by the door. Without a word, they immediately served their employer's lunch.
Yes. Helpers.
Immortals as they were, they still needed helpers to help them around the house, especially when they were already so busy hunting creatures escaping from the Underground. Those helpers were mortals, of course. They were loyal. And most importantly, they knew what to say and what not to say. What to see and what not to see. They also have housekeepers, a gardener, and chauffeurs.
"Thank you," Amaya smiled at them as her meal was served.
"You may leave," Gwyneth ordered after all the food was served. Bowing respectfully, they all left and closed the doors behind them, carefully as to not make any sound.
"Your favorite, My Lady," Payton said, smiling at her who beamed at the plate in front of her.
"Roasted pheasant with peanut sauce and grilled vegetables," Amaya said cheerfully.
"Eat slowly," Allerick warned her with a fond smile just like the rest of them.
"I take it the training went well, then?" Lovis looked at the magic users with a raised eyebrow and hopeful smile.
"Splendidly," Mavi grinned proudly. Even after millennia, mastering a new skill was always a delight to him and the other magic users. One cannot stop learning and one should not.
"We can leave soon," nodding, Amaya told him.
"I have arranged the accommodation and transportation at each first location," Lovis said, "we can leave anytime."
"What about the councils?" Morrigan asked.
"They have notified the branch offices and have made the arrangements," Lovis told her, "just refrain from making too much noise," he added, grinning, while Morrigan smirked and Amaya grinned.
"Don't use too much of your power and try not to attract any attention," Allerick also warned them.
"We will leave after dinner, yeah?" Payton affirmed as he looked around.
"The flights for Allerick and Mavi are for 11:30 tonight. Mine and Morrigan will leave last to make sure nothing gets left behind. The rest will travel together to America with a 8:50 flight, so either we have a very early dinner or we dine at the airport or just skip it altogether," Lovis informed them.
"Discuss," Amaya waved her hand vaguely, not bothering to have her attention be taken from her meal.
"We shall have dinner at the airport," Gwyneth said, smiling fondly at Amaya, "skipping a meal is never an option," she turned to Lovis who nodded.
"I shall make a reservation at one of the restaurants, then," Lovis confirmed and the rest nodded their heads.