IA

und, slipping between blades of grass and wrapping itself around tree trunks like spectral fingers. The sky wa

true daylight

ike a crown of forgotten dreams, was the tallest tower of Langford Castle, my ancestral home. Its silho

e it

tly. The letter from Blackthorn University was folded safely inside a hidden

worry and frustration, her usual calm demeanor cracking just enough for me to see how much she cared. But I couldn't wait. If

walking straight

of the crisp morning ai

e threshold into the fo

nt watchers, their gnarled roots twisting across the ground like veins beneath skin. A low mist curled around my ankles,

th

a

fr

her

time, it w

, eyes glinting like polished obsidian. Not a single wing m

e they wer

wh

hard and k

tallest tree of Maple, your

ering deeper into the forest, I

trees whose names I didn't know-trees th

rom my bag again, rereading th

elf, she came up empty-no records, no official website, no history. But r

ly know, just follow y

advice and more

war

here

on

that shoul

denly,

nlike an

r in color, and the leaves were a deep, vibrant red-not brown or green like the rest of the forest. It p

pl

harply, ste

it, half-shrouded

en shadows. Her face was partially obscured by the hood, but I could see the

t weren'

rs peeked out from under her hood-deli

hed li

idn't

pped

l no

y voice steady despite the unease curling in m

flickered

he asked

lin

nswered in

knew she wasn't ask

way without

me," she

er retreating

royal throne of Earth-was being ordered a

y head an

ilent. Her steps were light, precise, like she was part

ot so

nward, blocking out what little moonlight filtered through the clouds. Crows still

"Is there some rule in your cult that doesn't

cted s

, she s

rn

e dead i

she said coolly. "And to answe

lin

hat was

behind her agai

the pointed ears, but the way she carried

a

s w

struck me li

The impossible location. The unnatu

d it

niversity... in

ipped over

anced back,

ady tired?" She scoffed. "Tsk. You must be

iffe

s w

ai

.. 'this world'?"

dn't a

se she

as massive, wide enough that I couldn't wrap my arms around it even if I tried. And c

rom her cloak-a pendant sha

it against

nt, nothin

plit open, reve

mbled

w

g at the door. "This universi

her head slightl

nreadable. "What are you

d at th

f my body scr

am I ever had

sita

ing to keep my voice light. "You can

dn't r

nd between my shoulders

d-and the world e

A thousand voices

th

kne

____

of Ch