Abby's Death

Ten minutes earlier.

While Xia Lun and Renee searched for the Hidden Passage, Tina was racing along the Flint Dragon's wing bones.

Wind roared past her ears. Her calf muscles tightened, and her boots drove against the ground, launching her forward like a Ghostly Shadow skimming the earth toward Abby.

But Abby was fast too—so fast that even Tina found it hard to believe.

Dazzling Blind Lights and Phantom Tendrils rose rapidly like the sun. Falling motes of light and disintegrating patches of color filled half the sky, while the earth seemed to sink slowly beneath that brilliant Light Wall.

Amid the flickering colors and light, Tina ran faster still, but worry and guilt weighed on her heart.

She feared Abby might get hurt. She also felt deeply guilty for leaving Xia Lun and Renee behind.

Her head felt heavy, as though some invisible fluid had clogged her thoughts.

Suddenly, a Blind Light leaped up from below the dragon bones and lunged at Abby!

Without a moment's hesitation, Tina raised her elbow, flicked her wrist, and hurled a Blood Wax Knife. The Blind Light burst into a shower of brilliant sparks with a bang, narrowly missing Abby.

"Abby, stop! What are you doing?!" Tina shouted. "Keep running and you'll get hurt!"

But Abby, usually so obedient, acted as though she hadn't heard. She ran even faster, as if some prize awaited her ahead. Tina gritted her teeth, wrung the last ounce of strength from her muscles, and surged forward.

Her breathing grew heavy and her footsteps quickened. The gap between them closed rapidly, but a dozen breaths later, Abby had already reached the doors of First Bloom Cathedral's side tower.

Bang!

She slammed the side tower's doors open. The dull impact echoed through the vaulted ceiling and flying buttresses, carrying