"I strongly advise you rely on the cover of darkness to sneak into the town hall. The flute will inevitably be guarded because even dark-siders don't tend to trust each other. Once you're in, assess the situation and keep us updated. We will help you coordinate a distraction for the guards, but I imagine you will find these helpful." Mr Cunningham hands me a case full of neatly arranged potions. I'm sat in his office just him, me, and Alex.

I read some of the labels. Smoke. Voice alteration. Siren song. Every potion has been carefully selected to disguise my presence.

"If every guard runs off to investigate the distraction," Mr Cunningham continues. "You take the flute and run. If one or two are left behind, you are going to need to be careful. You may need to make your presence known to them in order to get past their defences, and your training should have prepared you for this possibility. However, you are to use conversation and deception in this scenario. You are not to engage in a fight unless absolutely necessary. If it does come down to that, your escape is the only priority, with or without the flute."

"This is a lot to take in." I say.

"I can understand that. But Alex and I will be with you every step of the way. If you forget anything, just ask. You are wearing your earpiece, I take it?"

"I am."

"Good. I recommend you study this map over the next hour." He unrolls a map onto the desk. My eyes widen. I've never seen a map detailing the dark realm before. This one is zoomed-in, focusing on a city only a short way inland from the coast. Various buildings have been included, including the town hall, marked with a large green circle. "You may take it with you, but you would stick out like a flying mermaid if you're seen checking it once you are in the dark realm. You will obviously need to travel through the light realm first, and I advise you fly close to the boundary for the mer realm before entering into the dark realm. You should end up near, if not within, the borders of this map."

He continues, talking me through various landmarks for the journey and giving even further instructions. Just when I think my mind is going to collapse under the weight of instruction, he finishes his speech and leaves to let me do some last-minute training.

My eyes wander across the map, taking in the palace on the hill, the tangle of streets making up the shopping district, and the row of mansions on the edge of it all. Everything so much like Lyria.

"It's strange, isn't it?" Alex muses. "That such terrible people could inhabit such an innocuous place."

"I was just thinking the same thing." I agree.

"Do you remember everything I've taught you?"

"Yes. Every lesson." I recite all nine of them.

"Excellent. You'll need to thick quick on your feet, but use those rules as your guidance." They remind me. "Want to run through some exercises one more time?"

I politely decline. "I think I'd rather save my energy."

They shrug. "Fair enough."

A few minutes pass by while I attempt to memorise the map.

"Yes, Sir." Alex says suddenly, I look up to see their hand resting just below their ear. "Right away, Sir." They say after a long pause, before lowering their hand. "Mr Cunningham says it's time to outfit you for the journey." They tell me.

"Already?" I ask, struggling to comprehend how quickly everything is now moving.

"I can assure you, you are ready for this. I wouldn't let you go otherwise."

"I know. I just... It's all happening so suddenly."

"You'll be fine." They reassure me once again. "And you're familiar with the armoury." They open the door. "Are you coming?"

I take one final glance at the map before following Alex out of the room.

We head to the armoury, where Mr Cunningham provides me with a package of clothes and sends me through a side door to a small changing room. I slip on leggings, a skin-tight tank top, and mid-calf boots, all in black.

Back in the main armoury, Alex helps me strap daggers to a belt around my waist. I also fasten the case of potions to the belt. I try to find a place to keep my phone, but Mr Cunningham stops me.

"I suggest you find some place safe to keep that while you're away. Your phone will only be a disruption during your task."

"But..."

He holds up a hand. "Your earpiece is the only method of communication you will need."

I drop the subject, knowing this is an argument I won't win.

Alex crouches down to tuck daggers snug inside my boots. I count at least ten daggers attached to me before giving up. Finally, they sling a sash across my upper body with a sword resting across my back.

Mr Cunningham gets me to draw and resheath the sword multiple times, since I have never worn a sword like this before. My hand struggles to find the hilt the first couple of times, but I manage to get the hang of it in the end.

Soon, my companions decide I am fully prepared. My churning stomach says otherwise, but I don't give voice to its opinion.

"Good luck." Mr Cunningham tells me, shaking my hand.

"Thank you."

He nods to me before leaving the room.

I turn to Alex. "Any final words of advice?"

"Believe in yourself. You've trained hard for this, and you have the natural intelligence for it." They surprise me by pulling me in for a hug. "Just come home safe."

"I will." I promise. As nervous as I am, I'm prepared to run and save myself if I find myself in a tricky situation. I'm too determined to get through this alive for any other outcome to be possible.

They hand me a grey cloak, which I use to cover as many weapons as possible. Then they walk me out the police station, give me another hug, and walk back inside. I launch into the air, flying with only one destination in mind.