The light around them gradually fades, enveloping them in an eerie darkness. As they touch a solid surface, they are immediately engulfed in a thick fog that hangs heavily in the air. The fog is so dense that they can barely see before them and makes breathing more difficult.

"Where are we?" Tikor asked, attempting to clear the fog from his eyes. "I thought this would be a beautiful garden with a lily pond."

Lyra looks around; her memory of this book is not strong. This one was selected purely because it was very unlikely that Lavinia would enter it.

"Let's head this way and hope we find who we're looking for," Lyra says, trembling.

"Who are we searching for?" Emrys tightens his grip on the hilt of his sheathed sword as his eyes scan the fog with intensity.

"His name is Berith, but I am unsure how to find hi..." Lyra's voice is cut off by the sound of screams from behind them.

"Demons! Run!" screams a woman in a white gown. "Call the guard!" She yanks a nearby handle.

Bell rings out loudly across the area, and lights from windows begin to flicker in the night.

"What do we do?" Zopha asks.

Lyra pauses momentarily as memories of this story come flooding back to her.

"Run!" she yells, taking off and pulling Kyda. "Keep up, or I'll leave you behind!" she shouts at Kyda.

As they run, their footsteps echo around them, and the fog begins to lift, revealing tall buildings surrounding them.

Lyra abruptly stops, scanning the winding paths of the stone maze for the correct route. She jolts her head towards the sound of clashing armor, which grows louder as it approaches.

Emrys panics, "I can't carry all of us on Whims. What should we do?" Lyra touches his hand and signals him to wait. Her gaze remains fixed on the bells, her mind racing for a plan.

"This way!" Lyra motions.

Tikor breathes heavily as he jogs behind them. "Why are we running towards the bells? They are what warned them of our presence. Might also be a bad time to mention, but Orges are not strong runners."

"Because if the monster's bells are signaled, he is watching us. And the one place they don't expect us to go is towards them." Lyra calls back to the struggling Tikor.

The sound of the bells grows louder as they continue their frantic race down the winding cobblestone streets, their feet pounding against the uneven stones. The dull thud of their breath mixes with the clanging bells, creating a clamor of sound that echoes through the deserted alleyways. As they approach their destination, a magnificent cathedral suddenly emerges from the stone forest, encircled by a serene forest. The intricate details of the cathedral are breathtaking, with stained-glass windows that glisten in the moonlight. The forest was lush with greenery, and the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers filled the air.

Kyda whispers, "Should we enter?" Lyra responds, "No, let's go to the back of the church. Tikor, make the garden thicker to hide us."

Tikor removes his shoes and smiles, "Oh soil, I could feel you crying from under the rock. Let me help you." He wiggles his toes, and the forest transforms into a lush garden. The trees create a gorgeous canopy, providing shelter for the companions from the guards.

The guards march past the church, their swords gleaming in the moonlight. one stops, peers into the garden, and strides toward them.

"Oh no. Azure's glow isn't fully hidden." Zopha's eyes grow wide as she looks at her.

Lyra looks at Tikor, and they nod to each other.

"I am sorry, friend, lay down," Tikor says.

Azure lies on the ground as Tikor conceals her glowing body with thick branches.

Emrys intently watches the guard, who is still slowly approaching them. He furrows his brow, and his eyes glide from left to right as he ponders their next move.

After a moment, Emrys stands up and confidently strides out of the bushes. "Greetings, good sir," he says with a warm smile. "I assure you there are no monsters here, slippery little demons!"

He walks across the garden towards the guard, his movements slow and deliberate.

Halt! Speak thy name!" the guard points his sword.

Emrys confidently pushes the blade away from his face. "I am the demon hunter you ordered. Were you not informed?"

"No."

Emrys smiles at the officer. "What is your rank? I'm sure a higher-up like you was informed."

"Oh yes, demon hunter." The guard takes the bait as Emrys continues to flatter him.

"Well, I have this area scanned; I will continue to guard the church for the night. You call for me if you find any?" The corner of his lips curve.

"I saw a light." The guard looks past Emrys to the bushes.

"Ah yes, the light," Emrys looks directly into Lyra's eyes, "That's just my lantern. Let me get that to calm your worries."

Lyra quickly retrieves a book and quill from her satchel and uses them to create a blue lantern. She hands it to Emrys, who reaches into the bushes.

"See?" Emrys quickly turns around, facing the guard. "Just a lantern."

"Why is it blue?"

"Ah, it makes it harder for the demons to see. Of course, you know that; that was a test." Emrys rubs his head with a grin.

The guard stands up taller, "Of course it was. Well, carry on with the hunt." With an about-face, the guard continues down the road toward the others.

Emrys waits until the man is out of sight before joining the others in the bushes.

"About time you become useful." Zopha grunts at him, smoke drifting from her nose.

Emrys scrunches his face at her, "What now?"

Lyra leaned against the gray bark of a tree, her face glistening with sweat and weighed down by exhaustion. "Now we wait. I don't have many memories of this place, but he knows we're here. We're safe until he finds us or until we can form a plan."

Moments pass in silence until a shuffle is heard from behind them.

Zopha's eyes squint as she surveys the area. "Someone is watching us."

"Are you sure?" Tikor glances around anxiously.

Azure raises her nose and takes a deep breath, inhaling the scents around her. "I do not smell anything."

"It's him," Lyra stands up. "Berith, we mean you no harm. We are here to ask for your help."

The companions scan their surroundings as Emrys's hand rests on his sword's pommel.

In a blink, a set of bright yellow eyes emerge from behind a nearby tree.

"Who are you?" His voice is deep and robust.

"We are friends. We have come to you in hopes that you will help us." Lyra says.

"How can I trust you?"

She looks to Tikor, "Water lily, please." She stretches her hand out to him.

He smiles, dips his toes into the dirt, blossoms a breathtaking water Lily, and then hands it to Lyra gently.

She cradles it and smiles, "For you, Berith."

Berith suddenly emerges from his hiding place, cautiously tiptoeing and creeping towards them.

"Oh my, a gargoyle," Emrys whispers.

"For me?" Berith places his large, clawed hand on his chest.

Lyra gently nods to him, offering a warm smile.

"Thank you." He says, taking the water lily from her hands. "How did you know?"

"Like I said, we are friends." She delicately places her hands in front, hoping not to frighten him.

"Ha! A mighty gargoyle on our side we cannot lose!" Tikor jumps up and runs over to Berith. Berith panics, and his body quickly shifts into stone.

Tikor stares at him, puzzled, and the other companion's eyes widen.

"Great," Zopha exclaimed, "We have a knight who drags around a horse, an Ogre who sips tea, a wolf that only speaks in moonlight, a tiny faun, a centaur who probably won't join us, and a dragon who cannot fly." She rolls her eyes and adds, "And now we have a gargoyle who's scared of his shadow." Zopha then curls into a ball on the ground and laments, "We are doomed."

Lyra approached Berith and lightly touched his shoulder, causing the stone to melt instantly.

"I'm sorry," he says, lowering his gaze.

"It is okay, but I must ask Berith, is there someplace we can go? Somewhere safe?" Lyra asks.

He touches his clawed hand to his chin and squints his eyes, "Yes, follow me. Stay low and stay quiet."

Quickly, they follow Berith out of the gardens and towards the church. He peeks through a window and waves for them to follow. They open the church door and tip-toe through the empty all.

Once at the end of the long, dark hallway, Berith stops. He glances around to ensure the coast is clear. Then, he takes his claw and pushes on a stone embedded in the wall.

The stone pushes in, and a creak is heard; Tikor stares at the wall, amazed as it moves and opens. Hesitantly, they follow him into the dark tunnel. Whims stops abruptly, sniffing the musty air. He shakes his head and snorts loudly, echoing his discomfort through the church.

"Whose there?"

"They are coming; we must hurry!" Berith raced inside, leaving Whims and Emrys.

"Old friend, we have faced worse than this; please trust me." Emrys strokes Whim's mane and presses his hand against his neck. He calms Whims enough so that the horse follows him into the unknown.

The doorway closes just before the light from a candle caresses the wall.

Berith looks at Azure in awe as the light from her coat cascades around the dusty chamber.

"Beautiful." He says.

Azure bows her head at him, "Thank you, friend."

"What is this place?" Zopha asks, her scales glistening a shade of blue from Azure's glow.

"This was a secret meeting place for the priest and gargoyles." Berith looks around, his eyes dim.

"Priest and gargoyles?" Tikor tilts his head.

"Long ago, they worked together to protect the church, offering sanctuary to all who needed it. These chambers were used for secret meetings and for housing those in need. Over time, the secret became so secret that it was forgotten. Soon after, we were seen as demons instead of protectors. Now they hunt our kind." Berith looks down.

"How many of you are there?" Kyda whispers.

Berith looks at her, his eyes hardened by thought but soft with sadness. Kyda nods in understanding.

"You said you needed my help?" Berith's gaze moves to Lyra.

She nods, "Yes, you are the final piece to the puzzle."

"What is this help you need?"

Lyra explains the past events to Berith, describing Lavina and her plan to take over the written worlds and emit darkness amongst the realms.

"I cannot help you." He sits down on the stone floor.

"Why not?" Zopha huffs.

"I am not a warrior. History has taught me to be guarded, to protect myself; I am no fighter." His eyes fill with sadness.

"We cannot do this without you, Berith," Lyra whispers.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot help you. However, there are rooms available. Please choose one and rest," he says before leaving the chamber.

The chamber falls silent as each companion retreats to their rooms for the night. Tikor glances out from his doorway before tiptoeing along Berith's path.

Walking through the darkness, he catches a glimpse of light and follows it, eventually coming across an opening in a vast room. The moon's glow illuminates what used to be a beautiful garden, with grates in the ceiling, allowing the light to filter in. At the center of the room is an empty pond, a statue, and a solemn Berith.

He places the flower in front of the mermaid and says, "I cannot help them. I don't have the courage I once had."

Tikor stands silently and watches as Berith speaks with the stunning statue.

"You are the only reason I stay here; you know that? I cannot face the darkness without you."

Tikor quietly removes his shoes and feels the ground beneath him. It's as if the earth is whispering its thoughts to him, and he nods in understanding. He then digs his toes into the soil and concentrates harder than ever before. The once drab space becomes alive with color as beautiful flowers bloom in the moonlight. A dead tree, which previously had no signs of life, now blossoms into a lovely shade of purple and is adorned with dainty white flowers. The aroma of the flowers fills the air, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Berith gazes around the room, twirling in wonder at the breathtaking sight. He clutches his chest, tears of delight streaming down his face.

Tikor continues, digging deeper into the ground; he feels the water. Pushing a root up through the mermaid's pond, allowing the water to return to the once dusty dry bowl. Berith turns to watch as the pond regains its life.

Finally, Tikor adds a beautiful lily in front of the mermaid and then collapses to the floor with a soft smile.

"My friend." Berith touches Tikors arm. "My friend."

"Hmmm..."

"Did you do this?" Berith asks.

"I suppose I did partake in a bit of it." Tikor grunts as he sits up.

Berith dives into his massive arms and embraces him in a long hug. "Thank you, my friend."

Tikor smiles and touches his back, "You are most welcome, friend."

They sit silently in the garden for the rest of the night. Watching the fireflies dance upon the lilies and softly kiss the mermaid's face.

________________

Lyra's eyes slowly open, her chest feeling the heaviest it has ever felt. Once fully awake, she sees Berith perched in her room.

"I did not mean to startle you," Berith says.

"No, you are fine. Trust me, it takes a lot to startle me these days." She stretches her arms.

"I have decided to join you." He whispers.

"What made you change your mind?"

"Someone who can create beautiful things from times lost is worthy of help." He smiles a toothy grin.

"I do not understand, but I am thankful." She bows her head.

"There is something I must show you first." Berith walks out of the room, expecting Lyra to follow. When she doesn't, he pokes his head back in. "Come now."

"Oh right, sorry." She gets up from her dusty cote and follows.

Berith takes Lyra to the garden, and her eyes widen. Realizing that this was Tikors handy work, she smiles.

Berith stops in front of the mermaid statue.

"She is beautiful." Lyra watches Berith, who doesn't take his eyes off of it.

"She is Lily."

Realizing this is why the cover has a lily on it and his love for them. Lyra sits down next to him.

He continues, "Long ago, she was like me. Alive, moving amongst the lily pond, comforting those who wish to sit with her."

"She sounds wonderful."

"I can hear her heart again." A tear slides off his gray cheek. "I can hear it."

Lyra looks at the mermaid, "how long has she been like this?"

"Sense this place died. I have tried many ways to revive the life that was here but never could. I have not felt her presence in years. But now, thanks to your large friend, I can sense her. I can feel her. She is returning to me." He smiles. "I told you no because losing my world was no lost cause. But if she is returning to me, then I must protect her."

His claw gently caresses a lily that dances on top of the water. "I love her."

Lyra's arms coat in goosebumps; his overwhelming love for Lily fills her heart with joy and hope. "Thank you, Berith."

He turns his head quickly to her, "No. Thank you. For returning her to me."

They watch the water flow down Lily's stone body from the shell she holds above her head.

"This has taught me something." He chuckles with a sweet smile.

"What's that?"

He looks deep into Lyra's eyes, "No matter how far someone strays, they can always find their way back. Hope never dies until one gives up."