There was a small cottage not too far from the Meridellian farmlands that Lisha liked to stay in. She enjoyed the fresh produce and quiet solitude to practice magic. With any luck, she may be there.
Jeran headed off in the direction of the cottage. It didn’t take him long to reach, as he had visited many times, but he knew something was wrong the second the cottage came into view. Lisha was an avid gardener and took great care of her plants. Now, however, they were all dried and withered, like something had sucked the life out of them. Whatever had impacted the farms was happening here. As he got closer he saw an eerie, orange light being emitted through the windows.
The door was unlocked and Jeran entered. Lisha sat in the middle of the wooden floor. Numerous candles were lit while books and other magic artefacts were scattered about. She herself was in the center of a large orange circle with complicated runes drawn about. The circle and runes glowed. Her eyes were closed as she chanted. Jeran didn’t want to break her out of her trance, but he didn’t have to. Lisha’s eyes suddenly snapped open.
“Jeran! I am glad you knew to come. Meridell is in terrible danger. I have sensed a shadowy, evil presence for a long time and been trying to force it to show itself. The spell is almost complete and the villain will soon be here. Please be ready! I need your help!”
Jeran unsheathed his sword, ready for battle, as Lisha closed her eyes and resumed her chant. The orange glow grew brighter and brighter as the circle shrunk closer to Lisha, until it was almost touching her. Then, a second circle appeared next to her with a strange, shadowy figure in it.
“My magic! What have you done you awful girl!” The figure howled, her tattered hood flying back. Angry, yellow glowing eyes glared at Lisha. It was none other then Morguss. But before Morguss could even move to attack Lisha, Jeran charged. He swung his sword, striking Morguss. Although skilled at magic and trickery, Morguss was no match for one-on-one combat. She screamed as she burst into a cloud of grey smoke and was gone.
Both orange circles stopped glowing and disappeared.
Lisha stopped chanting and spoke.
“Her magic over our land is broken. The clouds sucking life out of our crops have vanished and the beasts that she summoned have returned to their shadowy domain. The missing farmers have been freed.”
Then Lisha collapsed. The magic had taken a toll on her. Jeran rushed to her side, comforting his sister. She looked up and smiled at him. “You saved Meridell again.”
He shook his head. “No, Lisha, I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Outside, the angry black clouds turned into normal rain clouds, releasing a gentle rain upon the land. A small potato plant sprouted.
The End,
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