“Are you sure this is a good idea, Dora?” Levina asked softly as we stood right outside the thick forest that seemed to be calling to me, if the deep humming in my blood and the sharp craving to walk into its embrace were any indication.

“This is a place forbidden to us as students. It is forbidden to members of the community, only allowed to a select few for certain occasions…so what are we doing here? I thought we were going on a tour of the palace…” She continued, her grip on my arm tightening as she feasted her eyes on the thick vegetation ahead of us.

“So, what...