by Bo Savino
Chapter 24: Wilted Future
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When they returned to the common area, Team Phoenix scattered, lost in individual states of distress. This was the second time Ryssa had experienced magical repercussions, and she wasn’t happy about it. At least this time she had maintained consciousness. That had to count for something. She winced as she shifted her body on the couch. Maybe a day of unconscious reprieve from the pain wouldn’t have been so bad. It was obvious that magical overload resulted in longer-lasting damage, while magical backlash, though hopefully temporary, was the more painful of the two—at least in her limited experience.
“Children.” The Team turned to their Counselor, waiting dejectedly for his words of criticism.
“That was an incredible display of ingenuity and control. I am proud of you,” Aurelius said before disappearing into his quarters.
The children looked at each other in surprise, trying to smile, but found it hurt too much.
Ryssa raised her arms to stretch out the soreness. “I’m going to bed.”
“But it’s only mid-afternoon,” Jet pointed out.
“You guys do what you want.” Ryssa eased to her feet. “But we have to do this again tomorrow and the next day. I’m thinking that eating, sleeping, and superior magical performance is the only way we’re going to get through this, at least for me.”
“It was superior magic.” Pyro had a ghost of a smile.
“And wicked cool,” Loo added.
“But the phoenix was lopsided.” Glinda bit her lip, obviously disappointed.
“It was beautiful.” Whisper shook her head in disagreement. “We showed them we’re not going to lie down and take it—we’re going to give it our best, no matter what they throw at us.”
Ryssa smiled. No one talked about the Black Knight. They were too focused on what they had accomplished. She glanced at Meek. He was slipping into the boys’ room with a miserable expression on his face. She’d deal with him later. He had to understand that it wasn’t his fault. The healing round was tomorrow, and Meek would have to take the lead. He was the only one on the Team with the skill to grasp the complicated Healing magic. For now, Ryssa just wanted to rest—tomorrow would come soon enough.
