Round 19

The air inside the church feels heavy, charged with residual magic and rising panic. The spell's aftereffects still ripple through the group, coordination shot and judgment compromised. Hera staggers to her feet, using Jeane for support—her face etched with fear and something harder, more calculating. Her voice shakes as she tries to assert authority over Abby's disastrous distraction attempt. Meanwhile, Silra watches the unfolding mess with barely contained rage, grabbing Halie to reinforce the barrier order before turning her attention to Jeane's offer to open the door. The silence between interruptions feels like it lasts an eternity, each second stretching into minutes of frozen indecision.

• The magic pulses again, visible to anyone watching as it warps the air around them.