Evanthe and Draven reached the healing chamber of the Witch Clan. There, Evanthe turned to Draven. "I need you to pass a part of your darkness to Zaria so she can regain strength and wake up soon. We have limited sources of darkness, and Drayce needs to stay with Arlan."
Draven’s eyes darkened at the sight of the witch he had been waiting to kill for over a century.
"Contain your anger," Evanthe warned. "Killing a helpless woman is not what you want, and at this moment, she is our only hope."
Though the darkness in his eyes disagreed, Draven proceeded to transfer his darkness to Zaria. Cornelia had also given her a potion, setting aside her hatred and following Evanthe’s orders.
After a while, Zaria regained consciousness. Evanthe hurried to her. "Zaria, I need your help."
Zaria weakly sat up in the bed. "I know. I want to protect her as well."
"Then tell me if you know a way to the Demon realm."
"I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to that."
"Think of something," Evanthe urged. "You have always been the smartest among us, finding ways when there were none. You always knew how to navigate the impossible. I know you can do it. Think."
Zaria weakly chuckled. "So you trust my abilities."
"I always have. That’s why no one has been able to catch you until now," Evanthe replied. "Just think. How did they contact you? There must be a medium, right?"
Something clicked in Zaria’s mind. "Yes, there is, but it opens only when a particular star pattern appears in the sky, creating a connection between the two realms."
"What star pattern? Which one out of so many?" Evanthe asked urgently.
"Abyssal Constellation, the one dark power possessors use," Zaria explained.
Evanthe thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright, it will be there. All you need to do is guide us to enter the demon realm through that portal. Take us to that place." There was urgency in her voice.
"How are you going to create the Abyssal Constellation?" Zaria asked, puzzled. "There’s a month left for it to form in the sky. Only a deity that controls the stars can do it, and none of us are such a deity, nor do we know any."
"You don’t have to worry about that," Evanthe said firmly. "I’ll be back in half an hour. Until then, prepare yourself to take us to the portal."
Zaria nodded and looked at Sierra after Evanthe disappeared. "Does she really know a deity that controls celestial constellations?"
"You never know," Sierra replied. "As she said, let’s get ready."
Zaria nodded again and sat quietly for a while, closing her eyes to gather and stabilize her energy before they left.
As promised, Evanthe returned after half an hour, looking exhausted as if she had traveled far. Arlan, Drayce, Draven, Sierra, Yorian and Zaria were waiting for her. Seren and Ember had been left in the care of others.
"Mother, are you alright?" Drayce walked up to her, concern evident in his eyes.
Evanthe inhaled deeply. "I am. We can’t wait any longer. The star patterns will be there soon." She looked at Zaria. "Take us there."
Just then Snowflake arrived the council hall. She had sensed her master was in danger and came to Arlan.
Yorian looked at her, "Taking her would be better as she might help protect Oriana in the Demon realm."
Everyone agreed and Evanthe instructed Zaria to go.
Zaria nodded, and with a swift incantation, they disappeared from the council hall, only to reappear outside an ancient-looking stony structure.
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