Before Marla could think twice, her feet pushed her toward it. If something happened to it, there would be no way to do the spell.

"Oh no, you don't." Remalyn wrapped her arms around her and swung her to the ground. Marla's head hit the ground hard, sending stars across her vision. She clamped her jaw, trying to ignore the pain.

"Let her go!" Solen's voice hollered out.

Remalyn's blade slid against her neck as she pulled her up.

"Take one more step, and I will kill her," Remalyn said through clamped teeth.

"Remalyn, you should think carefully about what you are doing." Estarosa stepped forward.

"Yes." The Queen spoke. "If the Great Magoia says this is the only way, we must listen. What other choice do we have?"

Marla watched as Solen reached into his pocket.

"You are all fools. Believing in the words of a goddess who isn't even here to save you. It will get us all killed!"

"No. It is you who will get us all killed." Solen mouthed, "I'm sorry," before pulling up his hand. Water rushed around her in all directions. In Solen's hands was an opened mouth fish. He really was a magician's apprentice.

Wet tentacles shot out and grabbed onto Remalyn, who now lay sprawled on the dirt.

"Go!"

Her eyes darted around for the piece of flesh, which she spotted only several yards away. Again Marla pushed herself forward.

A dark Navaji soldier noticed her approach. It melted down into a pool of goop before reforming into a wolf-life creature. It pounced, claws extended and fangs out.

A fireball smashed into it, causing it to tumble backward.

"I'll keep it busy!" Estarosa shouted from behind. Another fireball truck the wolf.

The piece of flesh sat only a foot ahead.

"Marla, watch out!"

"Marla!"

She could see a figure approaching from the corner of her eye. Marla dove for the Navaji's flesh, grabbing it tightly in her hands right before Remalyn tackled her to the ground. They tussled back and forth. Remalyn gripped at her hands, doing what she could to try and pry them apart.

"Let go of me!" Marla yelled.

"Let go of the Navaji!"

"Marla, let go! Get out of there!" It was Solen's voice. But why would he tell her that?

That is when she saw it. The Navaji itself had gathered right next to where they lay, and a wide unhinged jaw hovered above. Remalyn froze at the sigh of Marla's wide eyes. She looked up as a row of serrated teeth sunk into her chest. Blood seeped out, dripping on Marla's frozen expression.

It threw the remainder of Remalyn's severed body up in the air before catching it in its mouth and swallowing it whole.

Screams rang through her ears. The image of Remalyn's death replayed over and over in her mind. All she could see was red.

"Run!" Solen screamed. "Marla, run! Get up! Run!" The words repeated over and over in her mind until she was screaming them herself.

Rows of flames flew from Estarosa's fingers. It covered the Navaji like a blanket, but within a second, those flames had turned black and absorbed into its flesh.

Marla pushed herself up, but her legs dragged behind.

"Don't worry, I got you!" Solen shouted. "Don't move!" Solen had removed the jelly bear, named Jalor, from his pocket. Its arms reached out until its hands folded around her. They were sticky as they looked. But before they could pull her back, a nearby Navaji puppet soldier took ahold of its arms. From its body, it drew a long thin sword and swung down. The jelly bear fell back, walling. Marla grabbed at the sticky hands clasped around her, but no matter how hard she tugged and pulled, they wouldn't budge.

The Navaji's lurking shadow covered Marla's left leg. She shrieked, collapsing to the ground as her skin tightened and burned. Her eyes rolled up. The Navaji's mouth was upon her. It was just like the vision she saw. It was going to eat her.

Nelee flew above her and hissed at the Navaji. Its hair stood on end as it pawed at the enclosing monster.

"Nelee? What are you doing? Get out of here. Go-"

Chomp.

Marla blinked. Nelee had vanished. In its place was the Navaji. A white tongue curled around its blood-stained teeth. It only took a second for Marla to realize what had happened.

Tears swelled in her eyes, and vomit stained the back of her throat.

"Nelee!" She screamed. Rage boiled up inside her. Marla grabbed a nearby sword, ready to strike at the monster. She didn't want to help the Navaji anymore. She wanted to kill it, make it feel the pain she felt.

"Marla." She felt hands pulling at her. "It will just kill you too." It was her grandmother.

"But it killed-" Marla's voice broke.

"We have to go." She let her grandmother pull her back to the others.

The jelly bear licked the sticky jell off her arms until she could move again.

"We can't let Nelee's death be in vain," Solen spoke quietly. His cheeks were moist. Seeing it made Marla's heart ache. She wanted to apologize, but it wouldn't Nelee back. Solen was right. The only way was forward. They had to complete the spell and stop the Navaji. That would be the only way to honor his death.

"We need protection during the spell." Marla wiped the tears from her face.

"I will have the remanding mages help me create a shield." Queen Damari lifted her hands. They glowed blue. Several nearby mages did the same. Soon a dome barrier surrounded them. "Better start the spell now. This barrier will not hold long against the monster's power. In fact, it might only protect us against one hit."

"Any aid will help." Solen was already sprinkling incantation powder around Marla.

"Can I do anything to help?" Estarosa asked.

"Marla's nullifying magic requires a host. Will you carry this burden? You will lose your magic first."

"I will do whatever I must."

Solen nodded.

"Then step forward."

Estarosa stepped up to Marla.

"Look!" A mage shouted.

The Navaji's arm swung down on the barrier. With a loud bang, they collided, making the dome shake around them. But it did not break.

The Queen exhaled.

"Marla, take Estarosa's hands." She nodded and took her grandmother's hands, squeezing them slightly. Would this work? Would the Great Magoia come to save them as she promised? She understood why Remalyn had been so afraid. Their future relied on promises of hope.

Estarosa smiled.

"It's going to be ok." She whispered softly. She could always tell when Marla was uneasy. Marla took a deep breath and exhaled, letting her worries go.

"I'm ready."

Solen knelt on the edge of the salt circle he drew.

"You will need to speak the old tongue of the Magoia."

Marla had never spoken the old language, nor had she studied it. The language of the Magoia was restricted to the elders. Only selected individuals were permitted to learn it.

"I don't know how," Marla admitted.

"It is just like speaking, but you must understand its meaning to evoke the power behind it. Remember, you are calling to your ability. You ask to remove everyone's magic so the world may be cleansed of the Navaji's curse. Look inside yourself. Let your feelings guide you." He put his hand on his heart. "I will help you. Repeat after me." Solen closed his eyes. "Aufa nosmagi mundara omnis noskor."

"Aufa." She spoke the first word. Her necklace began to glow red. "Nosmagi." A beam of light shot into the sky, echoing its color. "Mundara." A coldness, like a winter breeze, snuck through her veins. "Omnis." Her heart beat loudly in her chest. It faintly ached. Tears welled up in her eyes. Somehow Marla knew what the next word brought. She has to believe in the Great Magoia. But, more importantly, she had to believe in herself. "Noskor." A shockwave erupted from the necklace. Its powerful gust forced everyone to their knees, desperately trying not to be blown away. A heavy weight lifted from her chest. It was as if a second heart was pulled out of her. The sound of her own heart relieved her, but it no longer felt whole. There was an emptiness to its beats.

The Queen's barrier faded away.

"You did it." Solen appeared beside her.

"Now, what do we do about that?" A royal soldier drew their sword. The Navaji's shadow drew nearer every second. There was no barrier to stop it or magic to attack it.

"We have to trust in the Magoia."

The grass around them began to wilt and mold.

"Stay strong!" The Queen yelled as the Navaji extended its large hands towards the group. Its mouth opened wide, revealing the layers of teeth that hid within. Dark creatures of the Navaji surrounded them. "Do not fear death!" Queen Damari shouted louder.

Dogs barred their teeth, and faceless human figures drew swords.

Marla took Solen's hand and held it tightly. He squeezed back.

The creatures sprang forward, teeth barred and weapons pointed.

BOOM.

Dust shot into the air and circled around them. Marla held up her arm, trying to block the dirt.

"Look!" Solen's arm shot forward.

The shadow from the Navaji vanished, as did the dark creatures which had spawned. In its place were large outspread wings that lit the area with a golden aura.

"You've done well." The Magoia's gentle voice filled the emptiness of Marla's mind.

"You've come."

"I told you I would. Unfortunately, there is still much to be done."

"I know."

"Come, Marla. Come, Solen." Solen looked up surprised but did as she asked. The bird that once was the size of a small fruit towered over them. The Magoia wrapped them within her wings. They were warm and soft.

"I give to you what you gave up for me." For a moment, their skin glowed. Marla's heart fluttered wildly in her chest. An overwhelming sense of wonder and pride filled her soul. An emptiness disappeared.

Solen looked up at her. A big smile covered his face. Marla couldn't help but join him. She felt reborn.

"Your magic has returned."

"Thank you."

"But you know what must be done."

"The spirit world-" Marla said under her breath.

"That is correct."

"I want to go," Solen said bravely.

"And so you shall. Marla will need your power to reach the Navaji's soul. We will not be able to do it without you."

"We?" Marla's head tilted.

"I will be joining you. The spirit world is not meant to be walked by mortals. Besides, there is only one way to purify it." The Magoia paused. "I will have to merge with it while it is still cursed."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Solen spoke up.

"Yes."

The Navaji's body stirred.

"We must go."

"What of our own bodies?"

"The people here will protect us."

"We will." Queen Damari stepped forward.

"What about the Navaji?" Its dark mass spread wide across the land.

"I have temporarily paralyzed it. It won't last long, so we will need to act fast. I suggest you all retreat for now."

"You heard her!" The Queen yelled out. "For now, we shall retreat back."

"Good luck, Marla." Estarosa approached and smiled weakly.

"I will be back soon," Marla embraced her. "Don't worry."

"Are you both ready?"

"Yes."