HanFenglingsqueezedherhandreassuringly.＂Allwillberevealedintime.Fornow，wemustfier.Therearedangersinthisworldthatwemustavoid.＂

Sukielookedaroundiakinginthebeautyoftheirsurroundings.＂Wherearewe?＂

hherfeet.HanFenglingreachedout，takingherhandinhis.

Theworldaroundthemdissolvedintoaswirlofcolorsandlight，andSukiefeltherselfbeingpulledintoavortex.ShegtoHanFengling，shand，herheartpoundinginherchest.Thesensationwasdisorienting，andsheclosedhereyes，tryingtosteadyherself.

Whentheworldfinallycamebatofocus，theywerenolohebookstore.Sukiefoundherselfstandinginalush，verdantforest，theairfilledwiththesweetstofflowersandthesoundofbirdsong.Sunlightfilteredthroughtheopyabove，castingdappledpatternsontheforestfloor.

＂AgentsoftheDarkLord，＂HanFenglingrepliedgrimly.＂Theypatrolthesends，seargforthosewhoopposetheirmaster.Wemustbecareful.＂

＂We，vecrossedintotheworldofthebook，＂HanFenglingreplied.＂WeletotheKingdomofLian.＂

Theycrouchedintheunderbrush，peeringthroughtheleavesasagroupofhorseme.Themenweredressedindark，menagarmor，theirfacesobscuredbyhelmets.Sukiefeltherheartraceasshewatchedthemgoby，sensingthedaheyrepresented.

＂Quick，hide！＂HanFenglingwhisperedurgently，pullingSukiebehindargetree.

Sukiefeltamixofexcitementandtrepidation.＂WhyamIhere?Whatismypurpose?＂

Astheywalked，HanFenglingexpinedmoreabouttheKingdomofLian.Itwasandrihistoryandmagic，butitwasalsoapceofflict.TheDarkLord，apowerfulsorcerer，hadseizedtrolofthekingdomandpluintodarkness.Manyofthekingdom，sinhab

Astheywalkedthroughtheforest，Sukiecouldn，thelpbutmarvelatthevividcolorsandthevibrantlifearouwasasifshehadsteppedintoadream.Yet，therealityoftheirsituationquicklysetiheyheardthedistantsoundofhooves.

Sukienodded，feelingasurgeofdetermination.Whateverherpurposeinthisworld，sheknewshehadtostaystrong.Theytiheirjourney，movingswiftlyandsilentlythroughtheforest.

＂Don，tbeafraid，＂hesaidsoftly.＂I，mwithyou.＂

＂Whoarethey?＂shewhisperedoheyhadpassed.