THEO and Artemis crossed the border between the Human Race and the Celestial Continent, and they appeared outside Artemis’ house. It was already nighttime, so no one could see them with their weird clothing—cloak and boots.
The narrow path leading to Artemis’ childhood home felt unfamiliar beneath her boots. It’s been many months since she was away from home.
Theo walked beside Artemis, his hand holding hers, and he was quiet, respecting the storm of thoughts behind Artemis’s silence. The night wind stirred the trees, but Artemis couldn’t shake the feeling that the wind carried more than leaves—it carried change that she didn’t know if her parents could accept.
Artemis looked in front. The warm lights of her parents’ house glowed in the dark. It was familiar and safe.
They paused a
