The boy’s room was filled dancing shadows, each one cast by the flicker of torches outside. With every gust of wind, the trees outside brought these shadows to life, telling silent tales on the walls among the old tapestries and paintings. Karn’s book lay once more in his worn pack in the centre of the room, waiting. From time-to-time Karn glanced towards it, his mind never too far on the task he had been given.

Next to Karn, Hope's presence was a mix of solace and sorrow. Her past, marked by loss, resurfaced, and intensified by the lifting of her curse. She held onto him, her fingers pressing deep, searching for something genuine and grounding. Even in sleep, her gentle sobs revealed her haunting dreams. As she wept, Karn’s heart felt heavy, knowing there was little he could do but hold her.

He looked over at the still forms of Charles and Ellie, cocooned in their own bed. Their steady breathing hinting at their distant dreams. A twinge of jealousy hit him; while they all had found a hint of solace in sleep, that precious freedom for him, remained out of reach.

Each time Hope whimpered, guilt washed over him, intertwined with a fierce urge to shield her. The intensity of her newfound emotions was hard to ignore, and he couldn’t help but feel every ounce of her pain. He knew that after years of emotional numbness, such profound feelings would be overwhelming.

His thoughts, on the other hand, swirled over and over again. Memories, questions, and the burdens of truth spun, making it hard to breathe. He knew he needed to share all of this with his friends. But would they understand? Finding the right words felt impossible, just out of reach.

A gust of wind, stronger than before, stirred the torches outside. As they crackled and flared, Karn glanced once more at his pack and closed his eyes, drawing comfort from Hope's warmth and the soft sounds of his friends steady breathing. Maybe, just maybe, in their presence, clarity would come.

As Karn slipped into sleep he immediately felt a familiar presence. He didn't need to open his eyes to know someone was there waiting for him.

“We’re getting close, you are getting close,” a voice echoed in his head.

Karn's mind raced as he asked. “Close to what?”

An image of a familiar face took shape in his dreamscape—his Uncle Theo stared at him with both pride and sorrow. Karn couldn’t help but smile inwardly at the sight as emotion’s he usually supressed swelled within him.

“Theo… How you been?” Karn asked.

“Dead apparently,” Theo laughed his usual stern expression hinting at his ever-present mischievous side. “Been keeping up with the lessons? No? C’mon kid I told you those were important.”

“I haven’t forgotten them; I’ve just been busy.”

Theo nodded. “You sure have. Kept the other kids safe?”

“Yes,” Karn said pausing, “But where are you now?”

Theo seemed to search for words as he spoke. “I think in the book maybe, like the others. But... also somewhere in between.”

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Karn tried to nod, but the dreamy disconnect made the movement feel odd.

“We’re running out of time, Karn,” Theo urged. “You have a task.”

“I know. But I don’t know what I need to do.”

“Use the book.”

A jolt of fear passed through Karn. “I have been...”

Theo shook his head. “No, through you the powers within the book have casted the events. Now it’s your turn. You will need to use it; the way the other event books are. You need to cast the events.”

Dread filled Karn, recalling the pain from the last time he tried to open the red covers of his book. But it sounded like he had little choice.

“How long?” Karn whispered.

“Not long, but first you will need to gather the rest…”

“Of what?”

Theo sighed. “I don’t know much, but what I do know is this task of yours is impossible unless you contain and absorb the rest of the event books into the original.”

“All of them?” Karn felt a sliver of panic fill his chest. Some of those books were according to Maze and the Masters lost to time. This task was looking more and more impossible the more he learned.

“Seriously how am I supposed to do that?”

Theo started to answer but was cut off as a sharp pain that snapped Karn awake.

Blinking, he looked up to see Hope gazing down at him, with concern in her eyes. “You... fell,” she murmured, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Charles stood ready, thinking Karn's tumble was the start of an attack. Ellie clutched her blanket, watching the scene unfold while yawning.

Karn touched his forehead, wincing. “Ow!”

Hope and Ellie exchanged amused glances before falling into a fit of giggles.

“Karn, you nearly gave me a heart attack!” Charles said.

Karn sat up, still reeling from his dream and the recent events. “Had a bad dream,” he muttered, his gaze drifting to the book nestled in his bag.

Charles caught his look. “We all have a lot on our minds,” he remarked.

Karn nodded, “It's more than just that. The battles, the injuries.” He paused, rubbing his throat, the sensation of pain still fresh from the rope. “I need to tell you all something.”

They exchanged glances, sensing what was coming.

Karn took a deep breath. “The shadow coming for us... What I said in the chambers. I don’t want to gather everyone just to fight it.”

“You don’t”

Karn sighed. “We can't defeat it. The corruption this Nahmlen thing… isn't just after the people, it's after this world, everyone, and everything.”

Charles frowned, "So, we're doomed?"

Karn met their gazes squarely. "There's a way to save everyone."

Hope and Ellie exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes drifting towards Karn’s pack.

Ellie hesitated, "So, you'll use the book? To kill it I mean?"

Karn let out a dry chuckle, devoid of humour. "If only it were that simple." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Apparently, I must master the book. According to what I have been told, I can transport a pure section of our world into its pages for protection."

Ellie's brow arched, "That's why you've called everyone to the city?"

Charles interjected, "And you believe the crystal in Branside can cleanse the city's inhabitants of corruption?"

Karn nodded firmly. "Exactly."

Hope frowned; her voice tinged with concern. "But what about those outside the city?"

"They'd be left vulnerable to the encroaching darkness," Karn replied gravely. “So, we need to convince everyone.”

Hope shot Karn a look of concern.

Ellie bit her lip. "But wouldn't the book risk corruption as well? Once we all go inside."

Karn's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "That's the beauty of it. Once all the inhabitants and powers are inside, I can sever our world's connection with the book's realm. We'll create a fresh start in a brand-new universe."

Ellie gasped, her eyes widening. "But the energy required for such a feat is..."

"Colossal," Karn finished her sentence, "Exactly what the book possesses. And apparently I will need all the other event books to be absorbed to do so."

Charles squinted, trying to piece together the puzzle. "So, you're saying the transport and the disconnection... both tasks fall upon you?" His voice betrayed the suspicion he'd harboured, alluding to the grand secret Karn had kept.

Charles swallowed hard. "To cast the event, it has to be done from this side, doesn't it?"

Karn's affirmation came with a heavy sigh. "I believe so."