A Galaxy of Magic

Chapter 23

The orb hovered in the dry, hot air, spinning slowly above the cave floor. It looked like an oversized pearl, its metal casing scuffed and worn, but thankfully, it worked better than it looked. A ring of tiny sapphire diodes traced the orb’s equator, and every few seconds a pinprick of focused light would snap into existence. The laser traced along the cave wall, burning deep, precise grooves in the rock. Each rune was etched with the kind of perfection that Harry could never achieve by hand, even if he’d had years to practice.

The cave smelled of vaporized rock, and he was sure it wasn’t good for his health. He quickly snapped on a Bubblehead Charm to protect himself from the nasty vapors. There was a constant hiss as the lasers worked. The orb’s mechanical eye swept up and down, measuring every groove for depth and width. After a few minutes, it floated back and projected a bright blue grid over the runes it had just carved. It paused, judged its own handiwork, then zipped to the next section of wall. The work was never rushed, but there was an undeniable efficiency to it.

Harry stood a few feet back, hunched over his datapad, and he watched as the software simulated the next phase. The wardstone he was designing needed to be perfect. If he got even one rune out of alignment, the next spell he was planning might collapse the entire cave, or, in a worse case scenario, invert it, turning the air to molten glass and the walls to dust. That was something he wanted to avoid.

He glanced at the wall. More than a hundred runes already crisscrossed the rock. They shimmered faintly when the laser passed over them, as if they’d already begun to store up magic. The software pinged him, drawing his attention back to the datapad. ‘WARDSTONE DESIGN READY,’ it read.

He reviewed the plan one last time, then tapped the execute button. The orb zipped over, paused a meter in front of him, and flashed as the new schematic was uploaded. It projected a cloud of runes and blueprints in the air, showing Harry a rotating three-dimensional rendering of the finished wardstone. He nodded once.

“Good job,” he said, as if the orb could hear him. ‘Maybe it had,’ Harry thought, because it immediately went back to work on the walls.

He set the datapad on a flat stone and jogged back through the short cave tunnel and out into the dry wind and blinding sunlight. The ship squatted on the ridge like a giant metal pancake, its sandy hull baked to a dull brown by the Tatooine sun. Harry’s boots crunched over gravel as he made his way up the ramp and into the cooler shadows of the cargo hold.

He ducked through the hatch, then angled left into the tent. The temperature dropped thirty degrees in a step, and the faint hum of the air recirculator made it feel more like a proper room than a temporary shelter. Harry smiled at Shaak, who was on her own datapad, doing god knows what. Harry made a beeline for the storage area. He entered the massive room and tried to remember where he had placed the chest he was looking for. After searching for nearly half an hour, Harry found the chest he had been seeking. He flipped the latch and opened it up.

Inside was a series of smaller chests. Each was packed to the brim with rare magical ingredients. There was unicorn hair, phoenix feathers, and all manner of enchanted metals and minerals. He skipped over the first three, then paused at a box that he’d marked with the word “GEMS”. He popped the lid.

Inside the smaller chest was a trove of raw gemstones. Most were the size of marbles, but some were as big as his fist. There were sapphires, rubies, and a few deep green emeralds, but he was looking for something else. He rummaged deeper, then found it. He pulled out a block of crystal-clear quartz, carved into an elongated hexagon that was almost ten centimeters long. It was flawless, with not a single impurity in the whole piece. Harry had purchased it from the Goblins, so he knew it was of high quality.

Harry held it up to the light and rotated it between his fingers. He pressed his thumb to the tip, and the quartz flickered with a cold, internal glow. He grinned widely. It was perfect.

He locked everything up, then jogged back out to the cave, the quartz in hand. The orb was waiting, floating patiently just above the place where the last wall rune had been etched. When it saw Harry, it buzzed forward and scanned the quartz. There was a pulse of blue light, and the orb flicked on a miniature tractor beam, cradling the crystal in a ring of gentle energy.

“Engrave Wardstone Set One,” Harry said, and the orb zipped away. It carried the quartz to a safe distance and began to burn runes onto the crystal’s surface. The lasers were so fine that they were almost invisible. With each pass, the quartz absorbed a little more of the blue light, until the whole crystal glimmered like a miniature star.

Harry crouched and watched, his fascination overtaking any sense of fatigue. The orb worked for nearly an hour, carving hundreds of minuscule runes, some so tiny that they looked like flaws. Every now and then, the orb would pause, cool the surface, and then resume. When it finished, the quartz was a latticework of intricate glyphs, and every facet glimmered with refracted light.

He took the wardstone from the orb and held it up. Even in the low light of the cave, the runes flared and danced. Harry turned it over in his hands and checked the engraving against the design on his datapad. There were no errors … at least, none his software or his own eyes could detect. He looked at the back wall of the cave and nodded. Harry stood, stretched, and paced over to the wall.

He reached out with his left hand, touched the stone with the tip of his finger, and murmured an incantation. The rock shuddered, then a chunk the size of a shoebox simply evaporated, leaving a perfect cavity in the wall. The edges were glassy, smooth, and perfectly even. There was an indentation on the bottom where the wardstone could safely rest.

Harry slotted the wardstone into place and jiggled it to make sure it was secure. He then pressed his finger to the wardstone, closed his eyes, and concentrated. Harry began to pump magic into the crystal for more than twenty minutes. Every minute that passed, the quartz radiated with a brighter and brighter light. When it reached its peak, it flashed so brightly that Harry was temporarily blinded. He winced, turned his head, and blinked away the spots. When he looked back at it, he was pleased to see the wardstone had settled and the light had faded. He waved his hand, and the cavity sealed up again, the rock flowing together like soft clay. A faint crack glowed blue for a second, then vanished.

He stepped back and admired the work. The wall now hummed at a pitch so low it was felt more than heard. The magic was quietly gathering itself, winding tighter with every passing second. He knew what came next would be dangerous, but if he got this right, the cave would be the safest spot on the entire planet. He grinned, wiped the sweat from his brow, and went to check the runes one last time before he got to work on the real magic.

Harry drew in a steadying breath. The cave was dead silent except for the wind and the faint whine of magic pulsing through the newly carved runes. He squared his shoulders and held out his hands, feeling the faint bite of the power gathering around him.

He confidently spoke the words of the incantation. Though he didn’t know the language he was speaking, he had learned this incantation by heart many years ago. The syllables bled into one another easily, each one resonating with the runes on the cave wall. As he reached the final phrase, the wardstone in the wall sparked to life. A web of blue lines stitched itself across the entire chamber, threading through every rune and seeping into the stone like the veins in marble.

Harry pressed his palms together, then forced them apart. He could feel the strain of the magic pushing back against his hands. The air in the cave turned thick and heavy, like the pressure before a thunderstorm. The cave’s walls shimmered a silver iridescence, and then the real change began.

The stone groaned, and it wasn’t a little creak, but the sound of tectonic plates grinding together. The air vibrated with the strain. The ceiling bucked and rippled, and the floor split, then fused. In a matter of seconds, the cramped cave doubled in size. Then it doubled again. The stone bulged and stretched, and the runes on the wall burned brighter and brighter as they fought to stabilize the new geometry.

Harry bit his lip and held on. Sweat streamed down his face, and his shirt stuck to his back. Every muscle in his body clenched as he poured more magic into the space. He could feel the limits of the wardstone, and the way it wanted to buckle and snap. He grit his teeth and pushed harder.

The expansion continued. The original cave was gone, replaced by a yawning chamber at least fifteen hundred meters wide. The ceiling arched so high that it vanished into darkness. The entrance to the cave widened until it was a gaping mouth, easily big enough to admit their battered YT-1300 with tons of room to spare. The rock underfoot rippled like water, then settled into a surface that was somewhat flat.

Harry risked a glance over his shoulder, checking the edges for collapse. There were no cracks and no warps, just stable, empty space. The runes held as Harry flooded them with magic. He could feel the drain on his body. The bone-deep fatigue came from pumping this much magic at once. His hands trembled, but he kept the spell moving.

With a final surge, he completed the last portion of the spell. The runes flashed, the walls rippled, and then there was silence. The magic settled, and the only thing left was the faint, satisfied hum from the wardstone.

Harry collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath. The air in the new cave was crisp and cool. He was glad to see the temperature regulation portion of the ward scheme was up and running. He wiped sweat from his face and barked out a laugh, giddy with relief.

It had worked. The cave was massive. The scale was surreal. Every sound echoed three or four times before dying. There was room enough for several ships, a dozen landspeeders, and all the tents and gear they could possibly want. He stared at the wall where the wardstone was hidden. He couldn’t see the stone, but he could certainly feel it. He smiled and shook his head in disbelief. This was quite a bit more draining than he expected.

However, there was still work to do. The floor was a mess. The expansion had left the stone in a series of jagged waves and uneven ridges. Harry stood and wiped his palms on his trousers. He walked the length of the chamber, testing the ground with each step, then stopped in the exact center.

He snapped his fingers, and a pulse of magic spread outward. Every uneven ripple in the floor buckled, then slammed flat. It sounded like dozens of doors slamming in sequence. The stone smoothed itself into a perfect, level plain. He repeated the spell, this time with a sweeping gesture, and the last of the ridges melted into the surface.

He leaned against the wall, his hands on his knees, and just breathed for a minute. The ache in his body was already fading, replaced by a feeling of pride. It wasn’t perfect, but it was more than good enough for their needs. And it would only get better.

Harry let out a ragged laugh and looked up at the new ceiling. The runes glimmered faintly in the shadows, casting wild patterns over the walls. The mouth of the cave was open to the sunlight, but the inside felt cool and dry. He stretched his back, checked the stabilizing spells one last time, then set his mind to the next task. The cave was big, but it was just the beginning.

A Galaxy of Magic

Harry spent the next hour wrangling the cave into submission. He smoothed out any spots he had previously missed. Harry then magically buffed the floor until it shone like polished marble.

Harry leaned against a newly formed pillar that he had added for extra support and tried to catch his breath. His arms ached, and his thoughts felt slow and muggy, but the space was ready.

Voices suddenly echoed from the cave mouth. He looked up and saw Yoda first, his small form silhouetted against the sun, and his ears up at full attention. Right behind him came the three women, each reacting differently to the new space.

Aayla paused at the threshold, her eyes wide as she looked up at the arched ceiling. “By the Force, Harry,” she said, stepping inside and spinning in a slow circle. “You could fit a Star Destroyer in here.” That wasn’t exactly true, but he took the compliment in stride.

Maris jogged in, her boots clicking on the polished stone. She dropped to her knees, ran her palms over the floor, then grinned at Harry. “This is insane. How did you even …?”

Shaak Ti said nothing at first. She walked the perimeter with her arms folded and her head cocked as she inspected every corner. When she finished, she nodded once and smiled. “It’s very well done.”

Yoda shuffled in, his stick tapping the floor. Instead of commenting, he just let his gaze roam over the space, up to the ceiling, then down to the smooth, shimmering plain of stone. At last, he spoke. “Impressive, this is. But obvious, now.”

Maris looked at Yoda before turning to Harry. “He means it’s visible from a kilometer away. It’s not exactly subtle.”

Harry shrugged, too tired to defend himself. “I’m working on it. I have a way to hide the entrance, but it’s going to take another round of heavy magic … and I’m just about spent.”

Aayla clapped him on the back. “You’ve earned a break,” she said, then she frowned. “You look like you’re about to fall over.”

He chuckled. “I’m tired, but I’ll survive.”

Shaak Ti looked up at the mouth of the cave, where sunlight blazed in. “What is your plan?” she asked. “A simple illusion will not be enough. Imperial ships have scanners and probes. Some of them can see through basic illusions.”

Harry nodded. “I’m not going to use a simple glamour. I’m going to use the Fidelius Charm, which will hide the entire cave, including the entrance, in a pocket dimension. Only those who know the secret will be able to find it.”

Aayla whistled appreciatively. “You really don’t do things halfway.”

Harry stretched again and groaned. “It’s either that, or constantly worry about getting ambushed.”

Maris wandered to the far end of the chamber and called back, “Can you put in a swimming pool? If we’re going to be stuck on this miserable ball of sand, we might as well have some fun.”

Shaak Ti snorted, but Harry could tell she liked the idea. “We’ll need a training area. Maybe a medical bay … and a small armory,” she added, looking at Aayla.

Yoda wandered the length of the chamber, his stick rapping out a slow, steady rhythm. He reached the part of the wall where the wardstone was hidden, peered at it, then turned to Harry. “Safe, is it? Stable?”

“It is as long as the wardstone is intact. If it should be destroyed, we’ll still have plenty of time to evacuate,” Harry replied.

Yoda nodded, then turned back to the girls. “Rest, you all should. Tomorrow, more work there will be.”

Aayla nodded and threw an arm around Harry’s shoulder. “Come on, hero,” she said, steering him toward the ship. “We need to get you something to eat before you pass out.”

Harry didn’t protest. He let himself be guided up the ramp, through the tent, and into the kitchen. The air was cool and smelled faintly of the fresh bread he had baked earlier in the day. Someone had already set the table.

They sat, and Aayla and Maris talked about future plans. Shaak Ti scooped food onto plates and handed them out. Yoda sat in his chair and joined in on the girls’ discussion. Harry mostly just listened, content to let the fatigue roll over him. By the time he finished his meal, his head was starting to clear. He was still tired, but he didn’t feel as exhausted as earlier.

After dinner, they went to the bathroom and turned on the spigot. Hot, soapy water rapidly filled the giant tub. Aayla was first in, of course. She shed her clothes without hesitation and walked straight to the edge, paused to stretch like a cat, and then stepped down the three wide stairs into the bath. Her skin flushed a deep blue and glistened as the water lapped her thighs. She ducked under the soapy water, surfacing with her lekku trailing behind her. She then floated onto her back and drifted, her eyes half-lidded.

Maris wandered in a few seconds later, stark naked except for the tiny thong she’d left on. She peeled it off and flicked it at Harry’s face before sliding into the water next to Aayla. She yelped as she hit the hot water, then giggled and splashed water at Aayla until the two of them were playfully wrestling.

Shaak Ti took her time, but when she arrived at the bath, she was already naked. She walked in gracefully, her red-and-white skin glistening in the light. She stepped into the water and sighed. She lowered herself down, closed her eyes, and let the heat work into her muscles.

Harry took off his clothes and joined them. The hot water washed over him, and he sighed blissfully. He sank up to his chin and let his muscles relax. The girls drifted to him, one by one.

Maris was the first to close in. She hooked her legs around his waist, settled into his lap, and draped her arms over his shoulders. “You work too hard,” she said, then pressed her lips to his. The kiss was hungry and lustful, and Harry kissed her back, enjoying the grind of her pussy under the water.

Aayla floated closer and wrapped both arms around Harry and Maris. “You both look so happy,” she said, then reached out and squeezed Maris’s ass. “But I don’t see why you should get all the attention.”

Maris just grinned and wriggled in Harry’s lap, her pussy grinding against his cock under the water. She turned and kissed Aayla, and their lips parted as the kiss deepened.

Shaak Ti didn’t rush to join. She watched the three of them for a few seconds, then drifted closer. Her breasts barely broke the surface of the water, and every so often, she would lean back and let her lekku float out behind her. She came up on Harry’s right and gently pulled his hand under the water. Her grip was firm, and she brought his palm to her thigh, guiding it up and over the smooth, slick skin.

Harry squeezed her inner thigh before letting his fingers drift to her slick womanhood. Shaak Ti arched her back and leaned into the touch, her eyes closed. Her skin was impossibly soft, and she shuddered deeply as Harry’s fingers toyed with her throbbing clit.

Aayla and Maris moved together and made Harry sit on the edge of the pool. They sandwiched him between their blue and pale skin. Maris pushed his legs apart and grabbed his cock, squeezing it gently. “There’s still some life in you, it seems,” she teased, then leaned down and took it in her mouth. The suction was strong, and she bobbed her head with an eagerness that made Harry groan.

Aayla kissed him hard, and she moaned when Harry sucked on her tongue. She slid one hand down his chest and played with his muscled stomach. Shaak Ti, meanwhile, used her hand to stroke his balls, her touch delicate but sure.

Maris popped off his cock and grinned. “He tastes like soap,” she announced, then ducked back down and swallowed him again. Aayla laughed, and the sound vibrated through Harry’s mouth.

The heat of the bath, the softness of the bodies, and the relentless attention all combined to create a delirious pleasure. Harry lost himself in it, alternating between kissing Aayla and Shaak Ti, running his hands over their wet, naked bodies, and letting Maris do whatever she liked.

At some point, Aayla climbed out of the bath and pulled Harry up after her. She led the way to the bedroom, leaving a trail of droplets across the tile. Maris followed, still dripping and grinning. Shaak Ti paused to grab a towel and draped it around her shoulders, but didn’t bother drying off.

They reached the bedroom, and Aayla gave him a push toward the bed. Harry tumbled onto his back, and the women swarmed him. Maris landed on his lap and wiggled her pussy against his cock, guiding him inside in a single, slick motion. She moaned and rode him wildly. Maris had clearly been waiting all day for this moment. Aayla straddled his chest, and her blue thighs clamped around his ribs. She looked down at him with dark, playful eyes and began to grind her pussy against his stomach, smearing her juices across his skin.

Shaak Ti crawled up the bed and hovered over his face, her breasts dangling just out of reach. She took his hand and guided it to her pussy, pressing his fingers inside. She rocked against him, slowly riding his fingers.

Maris rode him faster, her tits bouncing with every stroke. “You’re going to make me cum,” she hissed. Aayla leaned down and kissed her, and Maris’s tongue met hers. Both women moaned into each other’s mouths.

Shaak Ti lowered her body until her pussy hovered over Harry’s mouth. Shaak smirked down at him and brushed her swollen clit against his lips. He flicked his tongue out, licked her lips, and then sucked the clit into his mouth. Shaak Ti shuddered and pressed down, grinding her hips into his face.

Aayla’s hands were everywhere. She played with Maris’s nipples, pinched Shaak Ti’s ass, and occasionally reached down to stroke Harry’s cock where it disappeared into Maris. She kept her own pussy pressed to his stomach, writhing against him and moaning softly.

Maris came first. She slammed down hard on Harry’s cock, her pussy clenching so tight it almost hurt. She screamed, and her body shook, but she didn’t stop moving until she’d wrung out every last drop of pleasure. Aayla caught her, held her, and then rolled her off to the side.

Shaak Ti took Maris’s place, impaling herself in one slow, perfect drop of her wide hips. Her wet pussy squelched loudly as her taut lips stretched around his girth. She rode him with a calm grace, never once breaking eye contact. Harry toyed with her clit, then flicked it faster, and Shaak Ti’s calm broke. She gasped, then squealed, and she came in a silent, shivering quake of her body.

Aayla finally moved up and planted her pussy over Harry’s mouth. He licked her, and his tongue penetrated her tight hole. She grabbed his hair and ground down, her whole body tensing as the orgasm built. Unsatisfied with simply having her hole licked, she dragged her clit to his lips and insistently ground it against them. Harry dutifully sucked the hard bead into his mouth, and Aayla’s eyes fluttered. She held him there, barely able to breathe, then exploded in a rush of heat and wetness. They collapsed together in a pile, gasping and laughing.

Harry groaned as the girls draped themselves over him, and his cock twitched weakly as Aayla gently cupped his balls. Maris and Shaak Ti curled up on either side, both wearing smug, satisfied grins.

Maris kissed Harry on the cheek. “Hard work deserves a reward,” she tiredly stated. Aayla just smiled and nuzzled into his shoulder.

Shaak Ti yawned loudly and stretched. “Alright, everyone. Lights out,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow, and I’d like to get an early start.” Harry yawned and nodded. He waved his hand, and the lights flickered out.

Outside, the planet’s twin suns had already set. Inside the tent, the group slept, wrapped together, content.