True to its name, Twilight Valley lay ablaze. Evening blanketed the valley, and trailing banners of peach and crimson light kissed every blossom on the countless flower-trees until the whole ravine shimmered like poured gold.

At the heart of that glow, beside a silver stream, the celestial princess, Lorraine, sat alone on a block of iolite. Her white gown ghosted over the rock as fingertip skimmed the water, rippling golden divine markings across the surface, the very woman Jared and Flaxseed had rescued days before.

Hidden behind the petal-heavy trees, Jared watched the clouded sorrow knotting brow and chose, for the moment, to stay silent.

Only when the sun slid completely beneath the rim of the world and twilight swallowed the gorge did strike. Lorraine rose to leave, then gold chains of spiritual energy lashed wrist, freezing divine power mid-breath.

“You again! What do you want?!” Her eyes, bright with divine gold, narrowed to wary slits.

“I’m bringing you back to Celestia,” Jared answered, voice flat, aura tightening around wrist. “Your Celestial Guards scour every province for you. Better you walk beside me than be dragged home in irons. I don’t grope captives the way they will.”

“Stop wasting strength! You’re a notch below my realm. Keep thrashing and all you’ll earn is pain!” Lorraine struggled to break free, but Jared’s spiritual energy clamped down like iron tongs.