Under the Glow of Magic
The air in the bunker felt heavy, almost alive with anticipation. Ekko, Powder, and Lux stared at the glowing purple gem embedded in the door, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. The surreal atmosphere was almost too much to process.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” Powder murmured, her voice breaking the silence.
“Alright, Lux,” Ekko said, crossing his arms as they stood before the door with the glowing purple gem. “You’ve been acting weird all day. Care to explain why you were so dead-set on coming here? And don’t tell me it’s a coincidence.”
Lux froze, her hands tightening into fists. “I just… thought it looked interesting,” she said, avoiding his gaze.
“Don’t lie to me,” Ekko pressed, stepping closer. “You didn’t just guess. You knew. You’ve been leading us here the whole time.”
Powder, sensing the tension, glanced between them. “Ekko, chill out! Maybe she’s just got a good sense of direction.”
“This isn’t about direction,” Ekko shot back. “Lux, how did you know?”
Lux hesitated, the weight of the question making her heart race. “I... I can’t explain it,” she finally said. “I just felt it. That’s all.”
“Felt it?” Ekko’s eyes narrowed. “What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know!” Lux blurted, her voice rising in frustration. “It’s hard to describe.”
But Ekko wasn’t letting it go. “No way. You’re hiding something, and I’m not taking another step until you tell us what’s going on.”
“Ekko!” Powder cut in, frowning. “Don’t be such a jerk. If Lux says she doesn’t want to talk about it, then leave her alone.”
“No, Powder, he’s right,” Lux said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You both deserve to know the truth.”
She took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she looked up at them. “I’m a mage,” she admitted. “I found out a few years ago—when I was around 13. I started feeling... strange things, like bursts of energy I couldn’t explain. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but then I realized I could sense magic—and even control it. That’s how I knew about this place. Last night, I felt a strong magical energy, and it’s been pulling me here ever since.”
The confession lingered in the air, heavy and raw. Powder’s eyes widened in surprise, while Ekko’s expression shifted from suspicion to shock.
“You’ve been a mage this whole time?” Ekko said, his voice quieter now.
Lux nodded. “Yes, but I’ve never told anyone. My family… they’d never understand. If people found out, I could be in real danger. Please, don’t tell anyone.”
Powder folded her arms and scowled at Ekko. “Hey, what’s your problem? You don’t need to grill her like she’s some criminal. She’s just like us—except way cooler, because magic.”
Ekko sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I wasn’t trying to be harsh. I just… didn’t expect this.” He glanced at Lux, guilt flickering in his eyes. “Sorry. It’s just a lot to take in.”
Lux smiled softly, the tension in her posture easing. “I understand. I didn’t mean to keep it from you—it’s just… complicated.”
“Complicated, schmomplicated,” Powder interjected with a grin. “You’re officially part of the club now, so stop worrying. Mages and tinkerers—whatever. We’re all awesome.”
Lux let out a nervous laugh. “Thanks, Powder. That means a lot.”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get mushy on me.” Powder smirked. “Now let’s figure out what’s going on.”
Ekko’s curiosity resurfaced as he turned to the glowing gem embedded in the door. “If you could feel this magic, do you think someone else could’ve used it to open the door?”
“It has to be the birdman,” Powder said confidently. “Swain. He’s the guy Ekko, Vander, and I fought a few months ago. He’s a mage too.”
Lux shivered at the mention of the name. “Swain,” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve heard about him. They say he’s one of the most terrifying mages alive. He got his power from a demon, and he’s the head of Noxus. If he’s involved in this…”
A chill ran through her, but she shook it off. “Let’s just focus on what we can figure out.”
The group turned their attention to the statue at the far wall. They walked closer to it.
Powder tilted her head as she looked at the statue. “Is this statue magical?”
Lux stepped closer, examining the intricate details of the kneeling figure. “No, the magic isn’t coming from the statue. It’s coming from beyond the wall.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied the carvings, something about them stirring a distant memory. Then, suddenly, she gasped.
“Wait!” she exclaimed. “This is a blood seal.”
Powder blinked. “A blood seal?”
Lux nodded, her voice tinged with excitement and dread. “It’s an ancient type of lock. It can only be opened with the blood of a specific person—not their descendants, not their relatives—just them.”
“Wow,” Powder muttered. “Talk about picky.”
“Whoever set this seal really didn’t want anyone else getting through,” Lux said, her voice quiet as the implications sank in.
As the trio stood before the imposing statue and the sealed door, Powder turned to Ekko and Lux, her hands on her hips. “So… what do we do now? Swain couldn’t get through this door, right?”
Ekko rubbed the back of his neck, deep in thought. “Yeah, but if he’s been here before, he’ll probably come back. Whatever he’s after, we can’t let him get it.”
Lux frowned. “But we can’t stop him on our own. He’s… well, Swain. And this place is too dangerous to leave unguarded.”
Ekko nodded. “Exactly. We need to let Jarvan know. He’s got the resources to secure this place, and we’ll need guards stationed here around the clock. If Swain shows up again, they’ll be ready for him.”
Powder gave an exaggerated shrug. “Fine, but only if you promise not to make it boring. Guards standing around doing nothing? Snooze-fest.”
Lux chuckled at Powder’s dramatics, but the weight of the decision hung heavy in the air. As they all agreed on their next course of action, they turned to leave.
Before stepping out of the bunker, Lux hesitated, her gaze lingering on the purple gem embedded in the first door. She reached out tentatively, gripping it with both hands, and pulled with all her strength. Her face turned red with effort, but the gem refused to budge.
Powder raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”
Lux gritted her teeth. “I thought… maybe we shouldn’t leave this here. If it’s tied to the door, it might be dangerous.”
Powder snorted. “Step aside, sparkle fingers. Let me show you how it’s done.”
Lux sighed and stepped back. Powder sauntered over with exaggerated confidence, grabbed the gem, and gave it a casual tug. To everyone’s surprise, it slid out effortlessly.
Powder held it up triumphantly, grinning. “See? That’s how you do it!”
Lux’s jaw dropped. “How… how did you—”
“Natural talent,” Powder interrupted with a wink, tossing the gem lightly before pocketing it. “You can thank me later.”
As they made their way back to town, the forest was alive with the soft chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Powder, her curiosity never-ending, nudged Lux with her elbow. “Hey, you said you’re a mage, right? Show us something cool!”
Lux hesitated, glancing around nervously. “I don’t know… what if someone sees?”
Powder waved her hand dismissively. “Relax! No one’s out here but us.”
Ekko gave her an encouraging nod. “Yeah, we’ve got your back.”
After a moment’s thought, Lux relented. She looked around once more to ensure they were truly alone. Then, with a deep breath, she raised her hands and let her magic flow.
A soft glow emanated from her fingertips, growing brighter until delicate, shimmering orbs of light surrounded them. The lights danced in the air like fireflies, shifting into intricate shapes—flowers, stars, and even a glowing bird that soared into the sky before bursting into a cascade of glittering sparks.
Powder’s eyes sparkled with wonder. “Whoa… that’s beautiful!”
The soft, golden light from Lux’s magic swirled in mesmerizing patterns, casting delicate reflections on the surrounding trees. But Ekko wasn’t watching the magic. His gaze was entirely on Powder.
She was transfixed by the display, her lips slightly parted in awe, her normally mischievous expression replaced by something unguarded and genuine. The warm light reflected in her vibrant pink eyes, making them seem deeper, brighter.
Ekko’s breath caught in his throat. He’d seen Powder happy before, seen her laugh and joke a thousand times. But this was different. There was a purity to the way she looked now, a childlike wonder that made his chest tighten. She wasn’t just beautiful—she was breathtaking.
Powder turned her head to say something to him, catching his intense gaze instead. Her words died on her lips.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world around them blurred and faded. Lux’s magic continued to swirl and glow, but neither of them noticed.
“Ekko?” she asked softly, her voice hesitant but tinged with curiosity.
He didn’t answer right away. He couldn’t. He was too busy realizing that this feeling—the way his heart raced when she was near, the way her laugh seemed to echo in his head long after she’d stopped, the way he always found himself looking for her in a crowd—was something more than friendship.
Powder frowned slightly, tilting her head. “What’s with that look? You’re staring at me like I’ve got a sprocket stuck in my hair.”
Her words were light, but her voice wavered, betraying her own nervousness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she held his gaze, and suddenly, it clicked.
She thought back to all the times he’d been there for her—the times he’d encouraged her, teased her, protected her. She thought about how safe she always felt with him, how his quiet strength balanced her chaotic energy. It wasn’t just admiration or loyalty she felt toward him. It was something much, much deeper.
Neither of them said anything, but their expressions spoke volumes. The playful spark in her eyes softened, replaced by a warmth that mirrored his own. His usually confident demeanor gave way to a rare vulnerability.
The silence stretched, filled with an unspoken understanding that passed between them. For the first time, they truly saw each other—not just as friends, but as something more.
Lux’s magic flickered slightly, and she glanced over her shoulder, noticing their prolonged silence. She frowned, her brows knitting together in confusion. “Uh… guys? You good?”
Powder blinked, breaking the moment. “Huh? Oh, yeah! Totally good! Just… admiring the light show,” she said quickly, her voice an octave higher than usual. Her cheeks flushed a bright pink as she turned back to the magic, pretending to be completely engrossed in it.
Ekko coughed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked away, though the faint smile tugging at his lips was hard to miss. “Yeah, uh, it’s… pretty cool.”
Lux raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off but deciding not to push. “Well, I’m glad you guys like it. But maybe we should start heading back before someone decides to check out the glowing lights and stumbles on us.”
“Good idea,” Powder said quickly, her voice still a little too high.
As they started walking back, Powder kept her eyes forward, trying to act casual, but her heart still raced. She shot a quick glance at Ekko, her mind whirling with the strange tension between them, but quickly looked away, focusing on Lux’s chatter about magic.
The walk back was filled with Lux’s enthusiasm about the intricacies of magic, but Powder and Ekko were barely listening. Both were lost in their own thoughts, processing what had just passed between them—neither of them particularly good at dealing with this kind of thing.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Powder snapped out of her thoughts and grinned, her usual energy back in full force. “Hey, Lux, you should stick around for the festival in Kalstead! It’s supposed to be huge—lights, music, food, you name it!”
Lux raised an eyebrow. “The festival?”
“Yeah! It’s my first time seeing it, and it’s gonna be wild. You have to come—it’s gonna be the best one yet!”
Lux laughed, shaking her head. “Alright, you’ve sold me on it. Let’s make it unforgettable.”
As they walked toward Ravenhurst, Powder’s grin remained, her mind still buzzing, but she didn’t look at Ekko again. Some things, she figured, were better left unspoken—at least for now.