#CHAPTER 142: Riots

FELIX I was halfway out the door before the messenger could even finish his sentence, racing at a full sprint down the hallways to welcome my friends back. Joseph and Isla were waiting in my chambers, standing a little too close together to be platonic. I decided I would address that later. “What did you learn?” I asked, bursting through the doors. “You were right,” Isla said breathlessly, her eyes wide. “Magic used to be commonplace in Fresonia. It was everywhere. But something happened a long, long time ago that severed the powers from a majority of the people, along with their memories of the magic.” “Sofia,” I breathed. I filled them in on everything I had learned, up to Esmeralda’s unknowing role in all of this. “Poor Mila,” Isla said when I was done. “She must be out there somewhere, all alone. I hope she’s okay.” “I think she’s figuring out her powers as we speak,” I said. “That must be the power surge I felt coming from the mountains.”