Before the Storm

The twisted pentagram proved highly effective after being blessed. Wearing the copper amulet, Wanda felt the filthy power driven from her skin, and her severe magical allergy symptoms immediately eased. The constant protective spell made the skin on her chest itch, leaving her face flushed red. As long as she did not take off the Elder Sign, she could temporarily move about freely away from Salomon. At the same time, she had carved a crude Kamar-Taj emblem and Salomon's personal sigil onto the northern side of the Elder Sign medallion. From an occult perspective, this combined symbol precisely pointed to Salomon, an Arcanist of Kamar-Taj. The principle was similar to when Salomon had required Wanda to use a Ouija Board—she would never forget that dream. Drawing upon the power of dreams was also an essential skill for a witch.

Only after seeing Wanda's condition improve did Salomon slowly tell her what he knew about the mission. However, following the customary practice of spellcasters, he obscured many terrible truths known only to a handful of Arcanists. This was not done to monopolize knowledge, but to protect the ignorant. Ignorance was the only way to protect the mind; the more one knew, the more spiritual contamination one suffered. To Salomon, Wanda's mental stability was what mattered most.

The weather in Maine always seemed terrible. Lightning flickered faintly within the lead-gray clouds piled outside the window, as though a torrential downpour was imminent. As night gradually fell, the air grew increasingly hot and oppressive, and sweat continuously beaded on Wanda's forehead. She took off her red leather jacket, but she was still sweating. Only by turning the air conditioning down to its lowest setting could she catch her breath in this stifling environment. Storm warnings kept appearing in the corner of the muted