Maya's POV
"BREAK THE WALL!" I screamed while hitting the crystal door with my hands. The barrier did not even crack when Phoenix spewed golden fire at it. When Jake tried to use storm magic, the crystals simply absorbed his lightning as if they were ravenous for it.
"It's no use," Jake said, panting. "The purpose of these walls is to imprison magical students."
I could see Master Frost approaching through the clear crystal. Like angry snakes, his stolen magic crackled all around him. But what broke my heart was Professor Raven walking next to him.
"Why?" I pressed my face against the wall and whispered. "What made you tell me lies?"
In front of our jail, Professor Raven paused. I could see her face clearly up close. I had assumed her eyes would be cold and cruel, but they were actually kind. They were sad. Very, very sad.
"Maya," she said, but the crystal muted her voice. "I sincerely apologize. This is not how I wanted it to happen."
"You betrayed us!" Jake yelled. "You informed Master Frost of our location!"
"No," said Professor Raven in a low voice. "I didn't."
With a sound akin to glass breaking, Master Frost laughed. "Children, she is correct. You were not betrayed by Professor Raven. She is unaware of my presence."
"What?" I was puzzled. "But you're cooperating!"
"Are we?" Dark magic enveloped Professor Raven like chains as Master Frost raised his staff. "Sarah, tell them. Inform them of the true situation."
The magic tightened around Professor Raven, causing her face to twist in pain. "He's controlling me, Maya. It has been months. His magic always stopped me when I tried to warn you."
"That's impossible," Jake stated. "You're too strong to be subdued."
"Not anymore," cried Professor Raven. "He has been gradually taking my magic. I was actually carrying out his instructions each time I believed I was helping you."
I felt sick to my stomach. "You mean... everything you told me was a lie?"
Professor Raven cried as she said, "Not everything." "I truly feel something for you. I truly want to keep you safe. But some of what I said to you, Maya, was wrong. He forced me to say certain things."
"Like what?"
Master Frost's smile broadened. "Like the part about your sister leading a rebellion. Total nonsense. Maya, your sister has passed away. has been for years."
"No!" I let out a scream. "She was alive, according to Phoenix!"
Master Frost said, "Phoenix told you what she believed." "However, only known facts can be revealed by Truth Dragons. They will never find the truth if everyone around them is telling lies."
The golden scales of the Phoenix faded. "I'm so sorry, Maya. I thought my vision was clear, but..."
Master Frost finished, "But you were seeing through my illusions." "Wonderful magic, isn't it? For months, I have been giving you false information."
The world seemed to be spinning to me. "So what's genuine? What is true in reality?"
"Your parents' death was real," said Master Frost with a smile. "When they attempted to prevent me from taking you as a baby, I killed them myself."
"Taking me?" I spoke in a whisper.
"Maya, I see. Sky Wing Academy was never meant for you. You were meant to approach me directly. However, your parents concealed you, gave you a false name, and made up stories about you. incredibly inconvenient."
"What made you want me when I was a baby?"
Master Frost stated, "Because you're not just any magical child." "The strongest wizards in history are your parents. More importantly, you hold the secret to releasing the Ancient Magic."
"What is Ancient Magic?"
Master Frost's eyes shone brightly. "Before the world was split into light and dark, magic existed. magic that has the power to change reality itself. I will not only control the magical realm with Ancient Magic, but I will also be able to reshape it as I see suitable."
"And I'm the key to this magic?"
"Your blood is the key," Master Frost explained. "In particular, when you were bound to a Truth Dragon, your blood leaked. The Ancient Magic's seal will be broken by Phoenix's death magic and your ancestry."
I was ill. "You intend to murder Phoenix?"
Master Frost declared happily, "I'm going to kill you both." "But it's for a good cause, so don't worry. My cause."
Professor Raven fought against her enchanted shackles. "There's another thing, Maya. I was able to conceal something important from him."
"What?"
"Maya Chen is not your true name. Maya Starweaver is here. Additionally, your parents are still alive."
Master Frost's face turned pale. "Not possible. I myself killed them."
Professor Raven's voice got louder as she said, "You killed illusions." "Your parents are in charge of the Hidden Resistance, Maya. They are still alive after fifteen years of fighting Master Frost."
"You're lying!" Master Frost hit Professor Raven with his staff.
"Am I?" Despite her pain, Professor Raven smiled. "Look at Phoenix, Maya. Now ask her if I'm being honest."
I turned to face Phoenix. I had never seen her golden eyes so bright.
"She's telling the truth," declared Phoenix. "Your parents are still living, Maya. They're on their way to save us now."
"That's impossible," growled Master Frost. "I would have sensed their approach."
Professor Raven stated, "Not if they're using Ancient Magic." "The power you want to steal so badly? It has been in use for years by Maya's parents. I learned how to fend off your control magic from them."
"How have I been controlling you, then?"
The magical chains that encircled her suddenly broke when Professor Raven said, "You haven't." "In order to discover your plans and safeguard the students, I have been feigning to be under control."
Master Frost stumbled back. "But... but you told me where all the influential students were hiding!"
Professor Raven explained, "I told you where I wanted you to think they were hiding." "Every student you've met at Underground Academy is, in fact, a part of the Hidden Resistance, Maya. We have been preparing them to fight you."
"Even Jake?" I inquired.
Jake smiled. "I apologize, Maya, for lying. However, we needed to ensure that you could gradually accept the truth."
"So everything I went through wasn't real?"
Professor Raven said softly, "Your feelings were real." "You have a genuine friendship with these kids. You and Phoenix have a real bond. And you really do have power."
Abruptly, the crystal wall burst inward. Two figures entered the gap, and Master Frost flinched back.
The woman's voice was warm and familiar as she said, "Hello, sweetheart." "You've been sorely missed."
I gazed at the man and woman in the doorway. They had my dark hair, my determined eyes, and my stubborn chin, just like older me.
I muttered, "Mom?" "Dad?"
My father said, "We're here, Maya," in a highly charged voice. "We've arrived at last."
But Master Frost's cry of wrath stopped my moment of happiness. He growled and held his staff high, saying, "If I can't have the Ancient Magic, then nobody can!"
He started to exude a dark energy that was more powerful than I had ever seen. His stolen magic went wild, and the mountain started to tremble.
"He will bring down the entire mountain!" Professor Raven yelled. "Everyone will perish!"
"Not everyone," my mom said glumly. She created a luminous crystal. "We must send you somewhere safe, Maya, even though this will hurt."
"Where?"
"Back to Sky Wing Academy," my dad said. "Master Frost can't follow you anywhere else."
"But I was expelled!"
"The expulsion was fake," my mother said quickly. "An extra falsehood to divert your attention from Master Frost. There are still friends waiting to help you."
"How about you?" Panic rising in my belly, I asked. "What about Professor Raven, Phoenix, and Jake?"
My father said, "We'll keep Master Frost away as long as we can." "But you need to make us a promise, Maya."
"What?"
"Assure your true friends at Sky Wing Academy that you will trust them. Make a promise to allow them to teach you how to utilize your full potential."
Despite my fear, I said, "I promise."
The crystal was triggered by my mother. Phoenix and I were surrounded by whirling portal magic.
"Wait!" I yelled. "I don't get it! What was the point of all of this if my parents are still living and my friends are truly my friends?"
Professor Raven said, "Training," as we were pulled away by the portal magic. "You had to build your independence and strength. Because you will have to face Master Frost by yourself in the upcoming final fight, Maya."
"By yourself? However, you stated—"
My mother stopped, saying, "We said we'd teach you to use your power." "But only those who have learned to stand on their own can wield the Ancient Magic."
The power of the link magic was growing. I felt that I was being drawn away from the mountain.
"Maya!" Through the chaos came the voice of Master Frost. "You can't hide forever, even if you run! No matter where you go, I'll find you."
Over the magical storm, my father yelled, "One more thing." "Maya, don't believe anyone who claims to be your friend when you return to Sky Wing Academy. There are spies everywhere, Master Frost."
"How can I tell who is truly on my side?"
With sadness, my mother said, "You won't." "You'll need to work it out on your own. And Maya, it's possible that some of the people you trusted the most are hired by Master Frost."
Just as the mountain started to crumble, Phoenix and I were carried away by the portal power. I heard Master Frost's last words echoing behind us as we fell through magical space:
"Tell Aria Swift I'm here!"
My blood froze. Swift, Aria. The guy who deceived me at Sky Wing Academy was my old best friend. Her name was known to Master Frost. This meant one awful thing: Aria was more than just a cruel friend who had left me. She was spying for Master Frost.
And I was going straight back to her.