Halfway to Albuquerque, I suddenly felt a very strong warning from my Luck. It was s that my body jerked, and my back smmed into the back of the seat. It was like a stunning scream, but instead of words, I perceived it as aion, a feeling. My heart started pounding, and all the hair on my body stood on end like soldiers. I g Maya beside me and Al behind and saw both fidgeting. They felt it, too.

  Rue suddenly shouted, “Danger!” sending a shiver down my spine.

  Smming the brakes, I pulled over to the side of the road, and we all hurriedly exited the car. We stood there, looking around in fusion. The se was calm: a clear blue sky with fluffy white clouds, a straight, endless road lined with horse ranches on both sides, and not a hint of a breeze in the air.

  Activating my mana sense, I searched for the source of the dahe air felt thick with turbulent mana—roiling like a pot about to boil over, with a distinct “fvor” of the wind. There wasn’t any breeze or wind, but the mana was Wind, and it was in chaos. Splitting my mind, I ected with the wind, sending out a query through emotions that boiled down to, “What’s going on?”

  I got back a flood of emotions: friendship, peace, security, and safety, repeated forcefully with insistence. She ruffled my hair pyfully.

  “Something’s happening, but we’ll be fine,” I said, looking around cautiously. “Just to be on the safe side, stay close to me. Better yet, hold onto me. Rue, e here.”

  Mahya’s brows furrowed as she stepped closer. “What’s going on?” she asked, sounding worried.

  “I’m not sure, but it’s something with the mana and the wind,” I replied, fog inward to see if more info was ing from the wind. She sent nothing else.

  Al crossed his arms, doubt clear in his tone. “How one ascertain that everything will be fine?”

  “The wind told me,” I said with fidence, feeling the e.

  They exged skeptical gnces, and Mahya rolled her eyes, but they plied. Mahya and Al pced their hands on my shoulders, and Rue leaned on my leg. And just in case, I stored our jeep.

  I looked around, and to the south, a massive tornado was f in the sky. It grew quickly, like a t bn that swallowed the sunlight. A swirling vortex of darkness and raw power touched down, tearing across the ground like an unstoppable wave of destru. The wind’s strength reached us from several kilometers away, carrying a palpable “fvor” of destru, a ferocious edge, and the chaos of an untamable force.

  The tornado raced on the ground and, in its path, lifted roofs and structures, trees and fences, animals and vehicles. A truck flew across the road and disappeared behind the trees. The roar of the wind was deafening, a cacophony of nature’s fury that vibrated in my bones. In seds, the tornado uprooted or fttened fields of grain, and the horrified cries of the farm animals added to the terrifying soundtrack. Suddenly, a horse fell on the road nearby, injured and struggling.

  Yet, amidst this apocalyptic se, we remained untouched. A protective bubble of wind surrounded us, a tangible barrier against the storm’s fury. I sent a silent message of gratitude to the wind, and in response, she ruffled my hair again, a gentle reassurance amidst the surroundiation.

  With each passing moment, the twister approached us, ung wood aal, earth and trees, and massive waves of earth in our dire. The blows to the bubble that protected us felt like non-stop on fire, like an attack from nature, trying with all its might to break our flimsy defehe wind picked up half a barn, tore it to pieces, and smmed all the pieces against our barrier.

  Breathing heavily, I g Mahya and Al, their eyes wide with fear and awe. Rue pressed harder against my leg, his body trembling.

  The injured horse on the road let out a pintive whinny, its legs thrashing weakly. It hurt to see, but I couldn’t do anything until the storm passed. The wi howling, and the twister got closer, but our bubble held.

  “We’re safe,” I said, more to reassure myself than anyone else. “The wind’s got us.”

  The tension lessened a little, but the twister’s destru left a sting impression on us. The storm’s sheer power was a stark reminder of our vulnerability and how the world was being more dangerous daily.

  The winds lessened as the twister veered to the left, sparing us from its direct path. Debris fell down, and the furious roar dimio a distant growl. The protective bubble dissipated gradually, leaving us in the eerie silehat followed the storm’s retreat.

  With the immediate danger behind us, I k beside the injured horse, gently toug its trembling fnk. “We’ll help you,” I murmured, sending a silent thanks to the wind. We survived this enter, but the memory of its ferocity would stay with me for days.

  I healed the horse, feeling the warm glow of mana flowing through my hands into its broken body. Slowly, its breathing steadied, and the light returo its eyes. With a grateful whinny, the horse struggled to its feet, tested its legs, and then galloped towards one ran the distance.

  “I want to see if there are any injured people there,” I said, my voice filled with urgency.

  Mahya and Al just heir faces pale and eyes wide, still speechless from the harrowing sight of the twister’s fury. Without another word, we spriowards the ranch. The house was miraculously still standing, the only o amid all the destru.

  The once orderly ranch was now unreizable. The fences y torn apart, with their wooden posts scattered like matchsticks. Trees y uprooted, their massive roots exposed to the sky. The barn’s roof caved in, and its walls colpsed inward, redug it to a pile of rubble. Farm equipment littered the property, twisted and broken beyond repair. Pieces of debris, including splintered wood aal scraps, littered the ground, making each step treacherous. A horse trailer y broken, with tree limbs stig out of it. The storm destroyed livestock pens, and frightened animals roamed freely, adding their cries to the cacophony of destru. The air was thick with dust and the acrid smell of splintered wood ah.

  Fallen beams and scattered tools blocked the path. As we navigated the wreckage, I noticed shattered gss from the barn windows glinting menagly in the sunlight. The destru was so massive it made me feel sick. I just hoped everyo the ranch got out in time.

  I knocked on the house door, and after a moment, an elderly man ope, his expression wary. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice gruff.

  “We’re here to offer help,” I expined quickly.

  He looked us over, his gaze lingering on our faces. “What three children do?” he asked desdingly.

  Determined, I decided not to hide my abilities if it meant helping those in need. “I’m a doctor,” I told him firmly, but his skeptical look made it clear he didn’t believe me.

  “I insist,” I said, my voiwavering. “Is there anyone who needs help?”

  After a tense moment, he sighed aured for us to follow. He led us through the house to a small room where a young man y on a makeshift bed. The man’s leg was severely damaged, with blood seeping through the bandages. He looked pale and groaned in pain with every shallow breath.

  Kneeling beside him, I took a deep breath a my mana flow. First, I used Diago assess the extent of his injuries: torn muscles, a broken bone, and severe blood loss. With that information, I began my work.

  I cast Stop Bleeding, feeling the blood flow slow and then stop. I followed it with trol Blood to stabilize his circutory system and ensure no internal heming. , I focused on his leg and cast Heal Muscle, watg the torn fibers knit back together seamlessly. The tension in his face eased slightly as the pain subsided. , I cast Heal Bone, and the broken fragments realigned and fused seamlessly, erasing any trace of damage. To plete the process, I used Healing Touch to enhahe healing process and then Regrow Flesh to repce the lost tissue. The wound closed, leaving no trace.

  Just in case, I cast and Purify to se his body of any lingering impurities. Finally, I cast Fortify Life Force to help him deal with the healing. The young man’s color returned, aook a deep, steady breath. His eyes fluttered open, relief washing over his face.

  “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice shaky.

  The elderly gentleman’s eyes narrowed in suspi, his jaw tightening as he stepped back. “I don’t believe it,” he snapped, his voice ced with anger. “What kind of are you running here?”

  His hands ched into fists as he gred at us, his distrust clear. “You think you just waltz in here and pull some magic trick to scam us? Get out of my house!”

  Despite my protestations and attempts to expin, his suspi only grew. Realizing we wouldn’t be able to vince him otherwise, we turo leave, his accusations still ringing in my ears.

  As we stepped outside, his voice called after us, softer this time. “Wait!” he shouted. We turo see him standing in the doorway, looking ashamed. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice wavering. “I... I didn’t know what to think. Thank you. Thank you for saving him.” He hunched his shoulders, shook his head, and walked baside.

  It took us two days to tour all the affected ranches. With each stop, the devastatio by the twister became increasingly evident. Every ranch we visited revealed a story of survival, loss, and resilience. Buildings y in ruins, fields were fttened, and the air was thick with the st of freshly turh, blood, and splintered wood. We bypassed the locations with first responders and focused on those who had yet to receive help.

  At each stop, I healed people, horses, and other farm animals. Some injuries were minor, while others were life-threatening. The young man I had healed at the first ranch was only the beginning. There were deep cerations, broken bones, and internal injuries that needed immediate attention. I used my abilities to diagop bleeding, heal muscles and bones, trol blood, and purify the bodies of those affected. And I healed, healed and healed, and regeed mana iween. My regeio up to 18 units a minute, and I suspected the mana level went up to eight, but we had no close Gate to check this point.

  Mahya and Al were amazing during these stops. Mahya, with her strength and resourcefulness, helped to clear debris, move fallen beams, and rescue trapped animals. She single-handedly lifted a colpsed roof beam at one ranch to free a trapped horse, guiding it to safety. Al used his agility and speed to assist with outdoor tasks. He climbed onto unstable structures to secure them, cleared paths through the rubble, and anized makeshift shelters for dispced families.

  Rue was a great help as well. His size, parable to that of a medium pony, allowed him to carry heavy loads and help clear paths. At one point, he gently lifted a fallen door with his jaws to free a child trapped underh. His keen sense of smell enabled us to locate survivors buried under debris, sending us unication about those in need. Rue’s geure and unwavering loyalty forted the hurt and scared people, especially the children. It was a ray of hope in all the chaos.

  As I worked, the magic I dispyed shocked most people, causing their eyes to widen in disbelief. Some people were suspicious. You could see it in their cautious looks aant thanks. Here and there, I heard whispers of Bible verses about magid the devil, but I ighem all. Some openly expressed appreciation, their relief clear as I brought back their loved ones from an almost certaih. Their gratefulness and tearful hugs made the long hours and exhaustion worth it.

  However, not everyone weled us with open arms. One particur enter stood out. We arrived at a ranch where a father was frantically tending to his injured daughter. She had a deep gash on her leg, the wouering with iion. I quickly set to work, using my healing to se the wound and repair the damaged tissue. The transformation was immediate; her pain subsided, and the color returo her cheeks.

  But instead of gratitude, the father’s rea was anger and suspi. “What kind of trick are you pulling?” he demanded, his face red with fury. “I don’t believe in this hocus pocus! You stay away from my family!”

  I tried to expin, but he was having none of it. “Get out of here!” he shouted, brandishing a shotgun. “I’m calling the police!”

  It was n to leave. To fuck with him, I sent a telepathic message to everyone: Go invisible. We vanished from sight, watg as he stood there like a statue, bewildered and fused.

  Seeing another voy of first responders arriving, we returo the road. I took out our jeep, and we tinued our drive to Albuquerque.

  On the way, Mahya got out a ptop and ected to . We ighe news so far, but noao know what was happening. First, there was some story about a political sdal. The news anchors discussed the test revetions involving a high-ranking gover official caught in a corruption sdal. Allegations included accepting bribes from pharmaceutical pao push ws that allow psychiatrists to give children psychiatric drugs during the school day without parental sent. The sdal had sparked e nationwide, with calls for the official’s resignation growing louder by the day and child prote agencies demanding a gressional hearing. People pnned public protests, and political analysts debated the potential impa upiions.

  Looks like nothing has ged i few years.

  It was like watg ten years ago or more with Sophie: politics, corruptioions, and public e. Sighing deeply, I shook my head and kicked those gloomy thoughts out.

  The following story was about rising tension in the Middle East. The anchor reported oing hostilities between Iran and Afghanistan, each acg the other of vioting iional borders and engaging in aggressive military maneuvers. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the situation remained unstable, fueling s of an impending flict. World leaders were urgiraint, but the region was on high alert, and citizens in border areas were being evacuated as a precautionary measure.

  Finally, what we were ied in came up .

  Anchood afternoon. I’m John Roberts with . I’m bringing you an update on the unpreted enviroal and teological failures across the globe. Stists are stumped, and nobody seems to have any answers for the phenomena we are witnessing, which have escated over the past three years.”

  The s cut to a series of videos showing the unfolding chaos.

  First, footage of a busy New York street showed a self-driving car suddenly swerving off course, crashing into a nearby barrier as pedestrians looked on, fused and startled. The anchor’s voiarrated, “In major cities worldwide, advaeological devices have begun malfuning inexplicably. You see here footage of a self-driving car suddenly losing trol and crashing. These once-reliable vehicles, essential for modern transportation, have now bee dangerous liabilities.”

  , the video cut to a hospital where doctors scrambled to help patients. The patients appeared distressed as the medical staff worked frantically. Over the footage, the anchor tinued, “Hospitals are rep failures of neural interface devices used to treat brain injuries. This footage from Tokyo shows doctors dealing with sudden malfuns that put patients at risk.”

  The s switched to footage of a skyscraper with wide cracks along its length. “Even our infrastructure is affected,” the anchor expined. “Skyscrapers built with advanced smart materials are showing stress fractures. Engineers are now iing these promised buildings.”

  Footage from Los Angeles followed, showing some buildings swaying. “The iy and frequency of earthquakes in the Los Angeles area had increased dramatically i three years, and not only there.” The video shifted to Charlotte, North Carolina, where a powerful earthquake rocked the city, shaking buildings until oall building colpsed into a cloud of dust.

  The video showed t waves engulfing coastal neighborhoods. Entire unities were submerged, and people desperately sought higher ground. “Tsunamis are sweeping away coastal areas,” the anchor tinued. “This footage from the Philippines shows the aftermath of a devastating wave.”

  Then came images of a city obscured by a violent sandstorm, followed by images of worn and battered buildings and vehicles. The anchor’s voiceover tinued, “In the Middle East, unpreted sandstorms are ravaging cities. This is Riyadh, where a relentless storm has stripped buildings.”

  came footage of people ereg barriers with sandbags. “Global warming has accelerated, melting ice caps and raising sea levels,” the anchor noted. “Here in Miami, residents are preparing for the advang o.”

  The broadcast tio show more videos from around the globe. Dormant voloes were waking up, sea currents ging, lightning storms in Afrid South America, and more. , a montage of various officials and experts pyed on the s.

  A gover official spoke first: “We are actively iigating these occurrences and are itted to finding a solution. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens. We ask for your patience as we navigate these challenging times.”

  , Dr. Emily Carter, an enviroal stist, stated, “The exact cause of these phenomena remains unclear. We have several theories, but more research is o uand the underlying meisms. We are w tirelessly to develop strategies to mitigate the effects.”

  John Williams, Director of the National Disaster Response Agency, appeared , saying, “Our teams are on high alert and are responding to is as quickly as possible. We are coordinating with local authorities to ehe safety of all affected unities.”

  Dr. Raj Patel, a climate ge expert, followed: “The patterns we are are unpreted. While we are expl multiple hypotheses, it’s critical that we tinue our research to pinpoint the exact factors tributing to these events.”

  Dr. Lisa g, a materials engihen spoke: “The degradation of advanced materials is particurly ing. We are dug preheudies to determine why these failures are happening and how revent further deterioration.”

  Senator Maria Gonzales added, “over is fully aware of the gravity of the situation. We are mobilizing resources and w with iional parto address these challenges. Public safety is our foremost .”

  Dr. Mark Thompson, a geophysicist, ented : “The increase in natural disasters is arming. While we ’t yet expin why this is happening, we are gathering data and hope to have more crete answers soon.”

  Last, Dr. Susanna Wright, head of the National Institute of Advaeologies, cluded, “Teological failures of this magnitude are rare and deeply troubling. We are colborating with experts worldwide to uand the root causes and to develop robust solutions.”

  The anchor cluded the ory with: “Despite these reassurances, it’s clear that nobody has crete answers yet. Stay tuo for tinuous ce and expert analysis as we navigate these turbulent times.”

  As the broadcast ended, Mahya quietly closed the puter, and we all sat in silence, processing what we’d just witnessed.

  Finally, after almost twenty minutes of sileer the broadcast, Mahya asked, “Are you sure you want to drive tham and Chicago to visit graves? It looks like the situation is getting worse.”

  I sighed deeply, rubbed my face, and said, “No. Let’s go directly to ada.”