Everyone scrambled into the nearest alleyway in anticipation of another devastating conflagration spell, time seeming to slow as Woods, now farthest in the back, tripped over his feet under the burden of the dead girl's body and fell to the ground with wide, disbelieving eyes. A bright flash suddenly stole away their vision, all of them covering their bodies as best they could as a rush of hot air whooshed into the alleyway as if a mythical beast had just let loose a scalding breath. Anice sensed the pillar of flames punch through the western gate and continue on into the land beyond the walls before abruptly flickering out like a candle.
Woods, along with a significant portion of Mayhaven's population, had almost instantaneously disappeared from sight. The rest of the Dozen, for their part, had been protected from the tumultuous torrents of scalding air by sudden shields of invisible energy, their lives preserved by the charms that Mr. Albeck had made for them.
No…
