After finishing my conversation with Alice and Claire, I stepped outside, but the situation was far from resolved.

There were many loose ends: Charlotte, visibly upset; the children who couldn’t comprehend the unfolding events; the Knights of the Holy Nation, bound tightly despite their healed wounds; and even the Cardinal, who was missing an arm. The pile of issues waiting to be addressed felt insurmountable.

I understood why Charlotte was so displeased. Not only had the situation spiraled into chaos, but I’d acted as though I’d known everything from the beginning. She must be overwhelmed, unable to even imagine how …