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“What are you doing?” Hasho asked.

“Stretching,” I said. “Taking a moment to breathe and listen to the wind sing. Remembering what it’s like to be home and bask under a familiar sun.”

I settled my arms back at my sides. Near my feet was a crate of supplies Wandei had brought, and I bent down, picking up a handful of paintbrushes. I tossed a brush to each of my brothers. “The basket’s looking a bit plain,” I said with a wink. “How about we do some painting, like old times?”

The rest of the afternoon, we decorated the basket with designs from kites we had built together over the years—a turtle, catfish, fox, and rabbit. And on the bottom of the basket, Takkan wrote, in elegant calligraphy, Seven knots strong.

No one said anything about demons or priestesses or pearls; it really was like a Summer Festival day, except without all the food. I didn’t mind. Simply being with my brothers again, the way we’d been before the curse, was precious.

At some point, Gen retreated alone toward the Sacred Lake. I made an excuse to my brothers and followed after him. If Gen noticed, he didn’t turn around. He kept walking along the lake, and I skirted the bank to peer beneath the water.

Did you bring rice cakes? I could almost hear Seryu asking. No? Then you’ll have to wait a while longer to see me, Princess.

His voice, his smirk, his usual disdain were all in my imagination. No silver horns pierced the water, no serpentine tail glittered with emerald scales. No Seryu.

I’d barely been back a week, and already my days in Ai’long felt like a lifetime ago. Lady Solzaya, King Nazayun, and Elang were little more than a dream. Seryu’s friendship, a distant memory. I wondered whether Gen’s would be too.

The boy had claimed a spot on the bank and was tossing pebbles into the lake. Once, twice, thrice they skipped.

I sidled up to him. “Looking for dragons?”

The lake rippled at the sound of my voice, and Gen met my gaze through our reflection. “This is where you met Seryu, isn’t it?” he asked.

“Where he saved me from drowning, yes. Afterward, we used to meet here for magic lessons.”

“Doesn’t seem like he taught you much.”

I glowered, and Gen put up his hands. “I’m joking! Mostly.” He sighed, fidgeting with the new bandage on his nose.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s probably for the best that you aren’t taking me to Lapzur. For a great sorcerer, I seem to need a lot of saving.”

It was my turn to sigh, and I pulled him to his feet. “Come now, there’s no use in moping. It’s a glorious summer afternoon, not too hot, not too humid. We should enjoy it.”

I kicked gently at his shins, forcing him to walk along the lake. “Why did you seek the dragon realm? You never finished your story, after the part where Elang asked you to steal Solzaya’s mirror.”

My question won a small grin from him. “It started with a dare,” replied Gen. “No one’s seen a dragon in centuries. My friends at school said they didn’t exist anymore. I disagreed. So they dared me to dive into the sea and bring back proof of one.”

“You sought Ai’long out because of a dare?”

“Because of honor!” Gen said with panache.

“And a dragon pearl, if I recall correctly.”

Gen cracked his knuckles. “It’s one of the only ways to gain power without taking an enchanter’s oath. No sorcerer’s been able to acquire one.”

Bandur did, I thought. At least for a short while.

“It took me over a month to plan,” he went on. “I read every book I could get my hands on, but most of what I learned was misinformation. I read that eating molded white seaweed under a full moon lets you breathe underwater.”

“It doesn’t?”

“Not long enough to reach Ai’long,” Gen said. “Only sangi can do that, and I didn’t know how to make it. So I tied my arms to a turtle’s feet. They’re slow on land but remarkably swift underwater. That’s how Elang found me. The rest you know.”

So I did.

“He was supposed to teach me dragon magic in exchange for that damned mirror.” A long pause. “Did Seryu teach you anything useful?”