The courtyard fell silent, the dark energy of the Ancient One dissipating into the air. Skully stood at the center of the battlefield, his rune glowing faintly with a soft, golden light. The Ancient One was gone, its form reduced to a pile of ash.
"We did it," I said, panting as I collapsed onto the ground. "We actually did it."
Skully grinned, his jawbone clacking. *"Told you we'd pull it off, Master. I mean, sure, it was close, but that's just how we roll."*
I laughed, the sound echoing through the quiet courtyard. "You're impossible, Skully."
Professor Grimshaw approached us, his expression a mix of relief and awe. "Evan, Skully—you've done the impossible. The Ancient One is defeated, and the academy is safe."
"For now," I said, my voice tinged with exhaustion. "But what about its followers? Are they gone too?"
Professor Grimshaw nodded. "Without the Ancient One's power, they've lost their connection. They'll fade away, just like the portal."
I let out a sigh of relief, my shoulders relaxing. "Good. That's one less thing to worry about."
But as I looked at Skully, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still off. His rune was glowing faintly, but it seemed… different. The golden light was tinged with a faint, ominous red.
"Skully, are you okay?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
Skully tilted his head, his eye sockets narrowing. *"I'm fine, Master. Just… tired, I guess."*
I wasn't convinced, but I didn't push the issue. We'd just fought a battle for the ages, and we all needed time to recover.