Free Web NovelChapter 231: Lucian
Wanda held the Golden Canary tightly in her hands, feeling the warmth emanating from the tiny golden feathers. She knew the battle was far from over, but this was a pivotal moment - the success she and Lucian had fought so hard for was finally in her hands. For a brief moment, Lucian’s blue eyes met Wanda’s and they both shared a look of quiet triumph. But deep down, Wanda knew that capturing the Golden Canary was only the beginning of something much greater.
The clearing they were in seemed magically illuminated by the bird’s feathers, reflecting the golden light that shone as if the sun itself had decided to focus its attention only on that patch of forest. The surrounding trees remained motionless, as if watching the events unfold with the same anticipation that Wanda and Lucian felt.
Finally, she loosened her grip a little, still holding the bird tightly, but in a way that made the canary feel that she was not a mortal threat. The bird’s small body trembled in her hands and its heart was still beating at a frantic pace. But as Wanda gently slid her fingers along the creature’s body, she could feel the canary relax, if only a little, in response to the gentle touch.
"The first challenge," Wanda murmured, more to herself than to Lucian, though he was close enough to hear. "It was a success."
Lucian, still a little incredulous, looked at the canary, then at Wanda, and finally at the net he had cast. A sideways smile appeared on his lips. "You caught him," he said, his voice a mixture of admiration and relief.
Wanda nodded, her eyes still fixed on the golden canary. She didn’t answer right away, because she was completely focused on the task of keeping the bird calm. This was no ordinary animal; capturing it required more than mere physical strength - it required a connection to the magic of the forest, an intimate understanding of the life that inhabited this place. And most of all, an almost superhuman patience.
Finally, after a few moments, Wanda whispered some ancient words in a forgotten language, a prayer her grandmother had taught her when she was a child. They were words of peace and protection, used to calm frightened creatures and show them that they were in no danger. The canary, still tense, blinked her small black eyes as Wanda continued to murmur, and gradually her breathing began to slow.
When Wanda finished her prayer, she looked up at Lucian, who was watching silently. "He’s calmer," she said quietly, not wanting to disturb the delicate peace that had settled over the clearing.
Lucian took a step forward to examine the bird more closely. "It’s true," he agreed, the surprise still evident in his tone. "How did you do that?"
Wanda smiled slightly. "My father always said that the secret to dealing with magical creatures was not to capture them by force, but to gain their trust. The forest helped us create that opportunity, but the rest is up to us."
"Impressive," Lucian muttered, his eyes still on the canary. "Now all we have to do is get him back, right?"
Wanda nodded, although she knew that the task of returning the Golden Canary was almost as difficult as capturing it. Any carelessness could cause the bird to stir again and escape, and she wasn’t willing to take that risk. Besides, the next challenge was already looming over her like a shadow. fгeewebnovёl.com
She looked around, her senses still alert. Elmar’s forest was quieter than ever, as if waiting for the next move. "Let’s move slowly," she said, taking a careful step back, still holding the canary tightly, but not too tightly. "We need to get out of here before something happens."
Lucian nodded and picked up the net that had fallen to the ground, rolling it up and putting it back in his bag. He approached Wanda, always aware of his surroundings, his blue-gray eyes reflecting the soft light coming through the treetops. With a last glance around the clearing, Lucian followed Wanda as she began to trace her way back, step by step.
The way back seemed infinitely longer than the way they had come. The forest, which had seemed cooperative before, was now silent, a sense of anticipation in the air. Wanda could feel the tension growing with each step, the golden canary in her hands moving gently, as if it, too, was aware of the impending danger.
As they advanced, Lucian broke the silence with a question in a low voice. "Do you think he’s around?"
Wanda didn’t need to ask who he meant. "Yes," she replied, the tension evident in her voice. "If he wasn’t before, he certainly is now."
"Then we are ready for the next challenge," Lucian said, more a statement than a question.
Wanda paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the surrounding trees. "We have to be," she said finally. "That’s the real test."
They walked in silence for a few more minutes until a strange sensation began to grow in Wanda. It was as if the eyes of the forest were turning against them, the energy that had once seemed to be in their favor now carrying a current of silent hostility. And then she realized that they were no longer alone.
"Lucian," she whispered and stopped abruptly.
Lucian stopped as well, immediately going on alert. "What is it?" he asked, his eyes following Wanda’s.
"He’s here," she murmured, her eyes scanning the area. The air seemed to carry a greater weight, as if filled with static electricity. The forest was alive in a completely different way, and Wanda knew that the next challenge had begun.
In the middle of the dense vegetation, shadows began to move. It wasn’t an illusion - something was really approaching, slowly surrounding them. Wanda held the golden canary close and felt the bird start to move again. She looked at Lucian, who had already picked up the net again, his muscles tensed and ready for action.
