As the words wash over me, something ignites in the pit of my stomach. It’s a new kind of heat, but it’s not unwelcome. A pocket of warmth grows from my gut and spreads into my limbs and my chest, right up to the top of my head. It zings through me like pure energy—like something awakening after a long slumber.

Do you see now? a voice whispers in my head. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard it before, but I can’t quite put a finger on who it is. This is who you’ve been all along.

I shake my head. But I was born Horangi, and I was raised Gom, I say to the voice in my head. It’s not possible that I—

The mysterious voice answers the question in my mind before I can finish the thought. Mago Halmi did not build the world in singularity. She made us all in eum and yang—in contradiction and equilibrium. Each of us is capable of more than you can imagine.

I think I see the flicker of something large and shiny in the opposite corner of the sanctuary. Then something weird happens. The Gi cauldron starts to tremble. It shakes and groans like it’s coming alive, and thick black fire erupts from its top. The hungry dark flames burn fiercely, like a bonfire made of night, and everyone stops to stare at it.

“What’s happening?” Cosette says.

“Is that supposed to be burning?” Emmett asks.

A seed of understanding begins to sprout. The star compass wasn’t the Godrealm’s last fallen star. I’ve had it wrong all along.

“Oh no,” Sora says, her eyes widening. “The goddess is too powerful. She’s escaping.”

I turn to see that the deity has gotten a second wind. The potion must have worn off. “You will pay for this, you insolent mortals!” She throws up her arms in anger, and one of the latticing pews gets flung across the chamber.

“It’s no use,” Emmett cries. “Nothing can stop her.”

The goddess breaks another bench above her head and stands up. She locks her eyes on me, and her gaze is so icy, I swear my insides freeze on the spot.

“Enough!” she yells. “Enough play. It is time to finish this.” She puts her hands together and releases them toward me in a forceful gesture.

Eomma sees it coming and dives in front of me to block the attack. But it’s too late. The next thing I know, I am hurtling through the air. My back hits something hard, and I fall to the marble floor with a thud. Ugh. My chest feels like it’s full of rocks, and I can’t catch my breath. I clutch at my throat, trying to let the air in.

Just breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe!