Beyond Mortals

The festivities of Halloween electrified the town, with pumpkins glowing and laughter ringing through the cool night air. As Alex, Nate, and Leannah drifted among the costumed revelers, there was a sense of joy that, for a moment, helped them forget the looming darkness of Kael. Nate was on fire with excitement

. "I've got a brilliant idea! Let's find a booth and try some shots!" he proclaimed, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

Leannah raised an eyebrow, intrigued but clearly unaware. "Shots? What are those? Some kind of potion?"

Alex quickly interjected, "We can't, Nate! We're too young for that." He chuckled softly at Leannah's confusion.

"Too young?" Nate laughed, shrugging off the concern. "It's just a Halloween tradition! You know, to lighten up a bit?"

"Lighten up?" Leannah echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because getting tipsy sounds like a great idea before we tackle a dark sorcerer, right?"

Alex chuckled. "How about we stick to sugary drinks? They're fun and won't risk our lives or sanity."

Seeing Nate's insistent expression, Leannah reluctantly joined in. "Fine, but if we end up turning into candy, I'm blaming you both."

They ventured to a brightly decorated booth where vibrant drinks bubbled and frothed, each more colorful than the last. "Look at that one!" Nate pointed to a glittering blue potion. "It has edible glitter!"

"What kind of sorcery is this?" Leannah marveled, taking the drink he handed her, uncertain yet intrigued.

"Let's just say Halloween brings out the weirdness," Alex added, grabbing his own drink.

"To celebrating the strange human world!" They clinked their cups together, laughter flowing as they tasted the sugary concoctions. With every sip, Leannah felt her earlier skepticism fading.

There was a certain charm to the chaos of humans celebrating, and she found herself genuinely enjoying it

. As time passed and the it became more dark, the atmosphere shifted, amplifying their excitement under the glow of jack-o'-lanterns and twinkling lights. But as the shadows deepened, a sense of urgency settled over them.

"We should get moving soon," Alex said, glancing at the horizon. "We need to be prepared for tomorrow."

Nate nodded, but he held up his drink. "Just one more toast to Halloween! To friendship and facing whatever horrors are waiting for us!"

Leannah smirked, easing into the moment. "To friendship, and to not turning into a pumpkin at midnight!"

After they finished their drinks, Leannah stepped back, suddenly serious.

"Alright, while we're in the human realm, I can use my energy to create a portal back to my world. It'll help me get prepared for whatever's ahead."

With a deep breath, Leannah extended her hands, summoning her green energy. The vibrant light pulsed and wove around her fingers, building until it exploded into a swirling portal, shimmering with magical energy.

"Whoa," Nate breathed, eyes wide with wonder. "That's incredible!"

"Let's hope it works," Leannah said, stepping forward with determination. "But I have to return home now. I'll see you both tomorrow."

"What?" Alex said, taken aback. "You're leaving?"

Leannah nodded, her expression softening. "I can't remain in the mortal world for long. I need to prepare too—there's much to do in the Immortal World. But I promise, I'll be ready for whatever comes next."

"But we need you!" Nate protested, glancing between them. "You're the one who's trained and knows how to handle this!"

"I know," Leannah replied, her tone firm yet reassuring. "But trust me, I'll come back stronger. Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll face whatever situation comes ."

With a final smile, she stepped through the portal, the shimmering energy swirling around her until she vanished into the familiar landscape of her world. Alex and Nate stood for a moment in silence. The weight of Leannah's absence suddenly filled the air.

"Well, that's a twist," Nate muttered, his excitement fading. "How do we deal with this without her?" Alex asked, anxiety creeping into his voice.

"We'll figure it out," Nate said, forcing a confident grin. "We've got to make a plan. We can't let her efforts go to waste."

Taking a deep breath, Alex nodded. "Alright. Tomorrow, then. We train, and we fight."

As they prepared to leave the fair behind, the laughter of Halloween faded into the background, replaced by the seriousness of their mission. But deep within them, the memory of the night's fun lingered—a reminder that even in the face of darkness, friendship and courage could light the way.