The Climb

Isla and Grim begin the perilous ascent of the power-dampening mountain, navigating darkness where light orbs fail. After hours of climbing, horned cave beasts pursue them. Isla diverts into a narrowing tunnel; the beasts wedge their horns, but one wounds her leg before they escape. With retreat blocked, they continue upward despite her injury.

An argument erupts about Grim’s past deceptions and Isla’s fractured loyalties, cut short when a sudden flood fills the tunnel. Isla deduces the floor slopes into a lower passage; they deliberately sink and let the current force them through a claustrophobic chute to a warm cavern pool, barely surviving. Cold and spent, they dry their clothes and share body heat to rest before resuming.

On the next stretch, a towering, faceless sentinel that senses blood blocks the way. Isla exploits this by reopening her wound and luring it to impale itself on her sword, clearing the final tunnel. At a door without a handle, a robed acolyte admits only Isla. Inside, the prophet followers bow, and Isla meets Eta.

Eta reveals a crucial truth: an ajar portal on Nightshade is the source of the storms and invasive creatures; it must be closed, but the portal’s location is unknown because the prophet’s early records were stolen. Crossing it would kill people from their world. Eta affirms Isla’s prophecy—she will plunge a blade into a powerful heart, heralding a new age—and warns of a Wildling traitor who used the storm as cover to poison the nightbane, advising Isla to “follow the snakes.” She directs Isla to an augur who reads blood to gauge lifespan.

Isla exits to Grim, shares the portal revelation and its limitations, and resolves to seek Azul for storm lore. The descent wrecks her wounded leg; back at the palace, Grim applies their last healing elixir. He learns Isla sent the rest to Lightlark. Hurt but restrained, Grim asks for forgiveness; Isla is uncertain. He admits he must learn how to love her and leaves.