Summary

After her feats of endurance in the last chapters, Chapter 20 begins with Isla sleeping for two days. She is then invited to drink tea alongside other rulers. After drinking several cups, she notices that the tea leaves at the bottom of each spell out her darkest secret: that she is powerless. Oro explains that this was secretly his demonstration and that each ruler’s cup was spliced with truth leaves and that each ruler’s cup reveals their deepest secret. Whoever is willing to reveal what their message says wins the challenge. After a brief standoff, everyone shatters their cups except for Oro who reveals that he is dying.

In Chapter 21, Celeste and Isla meet to discuss the implications of the king’s death. Namely, that if he is dying the whole power of Lightlark will die with him, dooming every realm except...