Dreams were better than reality. Dreams took her to unimaginable places and made the surreal seem attainable. She controlled what happened; she was the determiner. She could do anything and everything. But most of all, dreams made reality look like a nightmare.

Sophie sat at one of the round tables meant for the guests, though very few were seated. Most were still dancing to the orchestra, including Lettie and a few of the younger girls who arrived later in the evening. It was a relief to see girls their age to talk to. Sophie couldn't speak for her sister, but she felt so uncomfortable around the Princes and Owen; their age difference, their snarky comments, and especially their royalty.

Sophie had never seen the Royal Family before - not in person nor through photographs. She didn't even know why they were invited to their banquet.

Honey and Ellis stood next to a couple dressed in exquisite attire. The man's tie alone had blue diamonds crested along the edges. His partner's gown was so dark it reminded Sophie of the night sky. While most people wore something highly expensive and sophisticated, it seemed obvious that Sophie's parents weren't of high class. Honey's yellow gown was a piece she sewed weeks before the banquet. She added flowers and beads from the hat shop to alter the look, hoping to appear more extravagant and wealthy than they actually were.

A woman approached Honey and Ellis, her stunning green gown accentuating her curvy figure. She was gorgeous; her golden hair lay perfectly on her shoulders, while her back straightened to a poised stance and her visage was highly proper.

Honey had prepared Sophie and Lettie to appear this way at the ball. She ingrained the proper positions and stances to ensure that they conformed to the wealthy.

"Good evening." The woman said. "I hope you are enjoying the banquet."

Honey smiled wide. "Yes, thank you. It is truly a lovely gathering."

Sophie stood up and walked closer to them, hiding behind a group of elites much taller than she was. The woman was familiar. She was Owen's mother, one of the boys Honey forced them to converse with. She was, in his words, the most powerful sorceress in the land of Ingary.

"This is my husband, Ellis, and our daughter-"

"Martha, yes. I am very aware of your family, Ellis Hatter." Suliman smiled as baby Martha reached toward her with nimble fingers, an innocent aura surrounding the child. "I am Madame Suliman, the Royal Sorceress and founder of the Royal Sorcerer's Academy. I also know that you have two other daughters, Sophie and Lettie."

Ellis held Martha closer to himself and nodded. "Yes, they are my elder daughters from my first marriage."

"I noticed them talking to my son and the Princes." Madame Suliman turned to the three boys standing in the corner, Roland causing a ruckus as usual. "My son is wearing the traditional attire of the Mongurus, a nation of magicians who train their magic to adapt to the rainforest for survival. Owen recently spent a month living and learning from their prestigious masters."

Honey gasped. "My, that is certainly an amazing experience."

Madame Suliman nodded. "He will become a great magician, but with that he will need someone to carry his legacy."

"Where are you getting at with this?" Ellis asked sternly. Sophie leaned in closer, their voices muffled and murky from the conversations around her.

Madame Suliman turned to him. "Has anyone yet courted your daughter, Sophie? I noticed she and Owen were getting along quite well earlier, and come the right time, I think-"

"You want our Sophie to marry Owen?" Honey widened her eyes, the thought of marrying her daughter to a powerful wizard so tempting.

"Why our daughter?" Ellis asked with a curious tone. "There are many elite officials here with daughters who would continue your family legacy. Why ours?"

"Darling, don't ask such a question." Honey snapped. She returned her smile to Madame Suliman. "I'm sure she has perfectly fair reasons for finding Sophie to be the best fit."

"Your daughter would receive the finest living arrangements in the Kingsbury Palace and she will ask for nothing. By her eighteenth birthday, we should begin arrangements for marriage. If you agree to this proposal, of course."

Honey whispered something into Ellis' ear. He bit his lip and nodded, though the pain on his face was unbearable as Sophie watched from afar. Her parents were already thinking years into the future - her future. They were planning her life down to the person she would wed. She was to marry someone she had only met moments earlier. Owen, the prestige wizard Madame Suliman raved over. Owen, the boy nearly twice her age.

Owen, her future husband.

Honey clapped rapidly, a wide smile on her face. "We would be honored." 

Sophie held her stomach as they ran toward the destruction. It was difficult to keep up with Howl and Kenta, especially with her heavy pregnancy. Howl slowed down and reached his hand out for her, but she only pressed them to keep going. She would rather them stop the battle than waste time helping her.

Sophie held back tears as they heard the people's desperate cries. Fires appeared from nothing. Magicians flew in from all directions. No, not magicians. Monsters. They had become the monsters Suliman trained them to be.

Sophie didn't know how Magnol would come back from this. Most, if not all, had never seen magic before. Some believed Ovela would never see magic like this ever again.

Sophie felt an aching pain in her heart. Because of them, now they had.

"If we work together I think we can stop them." Kenta shouted over the commotion. "They have numbers, but we can outsmart them."

"Sophie, do you think you can start a storm like you did before?" Howl asked.

"I... I don't know." Sophie's breaths were short. "I was angry then, that's why I think it happened. Right now, I'm just devastated."

"We believe in you, Sophie." Howl held her shoulders. "We need-"

"Howl, Sophie! Watch out!" Howl shielded Sophie as Kenta used a gust attack to send the monsters flying toward them back in the direction they came. Sophie and Howl heaved loudly. Kenta kept his guard up, narrowing his eyes to the sky for any more attackers. He dropped his shoulders at the sight of a swarm coming their way.

The sound of wings vibrating and shrieks crying out was calamitous to Sophie's ears. Some were still in the monstrous forms that Suliman transformed them into while others led the pack in their magician forms. The clouds were blocked by the swarms headed for Magnol.

"Um, Kenta?" Sophie gulped. "What was that about outsmarting their numbers?"

"There must be thousands," Howl whispered.

"That's impossible." Kenta shook his head. "How could she have brainwashed so many? That's nearly every magician in Ingary and the surrounding areas."

"Her magic is strong, and she likes to show people the measure of that strength." Howl seethed. As impressive as Madame Suliman's magic was, this was beyond madness.

They continued down the dirt road until it transitioned into stone. Howl pushed Sophie along as they rushed to the center of town. The water fountain was filled with black ash; the main buildings filled with fire; and the courthouse fell to the ground, spilling debris on the beautiful stone street. People ran in all directions, some with a suitcase or two as they fled in cars or to the train station. Magnol wouldn't exist after today.

"Howl, they're destroying everything." Sophie turned to him, but Howl was more concerned with the royal carriage moving in their direction. Howl enacted an invisibility spell on them, similar to the one he and Markl used in the train as they fled Ingary.

Sophie gasped as she realized the spell was used for the same person.

The driver opened the door, two royal subjects departing from the small compartment. The first wore a tacky crown and green military uniform. His red mustache was so obnoxious and flamboyant, anyone could see he was King Roland of Ingary. Then, his counterpart departed after him - Prince Justin.

Months had gone by since Sophie last laid eyes on him. She never thought he would discover their hiding place, yet there he was in plain sight. His blonde curls were suitable for his royal attire, and his eyes were filled with an optimistic wonder she knew all too well.

"You see, brother?" Roland said, lightly hitting his arm. "War can be so sweet, especially when you're winning."

Justin nodded in agreement. He darted his eyes between the running civilians and their army flying above. Sophie had never seen him so content.

She shook her head - wrong. The last time he wore that look on his face was watching her walk down the aisle.

Sophie couldn't remember the Justin she befriended, the Justin who was so happy and optimistic about everything. He returned home to stop the war; now, he was aiding the next. She knew this wasn't just about marrying her anymore - if it ever really was. Justin and Roland and Suliman had been planning this for a long time.

This was about power.

"Let's go." Howl said. They disappeared into the shadows of the alleyways. Their window of opportunity had departed. Magnol was far from recovery. If they attempted to fight back now, they would also perish.

Sophie turned to Howl. His eyes were drooped and defeated, as if he thought for a brief moment that they actually had a chance.

Howl and Sophie knew every path and every shortcut to get to their neighborhood, so Kenta followed their lead. The buildings gradually decreased in size and numbers, a clear indication that they were close. After a few quick turns and close calls, the little cottage was in sight. As was Donna's and Gerald's - and they weren't alone.

"Gerald!"

"Stay away from us, you disgusting creatures!" Sophie stopped in awe as she watched Gerald wave a broomstick at a trio of deformed creatures attempting to attack their home. Donna stood a few steps behind him, tears falling like raindrops. One of the monsters flew around him, preparing an attack on Donna.

"No!" In an instant, Howl's hand grew dark feathers as he harnessed his inner strength to render the monster powerless. The monster jolted as if his body had been possessed. He convulsed repeatedly until falling to the ground in a comatose state. Donna cupped her mouth in fear - fear of all the wizards present.

"Donna, are you hurt?" Sophie took a couple of steps forward, but the elder woman stumbled back to the front door, begging Sophie not to come any closer. Sophie froze as she watched her dear friend stare at her like she was one of them.

Gerald continually thrashed the broomstick at the remaining two, unaware of the events behind him. Kenta waved his hands in a rotating motion, aiming a minuscule tornado at the monsters. They were caught in the gust and pushed into the sky away from the old couple.

Gerald bobbed his head back, slowly dropping the broom to the ground. He turned to the neighbors he thought he knew, whom he trusted. Howl stood tall, though the disgrace on Gerald's face was a clear answer.

"Donna, Gerald-" They hurried inside and slammed the door, the click of the lock sending shivers down Sophie's spine. They perceived them the same way they perceived Suliman's army. Sophie wanted to beg Donna to see the difference, to realize that not all magicians were evil and used their powers for selfish reasons.

But she had her beliefs, and not even Sophie could change them.

"They're coming back." Kenta held Sophie's shoulder. "We have to go." They ran for the cottage and saw a swarm flying in a ring above their home. Sophie swallowed hard, watching and waiting for them to do their bidding.

Howl pushed against the door, but it didn't budge. He slammed into it with his body, but nothing changed. He touched his index fingers and middle fingers together and separated them, the lock on the inside clicking open. He pushed the door open and they flooded in.

Gwenda sat crouched behind the armchair screaming until her vocal cords strained. Markl and Heen stood strong, wand in hand for the young apprentice. He smiled when he saw his master, but Calcifer turned offensive the second he heard the door open.

A ball of fire spun in their direction, so Kenta moved quickly to defuse the heat bomb. Calcifer attempted another, but held his fire once he recognized the intruders. Howl held Sophie close, gritting his teeth at the fire demon. "Calcifer! You could have hit Sophie."

"Howl." Calcifer widened his eyes. "I-I'm so sorry. I thought you were those monsters. They're all over town, terrorizing everyone!"

Howl breathed heavily for a moment, then relaxed in a sigh. "Thank you for protecting our home, Calcifer."

Kenta locked the door as Howl led Sophie to the couch. Gwenda slowly peered her head above the armchair, still awry from the events she'd seen outside. Markl's first instinct was to embrace Sophie. She held him close, his arms never loosening their grip.

Kenta closed the drapes and moved next to Howl. "We need to get out of here."

"Where to?" Howl said, tapping his foot. "We can't go to Ingary, Suliman will know instantly. And with this war, eventually Roland and Justin will find us if we stay in Ovela."

Sophie couldn't think of anywhere else. They had no allies outside of their intimate group. Her mother would reject her the minute she saw her pregnant, let alone with a wizard who wasn't deemed royal. Donna and Gerald had rejected them after their revelation, leaving them entirely desperate.

"What about your castle?" Howl darted his eyes to Kenta, his option startling. "We saw him while visiting my cottage, walking through the Wastes."

"Howl, I thought you destroyed the castle." Sophie said.

"I never said destroyed." Howl raised his shoulders. "I said he was gone. I placed a spell for him to wander through the Wastes, hoping Suliman would chase that instead of us."

Howl shook his head. It was risky going back to the Wastes. Suliman couldn't control the atmosphere of the Wastes, but she might predict that they would retreat to his castle.

Kenta exhaled a heavy weight. "It's our only option."

Howl continued tapping his foot. "We can't stay long. Suliman may have placed her own spells in the chance that we would return."

Gwenda crossed her arms. "It's better than being captured by her army of brainwashed lackeys right now."

Howl turned to Calcifer, looking for his opinion. He hesitated to answer, but eventually nodded in agreement. It would be different from moving, since Calcifer separated from Howl and the castle. They would need to create a portal to transport their party rather than a simple scenery change.

Howl and Kenta stood arms' length away from each other, murmuring a transportation spell. Gwenda went to the Witch's room and brought her to the group, sitting her next to Sophie. She clapped her hands with excitement. "Oh, are we going on a trip?"

Markl turned out the lamps to make their home appear empty, their only source of light now emitting from Calcifer's flames. The young apprentice watched Howl and Kenta enact the portal. He had never created anything of that magnitude since Howl said he wasn't ready for such a heavy spell. He listened closely to their words and their actions, taking in every ounce of knowledge possible.

Calcifer took short breaths, hoping no one noticed his fear. He was planted in the fireplace, only able to move with certain limitations. If necessary, he could transport through his own medium in the chance that their plan took a different turn. He would be safe, though he didn't know how his friends would fare.

Sophie ran her fingers down Heen's back, his trembling body adding to her panic. Tonight was too similar to the night they bombed her home. She knew it would take months, if not years, for Ovela to recover from these attacks; Ingary was still recovering from the aftermath. Yet there was nothing they could do to make things better.

The ground rumbled like the beginning of an earthquake. Markl crouched closer to Sophie and she held onto him, her motherly instincts already kicking in. Howl and Kenta stayed focused on the task, though their words seemed to move quicker from their lips. No matter their speed or strength of the spell, it was too late.

Their panic heightened as the rustling grew louder, and no one could stop the breaking of glass or screeching of monsters as they flooded in like dozens of vultures, aiming for the kill.

Sophie shielded Markl and Heen from the flying glass, a quick yelp escaping her lips from a shard slicing the side of her cheek. She touched the warm blood, trembling from its sight. Howl and Kenta paused momentarily as their attackers surrounded them, walking cleanly over the broken glass on the floor. Their wings vibrated in a strange faintness, too many to focus on in too many directions. Their beady eyes were blank, emotionless. They were void of any real thought.

Gwenda immediately grabbed the nearest weapon she could - the fire iron. She pointed its sharp curve at the monsters who approached her. They landed with a loud thud, hissing and drawing their claws. Her shoulders quivered as she held the fire iron in defense, though her mind kept repeating that this might very well be the end.

One of the monsters jumped toward Gwenda and she slashed the beast across his deformed face. It was exhilarating; she had never wielded a weapon before, and certainly never hit a direct target. She gripped the fire iron with both hands, waiting for her next victim, but she hadn't expected to be surrounded on all sides.

Gwenda retreated back in fear, pushing herself further into the corner. One of the beasts clawed her arm, sending her to the ground with a shrill cry. She dropped her weapon, the hard metal clanging against the brick fireplace. She held her open wounds, putting pressure on the three marks that spilled blood and stained her dress.

Calcifer immediately turned to her as she fell, watching her kneel helplessly at the feet of her attackers. She was vulnerable by their numbers, and he couldn't let this happen. He couldn't watch them rip her apart.

"No!" Calcifer exploded with bursts of fire, pushing himself higher from the fireplace. He grew larger and larger in size until his fiery muscles encompassed his brick home.

"Calcifer!" Sophie gasped as he grabbed two of the monsters and sent flames inside of them, their high-pitched screams drowning the room. He threw them across the floor and turned to the remaining monsters, his eyes burning with anger and rage like none had seen before. The monsters didn't back down, but neither did Calcifer.

Kenta added to his fire, producing more flames to strengthen his power. Howl continued with the transportation spell, immediately drawing Kenta back to their escape plan. Gwenda raised her head, her braid no longer secure due to the turmoil. She widened her eyes at the fire demon breathing flames at their enemies, protecting them from these monsters. She had never seen him exert so much power.

"Oh, this is exciting." The Witch said, her eyes gleaming as the battle ensued.

Markl stood in front of Sophie and the Witch in a protective mode, his wand in hand ready for action. Sophie begged Markl to step down, though the young apprentice only obeyed when she forcibly removed him from the scene. She held the boy and the wheezing dog in her arms, keeping them safe behind the furniture. Most of the monsters had fled the scene, yet the few that remained were locked in Calcifer's grip, struggling to break free.

"We got it!" A black and blue portal opened in the ground between the two wizards, both separating to make room for their transportation. Calcifer removed the remaining monsters, watching as they flew out through the broken windows, attempting to blow out the fire on their wings. The demon returned to his normal fire, his breaths heavy and loud. He darted his eyes to each person who stared at him, their eyes a mixture of fear and confusion.

Gwenda stared at him, her mouth agape. Calcifer shrugged. "What's the big deal?"

"It's just..." Gwenda couldn't find the words. She was so mesmerized by his ability. Before tonight, she had actually forgotten he was a demon of immense sorcery.

"No time to question things." Howl grabbed the small shovel and held it to the fire demon. "Calcifer, climb on."

Calcifer followed his command and they rushed to the portal. Markl helped the Witch walk while Sophie grabbed Kenta's arm as he lifted her from the ground. Heen jumped out of Sophie's grip and followed them to the portal. Kenta glanced at Gwenda, her hand still covering the part of her arm that the monster slashed. He raised his eyebrows, but she shook her head and joined the others.

They took one final glance at the turmoil outside, the citizens of Magnol running and screaming and hiding. Howl shut his eyes, the sight too familiar to the last war. He couldn't imagine how a King would allow such devastation to happen simply for the joy of winning.

"Let's go." Howl and Calcifer were the first to fall into the labyrinth of dark colors. Sophie's screams echoed through the seemingly endless hole, however their fall only lasted a few seconds before they landed safely on a hard wooden floor.

Sophie counted everyone she saw, making sure they had all crossed over. The screams were gone; the destruction had vanished. They were safe.

Sophie stood up slowly, pressing into her knees for support. She sniffed repeatedly, surprised at the lack of dust entering her lungs. Everyone looked around as if Howl's castle should have been a complete dump - yet it was extensively clean and sterile.

Sophie turned to the empty fireplace as Howl cautiously placed Calcifer in his old position. Two logs were already in place for him. Howl ran his index finger along the concrete, bringing it close to his face.

He narrowed his eyes. "Not even a fleck of dust."

Through the faint glimmer of Calcifer's flames, Sophie glanced around the familiar room with a nervous tick in her gaze. It was as if someone had been living in Howl's castle and kept up its maintenance. Moreover, the prepared logs in Calcifer's fireplace gave the strange indication that this person was expecting them to arrive.

A light turned on from behind them and all eyes darted to the source, their defenses raised instantly. A young girl with long, black hair sat cross-legged in a wooden chair, her childish smile plastered so naturally. It was like a wave of amnesia spontaneously vanishing as Sophie witnessed such childlike ambiance. She knew exactly who this was.

The girl tilted her head to the side, her eyes beaming only at Sophie. "Hey, older sis. How've you been?"