I wake with the sun creeping round the edge of the curtains. I dress and reassemble my weapons, struggling, taking twice as long without Alex's aid. Livia serves me breakfast downstairs. Neither of us mention last night. She wishes me a safe journey before I set off again. I also let Alex know I'm continuing through the light realm.

Hours later, I swoop down and land in an orchard to gather my own lunch of oranges, plantains, and wild berries. Once I've eaten my fill, I move on.

It must be around an hour before sunset when the boundary to the dark realm ripples in front of me. Unlike the clear barriers between realms I've come across so far, this one tints the world beyond in inky shades. Like the dark realm revels in its name, and the unsavoury deeds it conceals.

"I've reached the barrier." I tell Alex, who has been keeping tabs with me throughout the day.

"Keep your voice quiet from here on out." They remind me. "Fly in with confidence and no one will give you a second glance. You've got this."

"Thank you." I reply, steeling my resolve.

My hands curl into fists as I approach the intimidating wall of magic. When I make contact with it, it's not a pleasurable sensation. Negative energy has mingled with the ancient magic. Corrupted it. The dark magic sends nausea through my blood. Pinpricks set fire across my flesh and an icy grip threatens to crush my mind. My training with Alex is the only thing preventing a physical reaction. If I cried out, the dark siders would spot their intruder immediately.

The torturous experience only lasts for a split second, but its ghost doesn't leave me. Negative energy lingers in the air here. Whereas the wall assaulted me with painful pressure, the sickness in the air is a dull ache in the back of my mind.

At least I'm flying over water again, which gives me a chance to compose myself without worrying about navigating Taura.

"I'm never doing that again." I mutter to Alex after a minute, lips barely moving, tongue hardly making a sound.

They laugh, having heard me easily. Magic and technology make an incredibly useful combination. "You still need to get out of there. Once more, and then you'll never have to do it again."

"Don't remind me."

Get in, get out. That's the plan. And I've only completed part one so far.

My muscles tense and my pulse quickens as I head towards the shore. But all I find is a normal-looking beach and people going about their daily lives. They completely ignore me, so I ignore them too.

I don't know what I expected, but it isn't this. This feels too easy. Too mundane. Maybe a desolate landscape, or the constant sound of screams would punctuate my knowledge of the dark realm more accurately. But they're just another civilisation. A lawless one, mind you, but a civilisation just trying to exist.

But as I continue, I do notice odd things out of place. Things that make me want to break my cover. I notice people working the land with shackles around their ankles. Children playing hopscotch over a grid drawn with blood. A crow perched unnaturally still on a weathervane. Life here appears to be carefully balanced between familiar and twisted, and that balance unsettles my guts.

I reach Taura without incident, using my mental map to find the town hall. A street away from my destination, I touch ground and continue on foot.

The city has an eerily similar atmosphere to Lyria. Vendors pack up their wares for the evening, while revellers find their way to restaurants, bars, and clubs. I pause outside a restaurant, until I notice the specials board: 'Human with salad dressing. Choose your body part while stocks last'. I hurry past, wishing I could unread those words.

I round the street corner, coming face to face with the town hall on the opposite side of a square. I cross through the grassy area, passing statues, benches, and topiary. But a large crowd seems to be heading directly towards me, they stream out of the hall, jostling each other. Some grumble, whilst others laugh spitefully.

Dread curls up in my stomach.

No. There's no way I'm too late. Get in, get out. That's all I need to worry about.

"Who are you going to kill first with the sword?"

"She bribed the guards with something. I know it."

"That sword should've been mine."

"I'm the one who caught him trying to steal the painting."

I hear snippets of conversations as I find myself in the middle of the crowd. No one parts to let me through. I grit my teeth as they push and elbow instead. Eventually, the crowd disperses, allowing me to reach the doors to the town hall just as a man closes them.

"Auction's over." He says gruffly, not looking at me as he fiddles with the door locks.

The dread in my stomach spreads over my flesh in a cold flush, despite the warm summer evening. I have about two seconds to decide on my next move before the man becomes suspicious.

"Tell me the flute is still available." I demand. Complaints and tears will win me no favours here.

"Sold to the King's son. And don't think you can get away with stealing it; his prize was already transported to his mansion."

"Great." I grind out sarcastically before stalking away. "Alex." I mutter. "The auction just finished."

They curse.

"The king's son bought the flute and I've been informed he now has it in his mansion. What do you want me to do?"

"Do you remember the map well enough to get to the Shadowbrick Road?"

"I think so." I reply, setting off in the general direction of the row of mansions. My wings ache with exhaustion from a full day spent flying, so I give them a much-needed rest.

"Head there. I'll direct you to the exact building, then I want you to scope it out. Evaluate the security and see if you can learn anything else about the flute's whereabouts. While you're doing that, I'll figure out accommodation for you in the light realm. We need to reevaluate the plan, and I'm not having you stay in the dark realm overnight."

"Got it." I agree. As little desire as I have to cross the dark realm barrier again, I have even less to stay in the dark realm longer than necessary.

If the large, extravagant buildings weren't a big enough clue to anyone approaching Shadowbrick Road, the street paved with shining black stone would be. Especially since, in the fading sunset, I imagine the ground will soon match the sky.

I fly up to land on a rooftop a street away from the mansions.

"I'm here." I inform Alex. "Now what?"

"I believe you're looking for the mansion furthest from the palace."

I turn my head, spotting the dark palace jutting up from a nearby hill, ominously watching over the city below. That makes the mansion directly in front of me the one I'm looking for."

"Found it."

"Observe and listen. The potions are still at your disposal if you think magic will help, but I want you out of there within an hour. Take care of yourself, Kora."

"I will. Don't worry. I'll speak to you soon."