"I think that's the last of it." Zach dusts his hands off after putting the last duffel bag into the back of the jeep.

"Does this mean we're all good to go?" I ask. My legs jitter under me and I almost have to call on my magic to calm me down.

"I think so. Revaa?"

Revaa pokes her head out the front door of the Watchtower. "Everything is off and it looks like we left nothing behind."

"Does that mean we get to leave now?" I can't help but ask. I'm so close to being home and wrapping my parents in a hug.

They both smile. I almost scowl at them for it but I can't find it in myself to do so. Revaa steps out of the house, the keys in her hand. "Yes, Lumi," she says as she turns and locks the door. "We can leave now."

I squeal. Zach slams the jeep trunk closed. I swing the jeep door open and climb in, after a few moments Zach climbs into the front seat and shortly after him Revaa claims the passenger seat. He starts the engine and kicks the jeep into gear. A soft hum feels the vehicle as it gets onto the road.

"How long do you figure it will take?" I ask, looking at Roseborn through the front windshield.

"Maybe half an hour?" Zach says. "I'm not really sure though."

"Why not? You did make the drive before."

"It's different when you don't stop at the watchtower and drive by yourself."

I nod. That does make sense.

We fall into silence, and I let my gaze wander to the window. I haven't been gone long but with Niko on the loose a lot could have happened. I hope a lot hasn't happened. I hate that I had to leave Mia on her own to defend herself and the town, but I couldn't help much if I was arrested. And what if they had actually locked me away?

This - leaving - was the best option. Even better since I'm coming back with help. I take a quick glance at both of them. I haven't seen their magic yet. How will I even know that they're strong enough to help us fight Niko? That they even have any fighting skills at all? I know Zach does, he said so himself. But what about Revaa? Did they still train magic-users in combat skills even with their war over? Or did they only train them to control their magic?

"Are you excited?" Revaa asks, interrupting my train of thought.

"Excited?" A laugh escapes me.

She shots me a confused look in the mirror.

With a sigh I turn all of my attention to her. "I'm excited to see my parents and friends again. But the rest of it?" I wrap my arms around myself. "Not so much."

"I'm sure everything will be okay. And I mean, this time you'll have more help, right?"

I nod and manage a smile. "Right."

But will it be enough?

***

As we get closer and closer to The Wall my stomach starts to tie itself tighter and tighter until it feels like it can't anymore.

"How are we going to get in?" Revaa asks after she turns the music down.

"We can try what I did last time."

I sit up. "That's right." I lean between their seats to try and get a better look at Zach. "How did you get through the first time?"

A tiny red flush appears on his face. "Right. So do you know those holes in the wall that kept appearing?"

I nod, thinking back to the one at the farm. The first one that ever appeared. "What about them?"

"I made them. When I was trying to get in."

"Oh!" I sit back. "That makes so much more sense."

"It does?" He looks back at me in the mirror.

"Yep. I thought it was Niko but I never could figure out why he would be making the holes."

"And you never thought it could have been someone trying to get in?"

"I did at first but then one showed up super high and how could anyone even try to get in way up there?"

His face grows redder. "That was a missed shot."

"How'd you manage that?"

He turns his gaze back to the road. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Revaa snickers. "What did you do this time?"

"I'd rather not talk about it," he grits out.

I laugh before turning my gaze out the window. We're almost right at The Wall.

"So how are we getting in?" Revaa repeats her question.

"When we get close enough stop the car and I'll let us in."

"How are you going to do that?" she asks.

I smirk. "You'll see."

Once we're close enough Zach idles the car and lets me out. I make my way over to the barrier and let out a sigh. Finally, an excuse to use my power and show them just how much magic I know.

As I place my hand against the barrier a shock runs up my arm. But it doesn't quite hurt, just tickles. The jolt lets me know that the barrier is still strong. I look in and smile. Even though the road still goes in a bit before breaking into the town I can make out some of the edge buildings. I'm so close to being home.

I bring my other hand up to the barrier and place it down, feeling the same jolt. "To'siq ochish oz." The words slide smoothly off my lips. I make sure to picture Zach and Revaa as I say the words. When I'm confident the spell will hold I wave them to go through with one hand - keeping the other on the barrier.

The sound of the jeep fills the quiet. Zach rolls it forward slowly, as if afraid it won't let them through. But the moment the hood is through the barrier the rest of the jeep follows quickly. Once they are thorough I walk onto the other side. As I step through a jolt goes through my whole body, welcoming me home. I take a deep breath, trying to fill my lungs with as much Roseborn air as I can.

I'm finally home.