Mika’s invitation

When Nezra arrived at Sweetsong Hall after her long night, she found Mika awaiting with concern. "I worried when you didn't respond. What happened out there?"

Nezra sighed wearily. "It's... complicated. I just needed solitude to process."

Mika nodded slowly. "Just promise you'll be careful. These dark forces worry me." She squeezed Nezra's shoulder supportively. "I'm here if you ever want to talk, no matter what you discover."

Her care lifted Nezra's spirits. "Thank you, friend. Care to join me for lunch to distract from these heavy thoughts?"

Over burgers at the diner, they chatted of lighter things. Mika then suggested visiting her family's farm to cheer Nezra with the horses. Like always, their antics brought a smile.

As dusk fell, Elder Rowan joined them, praising their deep bond. "In dark times, hold tight to what lights your path, dears. Now run along home - I sense a storm coming."

Her wise words echoed as they parted ways under thickening clouds. While trials loomed, Nezra took comfort knowing Mika would stand at her side, a grounding presence against the encroaching shadows. Their friendship would prove an anchor in the coming nights...

That night, a misty rain fell as Nezra readied for bed, mind still buzzing from Elder Rowan's portents. An insistent knock sounded at her door.

"Mika, come in - is everything alright?"

Her friend entered, shaken. "It's Gran, she collapsed! Please, come quick."

Dread gripped Nezra as they raced to the farm on back country roads, visibility low in the downpour. Pulling up, they found Rowan ashen beside the barn, several other coven sisters attending with worry.

"It was so sudden," Mika fretted, holding her grandmother's limp hand.

Rowan stirred, clutching Nezra's arm with surprising strength. "Beware...dark forces stir. You face...a new trial..." She gasped, eyes rolling backwards as her grip slackened.

Nezra turned to the elder witches. "Quick, carry her inside - I may be able to help." At the farmhouse, she began an healing incantation over Rowan's still form, calling upon benevolent spirits for aid. Tendrils of emerald light swirled from Nezra's fingertips to surround the elder, illuminating arcane etchings on her skin - twisted symbols matching Azrel's infernal tongue.

"A curse," Nezra breathed in horror. Rowan's life hung by a thread, and darkness' touch suggested Nezra's trials had only begun. She redoubled her efforts, beads of sweat forming as the curses' vile aura resisted her magic. Behind closed eyes, Nezra envisioned cleansing light banishing the foreign taint. With a gasp, Rowan's body convulsed - then grew still once more.

The coven watched anxiously until Rowan stirred at last with a hoarse murmur. Nezra collapsed back in relief, strength spent. Mika embraced her gratefully through tears. "You saved her... but what cruel being would harm an innocent?" Nezra met her friend's eyes solemnly. Both knew the hand behind this stroke.

As night deepened its shadows, Rowan slept calmly while the witches maintained a vigil. Outside, the rain changed tone - now more pelting, as if the furious sky wept in horror. Nezra peered from an upstairs window and stifled a gasp.

Shambling figures moved with stiff, jerking gaits through the downpour, silhouettes twisting in unnatural ways. Their eyes gleamed balefully through the dark. "Mika, others - come see, but quietly!" Her companions joined in mute terror as the creeping host converged upon the farm.

Nezra summoned residue magic into a scintillating sphere, illuminating the horde with ghastly clarity. Rotting flesh sloughed from misshapen bones, tattered rags clinging to twitching limbs. A familiar figure watched impassively from the treeline as the abominations circled, surrounding their prey...

The assembled witches watched in horror as the shambling corpses crept ever closer. Nezra tried to steady her shaking hands, gathering magic for a defense. Before she could act, Mika squeezed her arm.

"Gran is still weak from that curse. We can't risk a fight here damaging the farmhouse." Her eyes glinted with fear yet resolve. "Distract them while we escape - I'll carry Gran to the car."

Nezra nodded grimly. Turning to the dark wood, she projected her voice like thunder. "You called them here, demon! Face me yourself if you want our lives so badly."

Azrel emerged with languid grace, face split in a rictus grin. "Impatient as always, mortal. But you interest has waned until the next task's completion. Return tomorrow at midnight to the ruins you fled, and I'll call off my pets...for now."

He vanished. The zombies had slowed their advance during the exchange, watching with soulless eyes. Nezra began an incantation weaving scintillating runes before her. "Hurry to the cars! I'll buy you time."

Mika and the others fled with Rowan. Nezra released the spell, which exploded in a blinding flash followed by crackling azure flames encircling the farm. The zombies howled and recoiled, buying just enough time for Nezra's escape amidst pealing thunder.

She gunned the engine, following Mika and the others through winding country roads now lashed by the frenzied storm. After harried miles, they pulled into the driveway of an old farm communal to the coven, lights spilling relief through pouring rain.

Inside, Rowan rested comfortably while the exhausted group huddled by the fire. Mika squeezed Nezra's soaked hands. "Thank you. You're the bravest of us."

Nezra managed a weary smile, though her fate weighed heavily. At midnight she must venture alone into the ruins, to confront whatever horror Azrel devised for his "test". Failure meant doom for her soul...and unleashing that zombie horde upon her loved ones once more. Darkness pressed heavily as the future hung by in the balance. But for now, warmth and safety could be found with friends. Nezra hoped it would not be the last simple comfort she knew.