“But I don’t know where they are,” Leela said miserably.

“Ah. That I can help you with.”

The will-o-the-wisp floated toward her, so close Leela felt its heat, and before she could cry out or back away, it floated inside her. And suddenly, she was at the top of the temple spire, at the place where Sera always loved to perch and watch the stars.

“Look inside,” the will-o-the-wisp whispered from within her heart. “See beneath the glitter and the gold. And then make a leap of faith.”

Leela saw a flash of gold-silver-blue that she knew was the tether, then she felt the terrifying sensation of falling, and space was all around her, and the underbelly of the City swam in her vision and she woke up drenched in sweat.

Heal them, the will-o-the-wisp’s voice echoed in her ears. The dormitory was quiet around her, the gentle breathing and light snores of the novices the only sounds.

Leela stayed there, stock-still, replaying the dream in her head. She could not have been asleep for very long—it was still dark outside. She wondered if she should wake Elorin, but some instinct said this moment was for Leela alone. For the second time that night, Leela crept from her bed and out into the Moon Gardens.

She gazed up at the temple spire, silver in the moonlight.

Sera did this all the time, she reminded herself. But the sensation of falling in her dream was still thrilling through her limbs, and she found she could not move, her body locked in panic.

See beneath the glitter and the gold. And then make a leap of faith.

That’s what the will-o-the-wisp had said. Though Leela knew in her heart it was Mother Sun who had spoken to her, she could not bring herself to form the thought. It felt too large, too scary, too significant. So she focused on the task instead.

The glitter and gold must be the spire. And in order to see beneath it, she would have to climb.

She used the eave above the dormitory door to heave herself up, the way Sera had always done. The outer wall of the temple was shingled in sunglass, and she gripped its ridged surface with her fingers and toes. The first few moments were sheer terror, but soon Leela found herself developing a rhythm, moving her feet first, left then right, and letting her hands follow. And slowly, she inched her way up the cone of the temple until she had reached the top. She was breathless, sweat dewing in her hair and trickling down her back, but she felt a rush of triumph as well. If only Sera could see her now.

She stared at the spire, wondering exactly what she was meant to do. She ran her fingers over its smooth surface, feeling the sharp point of it, then searching at its base.