The Name Tha

r the festival, t

o c

t usually screeched over the sea were silent. The academy grounds shimmered with

ng looked

hina h

tching Nora bicker with two other girls over a misplaced box of festival l

t. Like a scene being play

!" Nora called, wavin

nked. "Sorry.

nudging her shoulder. "Come on,

-

ws, glinting off jars of dried petals, seeds, and bottled

ies department, was already droning on about rare

eat by the back window, opened h

e words

n not pain, just... pressure. Like her bod

urned to a blank page in her

and hanging roots. At it

was doing, she shut the note

s, she ling

ks near the window, humming to him

tioned a plant earlier the crimson mourner?

sty little thing. Grows best in cursed so

er head. "Ju

girl, Liora. Alway

phina

did you

?" He trailed off, confusion knitting his brow. "Fo

ced a smile. "

ed awkwardly. "Strange. You just remind

rned and walked away as fast

room, she loc

inside, unfolding it slowly. The ink had darkened overnight or m

g was neat. Sla

r o

t remember

ry stroke of the pen...

. Trees. A path that curved toward

vers. No landmar

t fo

d b

the tower steps two at a time. She needed fresh air.

t place open to the sky, wind in her hai

he reached the top

sat on t

k at her with dar

every day. Same gray feathers.

never seen

ing. Tied in a small knot. As if someon

reath

you?" she

on tilted

flew

ght, she could

cause o

ouldn't stop whispering

io