“That you decided to rejoin the world of the living,” Captain Seo says in a husky voice.
“Is it that obvious?” I wrinkle my nose, hoping to frown away my blush.
“Yes,” my friends answer as one.
They know. I don’t need to explain that I’m going all in to save the Realm of Four Kingdoms from the Amheuk. They don’t need to hear that I will fight to the death at their sides—not for the fate of the worlds, but for them. Because they already know.Thank gods.Just the thought of saying those things out loud makes me squirm.
“What gave it away?” I flash them a picture-day smile that shows both rows of my teeth. “My sunny personality?”
The captain stares straight ahead like she feels squirmy too. “Your eyes don’t look cloudy and lifeless like a dead fish anymore.”
“Uh, thanks?” I’m too giddy to be offended by the dead-fish reference.
I might be walking to my death right now, but I’m doing it with my friends.Formy friends. Even if I can never be good, I can always dobetter. It is fucking exhilarating to feel hope again.
“Before dawn, girls,” Mr. Ha drawls like an indulgent headmaster. “If you please.”
“Sorry, Father.” Minju cringes. “We’re coming.”
Properly chastised, we pick up our pace and hurry to his side. The gleaming reflection of the Hangawi moon really does look like a solid silver road stretching across the surface of the ocean. It’s hard to believe something so peaceful and beautiful is most likely deadly.
“Ready to become the first beings to cross the moonglade in one piece?” Worry flashes in Mr. Ha’s eyes as he glances at his daughter, but he hangs on to his determined smile.
“You seem knowledgeable about the moonglade and all.” I suck air in through my teeth. “Do you have any pointers on how to stay alive?”
“When you moon shift, you defy the laws of time and space to steppastthe abyss. Magic allows you to do that.” He pauses to meet each of our eyes. “Walking the moonglade, as the name suggests, involves less magic and more ... walking. It is far from a magicless endeavor, but it will take time and endurance to travelacrossthe abyss.”
“How far is it to the Realm of Four Kingdoms?” Captain Seo pulls her shoulders back as though bracing for his answer.
“In scientific measurements, I would estimate that it is approximately two million light-years away,” Mr. Ha says in all seriousness, and I choke on my own spit. “But like I said, there is magic involved, which distorts the physical distance.”
“Then can you tell us how long it would take to cross the moonglade?” The captain might appear calm to a casual observer, but the tightness around her eyes is a dead giveaway that she is absolutely freaking out. “Your best guesstimate.”
“Time is a funny thing.” He chuckles nervously.
“We know virtually nothing,” Minju explains, patting her father’s back in wordless comfort. If he’s anything like his daughter, he hates not having the answers for us. “Our only hope is ...”
“Let me guess.” My stomach plunges to my toes. “My Yeo—”
“Sunny.” The historian cuts me off. “We will discuss that on the road.”
“Is the secrecy necessary at this point?” I let my head fall back on a weary sigh. “All hell has literally broken loose.”
“It is for my parents’ safety.” Minju’s voice is tight with concern, her gaze darting to her father. Mr. Ha diplomatically takes a few steps away, whistling tunelessly under his breath.
“I’m sorry.” I drop my head, appalled at myself. It’s already hard for her to leave her parents like this. I can’t believe I almost added to her worries. “I am a giant asshole.”
“Revolting.” Captain Seo grimaces.
“All is well, Sunny.” Minju smiles at me, and I feel like a teeny, tiny asshole.
I don’t deserve her. I shake away the defeatist thought. I will do better to deserve her—to deserve all my friends.
“So what were you saying about our only hope?” I ask her when her father meanders back to our side. I hope he didn’t overhear anything, especially the giant asshole part.
“Our only hope?” The historian blinks myopically. “Oh, that’s right. As I was saying, our only hope is synchronicity.”
“Come again?” I stretch my neck out and point my ear toward her.
