—The next morning, the palace corridors were empty. Not a single presence stirred in the kitchen. The red-haired girl named Nahumi knelt, saying goodbye to a small boy named Thymmie.

  —“But… isn’t the North dangerous? Isn’t that where…” —Thymmie paused, wiping the small tears running down his cheeks, still dirty from playing outside— “where the tribes kill people who don’t believe in the Messiah?”

  —Nahumi hugged Thymmie and leaned close to his ear.

  —“Don’t worry, little one. Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m just going to investigate, not to speak or prove that I don’t believe in…” —She pulled back and lowered her voice— “Zhiary. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Blink, and I’ll be back.”

  —Footsteps echoed. At the entrance to the kitchen stood Achiry and a few soldiers.

  —“Well then, are you ready to head north?” —Achiry asked, adjusting a glove— “We leave whenever you say.”

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  —Nahumi rose from the floor, took Thymmie’s hand, let it go, and walked toward the exit. She looked back at him one last time and whispered:

  —“You’ll see—the chocolates from the North are the best.”

  —She left the kitchen and began following Achiry, who had already moved ahead.

  —“Come on. The outskirts of the city await,” Achiry said, stopping slowly without looking at Nahumi. She turned and locked eyes with her.

  —“You’re doing this for Thymmie… and nothing will happen to you. The gods are with you.”

  —Achiry turned back again, waiting for Nahumi’s response.

  —“Then let’s go. Let me walk you to the city gates…”

  —Nahumi nodded and stepped closer to Achiry.

  —“Nisma… thank you for coming with me.”

  —She spoke softly as they walked through the palace’s grand hallway, lined with tall windows reflecting the light of the three suns.

  —As they neared the palace gates, Achiry suddenly stopped. She looked at Nahumi, stepped closer, and whispered in her ear. Her breath chilled Nahumi, who tensed at Achiry’s sudden closeness.

  —“What if, while you’re gone, Zhiary is already heading here? The prophecies say this is where the Ukkhe Actkal will unfold—the third trial of Oshikar. If that’s true, you must return as quickly as possible.” —She paused, turning her gaze toward the nearest stained glass window— “Many innocent lives will be lost. A holy war doesn’t deserve to become reality.”