Secrets

Isla returns to her room blood-soaked from killing the prophet-followers. Grim appears at Lynx’s growl and silently helps her wash. Numb and blaming her powerlessness for the deaths, Isla seeks change. She confronts the blacksmith and has him remove her suppressing bracelets, deciding to stop pretending to be powerless as he departs with, “I’ll see you in a month.”

Hunting for alternatives to skyres in the library, Isla finds nothing useful. Astria arrives, and their banter is punctuated by Isla accidentally conjuring peonies with a sneeze. Astria teases her, then the conversation turns to books, before Isla steers it to her father: his immunity to curses, fascination with other realms’ curses, envy of Grim’s travel flair, and lifelong urge to explore.

Astria reveals that Isla’s father collected and made maps, keeping his most personal items in his own home. She recalls his childhood attempt to sail away at night and directs Isla to his untouched room. Spurred by this lead, Isla travels through her stars to the Wildling castle, noting her people’s somber mood after Terra and Poppy’s imprisonment.

At the top-floor chamber without a handle or keyhole, Isla’s touch opens the door, as if the room recognizes her. Inside, concealed shelves reveal letters, books, and an extensive collection of maps. One wall displays layered charts of Nightshade, Lightlark, the newlands, and unknown regions. Among them, Isla discovers a large, uncharted western land, guarded by islets and uniquely labeled: Isla. The revelation suggests a hidden history and a new direction for her quest.