The rain falls in a heavy sheet. I sling my pack over my shoulder. Questions pour through my head. Am I doing the right thing? Making the right choice? Doing the best for the people? I don't know. What I would give for a few minutes of good, sound advice. But Candice knows as much, or less, than I do. Jinx can't take it exceedingly seriously. The Heads are too business-like for anything. And General Lyson's mind is focused on our 'assault'.

I sigh. This has just gotten so confusing.

Candice peeps her head in. "Elara, ready to go?

"I guess."

She comes in and takes my hand in both of hers. "Look, I know it's hard, but just do your best. We've wanted this all our lives."

My throat strangles. "Thank you," I get out.

She dips her head. "No problem."

My mind is in a whirl. Next thing I know, I'm trapped in the darkness which brought me to Alium. This time, though, I'm prepared for it, so when it comes, I only feel a gentle sensation of being tickled. I know vaguely that I'm the one who conjured it. After that, my feet touch upon solid ground.

I take in the dusk of Ether. So dark, so muted after the brightness of Alium.

"Elara?!"

Nina's voice. I turn swiftly and come face to face with her, and her vibrant orange hair.

"Hello, Nina," I say in a neutral, measured tone.

"What the—how are you here?" She's completely taken aback. I can see the unmasked shock on her face and I relish the moment for a while. Nina, who laughed at my lack of magic. Nina, my enemy at Etherian school.

I finally smirk after a pause as she takes in my companions, who have just transported here. "I came back," I say.

"I can see that," she says fearfully, taking in the size of Candice's limbs.

"Hey, Elara." Candice nudges me. "We've got a mission to do."

"Gotcha," I say. Jinx pats me on the shoulder and I feel an electric tingle rush out. "Right, Nina, can you bring us to the Head of Ether?"

"Aren't—aren't you afraid we'll zap you with our magic?" She's trying to be much braver than she actually is, especially when Head Bruno's just arrived.

"Just take us." Jinx holds out a fireball he has just conjured. "Unless you want a taste of this."

"Of—of course I will!" she says, her voice growing higher with each word.

We follow Nina through the Etherian alleyways, feeling so out of place in a place where the air is simply cracking with magic. We enter through an arched wooden doorway, where Nina leaves us. "I've got to request an audience first," she hastily explains.

We wait a few minutes. It's me, Candice, Jinx, Gurdy, Heads Pyra, Frost, Lythe and Bruno, and General Lyson, who are the most impatient. The others have been asked to stand guard outside. Nina calls. We troop inside.

And I'm looking at the most impossible person in the world.

My aunt.