Damien’s hand gently gripped her elbow. “No, this is part of the festival.”

“The lights disappear for the festival?”

“Yes. Just watch.”

Soon, all the lights were gone across the city. Then the lights began to disappear within Northwind Castle itself. There was no moon and no stars because of the cloud cover, so when the last candle was extinguished, the world fell into darkness. Silence descended upon the city.

Selene took a step back. She wasn’t sure she liked this. It reminded her too much of home, of dreamscapes and nightmares.

“It’s all right, Selene.” Damien’s hand moved from her elbow, and he entwined his fingers between her own. “Watch and listen.”

His grip was reassuring. Slowly, her body relaxed. First she could only hear the waves. Then a low melody could be heard, just above the sound of the sea. Lights appeared at the far end of the city, where the cliffs and forest separated Nor Esen from Baris Abbey. The chant grew louder. Moments later, an assembly with lanterns emerged from the forest. Selene could not see each individual, but she knew who they were. The monks from Baris Abbey.

Their voices rose and fell as they approached the city, their lanterns appearing like tiny fireflies from her spot on the balcony.

As they entered the gates, the torches along the wall were lit. The monks began their trek through the city. Each time they passed a house, the candles were relit. A bell was rung, then they started their chant again.

Selene watched, her gaze on the lanterns, her ears full of the voices of the monks. They spoke of the darkness, and the light that came when all was lost. A light that spread across the lands. A light that darkness could not extinguish.

The words seemed to seep into her very soul, touching the deepest parts of her being, filling her to the brim, until her only reality was the lights reappearing across the city and the story the monks told through their chant.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Damien said quietly.

Selene took a deep breath, realizing cold tears had slipped down her cheeks. “Yes,” she said as she quickly wiped her face. For a moment, she thought she would break down and sob right there. Instead, she bit her lip and clutched her hand to her chest.

Nor Esen twinkled again with the light of thousands of candles and torches. It was like the city had died for a moment, then come back to life.

“Every year we remember the Light during the darkest day. We were not left in darkness, to flounder about in this life. Instead, humankind was given hope.” He squeezed her hand. “We have hope, even with the threat of the empire.”

“Does that mean we will win?”

“No. Sometimes we lose, for reasons I don’t understand. But he does.”

“The Light?”

“Yes.”

“Then why trust him?”

“Why indeed?” He chuckled. “I’ll be honest. I’ve asked myself that before, especially when my parents and Quinn passed away. But there is this anchor inside of me, this knowledge that even though I cannot understand the reason why, I know the darkness will not prevail. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”