Lila POV
A warm breeze drifts over me and drags my hair across my face. I brush the strands back and tuck the now-dyed lock behind my ear. I’m so used to seeing the white streak in the corner of my eye; it’s strange to lose that part of my identity. But if I want to survive in this world, sacrifices must be made.
I lean against the wall surrounding the city and stare up at the burning tree in the near distance.
“So… how do we get to the trials?” I ask, glancing at Caleb sitting on the edge of the wall.
“You really are new here, huh?”
He twirls a dagger between his fingers, grinning at me.
“The roots of the tree are made up of magical ley lines. See that portal at the hollow?”
He points the tip of the blade toward the archway carved into the tree; the portal glows with sapphire ligh
