Fitful dreams plagued Annika while she slept. She couldn’t seem to settle after tearing so many portals through space and time, but when she opened her bleary eyes to see a cat staring at her and her father looking down on her, Annika smiled. She yawned and rubbed her eyes before sitting up and scratching the top of Nochalla’s head.

What did she learn? What [i]did[/i] she learn? That she was weak, inexperienced, hot-headed, and vain? Annika looked over at the cup on her nightstand, watching the steam curl up into the air. The house seemed to hold its breath, waiting for her answer.

[color=#663399]”I have a lot left to learn, but I am stronger than I think,”[/color] she answered, looking at Jack for approval.

The older Annika got, the vaguer Jack became in his responses. Annika had to constantly decipher his meanings and the lessons he wanted her to learn. It gave Annika the tools she needed to get acquainted with the Everdark and make discoveries on her own, but it also left her lost and unsure of herself.

The house creaked and groaned in response, seeming to shift with Annika’s thoughts.