Assistant to the Villain, #2
Apprentice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 82
Overview
Evie returns to the cave with Trystan and restores the starry guardian’s missing sky-piece, earning the chance to ask for her mother back. The guardian reveals Nura became a wishing star and frees her, giving Evie an emotional reunion and confirming Nura has witnessed the family’s recent truths.
The victory is immediately undercut by the spread of dying magic, which destroys the cave and forces the guardian to sacrifice itself rather than abandon its charge. Its final plea makes saving Rennedawn and the magic an urgent responsibility for Evie and Trystan.
Summary
Evie, Trystan, and Blade fly back to the cave as darkness falls. The once-vibrant landscape has turned gray and damaged: the kissing trees are split apart, the sentry is gone, and dead vines block the cave entrance. Trystan explains that the guvre’s capture and Fate’s worsening consequences are killing the magic.
Evie asks Blade to wait outside so the cave’s guardian will not be startled. Evie and Trystan cut through the vines and fall into the cave, where the cloud-like platform catches them again. Evie presents the crystal slab to the giant starry creature, recognizing it as the missing piece of the creature’s sky.
The creature restores the slab to its place, making the cave tremble with renewed wholeness, then offers Evie whatever she wants. Evie explains that her mother is no longer human because her magic consumed her and turned her into a wishing star. The creature confirms this and uses clouds and wind to pull the brightest star from the sky.
The star descends and transforms into Nura Sage, Evie’s mother. Evie breaks down in her mother’s arms, overwhelmed by the return of the comfort and love she thought she had lost. Nura warmly meets Trystan, reveals she has been watching them from the sky, and confirms that she knows Gideon is alive and knows what Evie’s father has done.
The reunion is cut short when the cave begins to collapse because the dying magic has reached it. The creature sends Evie, Trystan, and Nura upward on a cloud, refusing Evie’s plea to leave because it is sworn to protect its piece of the land. The creature begs them to save Rennedawn and the magic, then the cave collapses behind them, leaving nothing but dust and grief.
Who Appears
- Evie SageReturns to the cave, restores the sky-piece, reunites with Nura, and loses the guardian.
- Trystan MaverineAccompanies Evie, restrains his protective instincts, steadies her, and meets Nura nervously.
- Nura SageEvie’s mother, freed from being a wishing star after watching events from the sky.
- The cave guardianStarry giant creature who restores Nura, refuses escape, and dies protecting its land.
- BladeWaits outside the cave with the dragon to avoid startling the guardian.