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As promised, Caspar Lennox dropped Alex offin an alleyway where the dark met the light. He said he would wait for her, but she shooed him away, saying there was no point in him lingering in the shadowed street, bored out of his mind. Reluctantly, he agreed, saying he would travel back every half hour to check for her return.

Also as promised, the path to the Lumeniia was easy to follow, since the crystal pyramid rose high above the streets and was visible no matter where Alex walked. She wandered the picturesque streets towards the impressive structure, grateful that if she had to hike through either side of Graevale, it was the sunny, pretty side rather than the shadowy, eerie side. Not that the dark half of the city didn’t have its own kind of beauty. It was just… a different kind of beauty.

Trekking along the bleached stone walkways, Alex couldn’t keep from staring as she caught sight of the Dayriders for the first time. Just like their half of the city, they as a race were the opposite of the Shadow Walkers in every way. With skin so white that it gave off a faint glow and hair so pale that their whole figures almost blended into the washed-out buildings all around them, they were nearly painful to look at, so bright as they were. Even their clothes were some kind of pure, snowy linen. As far as Alex could tell, the only colour on their entire bodies—perhaps even in their entire city—was their eyes.Thosecame in all colours and, most notably, not a single Dayrider she looked at had two eyes of the same colour. One blue eye, one green. One brown eye, one black. One honey, one hazel. A grey eye and an indigo eye. The rainbow assortment was dizzying, and Alex found it increasingly difficult not to gape at them as she passed.

Somehow she managed to not get caught up in the sights and sounds of the whitewashed city—not even when the Dayriders looked back at her with as much curiosity as she had towards them—and she reached the entrance to the Lumeniia in good time. Once there, she worried for a moment that she would find a similar reception to the Shadow Walkers and someone would have to announce her, but since she didn’t have a Dayrider contact, she would just have to hope for the best.

Walking hesitantly through the crystal opening, Alex wasn’t sure what to do or where to go once she was inside. That was mostly because there were few options available to her. The pyramid was as vast as it was empty. It was like Alex was standing inside a hollow, triangular prism. The sun was blazing through its glassy walls, yet the temperature was comfortable. Perfect, even.

But she alone appeared to be experiencing it.

Tentatively, she stepped towards the centre of the pyramid, looking around for any sign of company. But there was no one. Until, suddenly, there was.

With a flash of blinding light, a woman appeared before Alex. At her display, something belatedly clicked in Alex’s mind. ShadowWalkers—a race that walked through shadows. Dayriders—a race that… rode the day? Otherwise interpreted as travelling through light?

These thoughts crossed Alex’s mind in a blur as she took in the female Dayrider standing before her.

The woman was stunning—almost literally. Her alabaster skin glowed and her long, fair hair made her look like the human embodiment of a star. A vibrant blue eye was paired with a bright violet one, both staring at Alex with a serene, knowing expression.

“Welcome to the Lumeniia, Alexandra Jennings,” the Dayrider said in the lightest, sweetest voice Alex had ever heard. “We have been expecting you.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events—and the uncommonly warm welcome—Alex said, “We?”

Two more flashes of light announced the arrival of two more Dayriders, one female, one male.

“You have come to seek out the Order,” the first woman spoke again. “We will hear your words.”

Alex’s eyes widened as she took in the three glowing figures. “You’rethe Order?”

“We are indeed,” the male said in a deep but no less serene voice. His eyes were green and silver.

“Please, won’t you have a seat?” offered the second female, a coffee-coloured eye paired with turquoise.

“A seat?” Alex repeated, looking around and wondering if she was supposed to sit on the ground. But then, manifesting from nothing, a cloud grew into existence behind her, right at knee level. Startled, she looked back at the three Dayriders and saw that they too had clouds behind them, and as she watched, they sat on the apparently solid vapour.

Following their lead, Alex sat cautiously, waiting for the moment she would sink through to the floor. But the cloud held her weight, enveloping her like an armchair moulded specifically to her figure. It was ridiculously comfortable against her bruised and beaten body, especially after her stint on the stone slab back at the Obscuria.

“I’d very much like to know how this works,” Alex said, running her uninjured arm across the top of the softness. “And I’d also very much like to take this with me wherever I go.”

Quiet, melodious laughter reached her ears, like harmonious bells shifting in the wind, and she looked up to find the Dayriders watching her with warm amusement.

“Unfortunately, none but our race can call forth the elements in such a way as this,” the male said. “But you are always welcome to visit us here in Graevale and enjoy the benefits of our abilities.”

This all seemed a bit too easy to Alex. Why were they being so nice to her? How had they known she was coming? Why were they, apparently, willing to listen to her?

“You already know who I am,” she said, trying to keep the suspicion from her tone, “but I’m afraid I can’t say the same for you.”

“I am Kaysia, leader of the Dayriders,” said the first woman who had appeared. “These are my seconds who make up the rest of the Order: Xayder”—she nodded towards the male, before motioning towards the female—“and Lidael. We are honoured to meet you, Alexandra Jennings.”

“Um, thank you,” Alex responded. “Can I ask why, exactly? Why you’re honoured, I mean.”

“Because you are a champion for the light,” Kaysia said. “Despite the challenges you have faced, despite the burdens on your shoulders, that light within you shines brightly, like nothing else we’ve ever seen, least of all in a human.”

Alex let that sink in a moment, then admitted, “I’m not sure I follow.”

Another tinkle of bells followed her statement, but this time no one filled her in.

“Please, Alexandra, tell us why you have come,” Kaysia invited.