B9C15

Mages knelt in lines forming squares on either side of the spot the portal was to be opened in. Weiss was among them, as were others that I recognised – and Glynda Goodwitch in command. Ironwood's absence was noticeable, and I gritted my teeth together. The metallic tree nearby and branching above stood as his tomb. His and so many other Mages and Sentinels. The loss was obvious – both in terms of us having less spellfire to clear the streets, and how many first year Mages were in the portal array.

Weiss hadn't learned it until our second year, and these were obviously nervous. Glynda was explaining it to them at that moment, covering topics like flow, tension and mana stability. Things I'd never heard of and couldn't understand.

[...]

"Where does the portal go? Atlas?"

"Too far." Blake said. "Maybe the Archmage could have opened one that far with his finest Mages, but with them gone, we're working with students. It'll probably reach Kingsport. They can take the ships there and sail out to Atlas."

[...]

Glynda nodded and stepped back. A silence descended over Beacon. Under the shade of the Ironwood tree, the Warlock raised her hands. Her eye glowed green and light flickered in the empty space before Coco and her small team.

I looked out toward Salem, holding my breath. No reaction yet. Nothing out the ordinary.

The portal blurred to life and showed an empty street. It must have been Kingsport. Coco ran through without being told, taking her people with her. I counted in my head. One, two, three, four, five-