The group walks away from the broken mountain of glass. The red dust of Valoria stays behind them. The ground changes. It is no longer hard and cracked. It is covered in soft, silver sand that feels like sugar.
The air is cool now. It smells like old paper and morning rain. In front of them, a forest grows. The trees are very tall. Their trunks are white like bone. Their leaves are not green. They are thin pieces of silver metal. When the wind blows, the leaves make a sound like thousands of tiny bells.
"This is Honoria," Clara says. She walks at the front of the group. This is her kingdom. This is the land of wisdom and truth.
"It is very pretty," Robbie says. He carries the Blue Ball in his bag. "But it is very quiet. I do not hear any birds."
"Honoria is a place for thinking, not for shouting," Clara explains. she looks at the Code of Chivalria. The gold letters on the pages are very bright here.
They enter the forest. The silver light makes everything look like a dream. Every tree has a bark that is smooth and shiny. If you look at a tree, you see your own face.
Audacia stops. She looks at a tree. She makes a funny face. Her reflection makes the same face back.
"Everything is a mirror here," Audacia says. she laughs.
"Be careful," Clara warns. "Rule Number Fourteen: In the land of mirrors, do not believe everything you see."
They walk deeper into the woods. The path starts to twist and turn. Soon, the path disappears. There are only silver sand and silver trees in every direction.
"We are lost," Everett says. He looks at his red sword. The crystal is dim. It does not like the quiet forest.
"We are not lost," a voice whispers.
The voice comes from the trees. It sounds like the wind.
"Who is there?" Everett asks. He holds his sword in front of him.
A small creature steps out from behind a silver bush. It is a fox, but its fur is made of soft white silk. It has three tails. Its eyes are large and blue.
"I am the Librarian," the fox says. Its voice is very soft. "I guard the secrets of Honoria. You seek the Mirror of Truth."
"Yes," Clara says. she steps forward. She bows her head to the fox. "We need the Mirror to stop Egomania."
The fox looks at Clara. It looks at the notebook in her hands.
"The Mirror is in the Heart of the Woods," the fox says. "But the woods are a maze. To find the center, you must answer a question. If you lie, you stay in the woods forever. If you tell the truth, the path opens."
The fox sits on its three tails.
"Here is the question," the fox says. "What is the thing you fear the most in your own heart?"
Everett looks at his friends. He wants to say he is not afraid of anything. He is a King! Kings are brave.
But he looks at the silver trees. He sees his reflection. He sees a boy who is worried about his math homework. He sees a boy who is afraid of being alone.
"I am afraid of failing," Everett says quietly. "I am afraid that I am not a real leader. I am afraid I am just a kid in a backyard."
The silver trees shimmer. One tree moves to the left. A small path appears.
"Good," the fox says. It looks at Audacia.
"I am afraid of being weak," Audacia says. Her voice shakes a little. "I act tough so people do not see that I am scared."
Another tree moves. The path grows longer.
"I am afraid of losing my friends," Robbie says. He clutches his bag. "I am afraid that when the game ends, we will stop being a team."
The path grows again.
Finally, the fox looks at Clara.
"I am afraid of being wrong," Clara says. she holds her book tight. "I want to have all the answers. I am afraid if I do not know the rules, something bad will happen."
The fox nods. Its blue eyes shine.
"The truth is the only map you need," the fox says.
The silver trees pull back. A wide road made of white stone appears. At the end of the road, there is a building. It is made of clear glass and silver pillars. It is the Library of Whispers.
"The Mirror is inside," the fox says. "But be careful. The Dragon has a spy in the library. He wants to steal your truth."
The fox vanishes into the silver leaves.
Everett looks at his friends. They told their deepest secrets. They feel lighter now. They feel like a real team.
"Let's go," Everett says.
They walk toward the glass library. The second gift is close.