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“Why does everything have to be so confusing?” Alex asked, rubbing her forehead.

“Oh, sweet child,” the old woman said, patting Alex’s shoulder. “When the time comes, you’ll have the answers you need.”

“I can’t wait,” Alex said, somewhat sarcastically.

The Lady sent her a wrinkled smile. “It’s time for you to return to your friend.”

“Hang on a second,” Alex said. “When I first arrived here you said something about Meya. Any chance you want to elaborate?”

“Goodbye, Alexandra,” Lady Mystique said, with a twinkle in her eye. “It was lovely seeing you again.”

“Wait—”

Before she could finish her sentence, the Lady reached out and pressed an object into Alex’s hands. Then a gust of wind enveloped her body, the ethereal light dimmed and Alex found herself standingoutsidethe mushroom circle.

“Huh, I guess you were right.”

Alex spun around to find Skyla perched against the tree, right where she’d left her.

“Right about what?” Alex asked, trying to make sense of the last few minutes. Peering around, she could no longer seeany evidence of the different paths that led out of the clearing. Apparently she wasn’t in Raelia anymore, but back in the Ezera Forest.

“You were right about nothing happening,” Skyla answered.

“Nothing happened?” Alex repeated, turning to give her full attention to the girl.

Skyla sent her a questioning look. “Nothing. You just picked up the statue and came back.”

“Statue?” Alex asked dumbly. She then noticed the weight in her hand and realised Lady Mystique had given her the clay figurine.

“Are you feeling all right?” Skyla asked. “You’re looking stranger than normal.”

“Yeah, I’m—I’m fine,” Alex said, shaking her head to clear it. “Let’s just get out of here

“Wait, I want to try something,” Skyla said. “I need to conquer my fear, now I know I’ll be okay.”

Alex didn’t understand. “What are you talking about?”

Before she could say or do anything, Skyla limped three steps forward and entered the circle.

“No!”

“What?” Skyla shrieked, looking around her. “What is it?”

Alex stared at the other girl in surprise. “You can still see me?”

Skyla frowned at her. “Why are you acting so weird? Oh, never mind, just come and help me out of here, will you?”

Alex hesitantly stepped into the circle once again. But this time nothing happened. No wind, no change of scenery, nothing.

So, what was that about?Alex wondered, helping Skyla hobble back through the forest.

“Can I see the statue?” Skyla asked.

“Sure,” Alex said absentmindedly, distracted by her thoughts.

She handed the clay figurine over, and the moment they both physically connected with it, colourful light exploded around them and they were whisked through the air, abruptly jerking to a halt a second later.

“Just in time, ladies.”