I wake in the morning in an unfamiliar bed with my kefta still on. I look around and see that there's a couch and a fireplace along with a desk in the room. There's also a door straight ahead from the bed. There's a box on the couch and I open it up to see a set of clothes for the day. Oh yeah, I'm still in the same clothes from yesterday.

I take the box and bring it to the bathroom on the right and jump in the shower. As I get out of the shower I dry off and get into the kefta. As I walk out of the bathroom I hear a knock at the door.

"Alina, are you up?" they ask.

"Yeah, come in."

The Darkling walks into my room and asks, "There's breakfast in the dining room. Do you want any?"

"Sure."

I follow him out and he leads me to the dining room. There's a table that could fit eight people and the Darkling sits at the head of the table and I sit at the other head. There's some fruit, rye bread, and anchovies. I grab a plate and put some bread and fruit on it.

"How'd you sleep?" the Darkling asks.

"Fine. I don't remember coming to that room."

"I saw you come in from practicing for the Winter Fete. I'm guessing that Baghra told you about it."

"I remember that and she did."

"Well, when you came in it looked like you were ready to collapse on the stairs and sleep there."

"Oh."

"So I brought you to the room you were sleeping in. It's a guest room."

"Thanks," I say feeling myself blush.

After we finish breakfast I head off to my lessons.

•••

After all my lessons are done I head to Baghra's hut just as the sun is setting for my lesson. I hear the Darklimg arguing with Baghra. I catch fragments of the conversation like "amplifier" and "stag".

"Hello!" I say.

"Alina do you want an amplifier?" the Darkling asks me.

"Sure."

"No. I'm against it," Baghra says.

The Darkling ignores her and continues, "My men have reported sightings of Morozova's stag. With its antlers, we can make you an amplifier necklace and it'll be the most powerful amplifier ever known."

"She doesn't need it. Alina, show him what you can do."

I summon all the light from around me and expand it over the lake, steam coming off the water from the heat.

"See she doesn't need it."

"But if I'm to get rid of the fold, I need more power."

"Go, Alina. Our lesson is over."

"Okay, bye."