The journey along the silver path seemed to operate on its own rules of time and space. They would cross a bridge of light that appeared to span mere yards, only to find they'd traversed what felt like miles. Occasionally, the floating crystal islands would shift and rearrange themselves, but Frost-Over-Still-Waters led them forward with unwavering confidence, as if the constantly changing landscape was as predictable as a suburban street.
The glowing fish—if they were really fish at all—continued to swim through the air around them, their light casting moving shadows across the faces of Ali's fellow tributes. She studied them surreptitiously as they walked, noting their varying reactions to their surroundings. Some, like her, seemed to be making a conscious effort not to become distracted by each new wonder. Others gazed around with undisguised awe, occasionally having to be gently prompted by Frost-Over-Still-Waters to keep moving.
A boy near the front of the group stumbled suddenly, reaching out to steady himself against what looked like a pillar of moonlight. His hand passed right through it, and he would have fallen if Frost-Over-Still-Waters hadn't caught his arm with impossible speed.
"Careful," the fae guide said, their voice somehow both gentle and carrying an edge of warning. "Not everything here is as solid as it appears, and some things that appear insubstantial are more real than you might guess. Best to keep your hands to yourself unless instructed otherwise."
The boy nodded, his face flushing red with embarrassment. Ali noticed he kept his arms pressed tightly to his sides after that, as did several other tributes who had witnessed the exchange.
They crossed another light bridge, this one seeming to span an endless void filled with slowly turning geometrical shapes that glowed with their own inner light. The air grew noticeably cooler, and Ali found herself grateful for the warm drink from the Cup of First Steps that still seemed to radiate heat through her body.
"We approach the Twilight Gardens," Frost-Over-Still-Waters announced. "This is the outer boundary of the Summer Court proper. Once we pass through, you will begin to see the first true signs of Her Majesty's influence."
As if in response to their words, the floating islands ahead began to shift more dramatically, aligning themselves into a spiraling pattern that made Ali's eyes hurt if she tried to follow it too closely. At the center of the spiral, a new archway was forming—this one seemed to be made of intertwined roses that bloomed in shades of silver and gold.
"Stay close now," their guide instructed. "The transition through the Twilight Gardens can be... disorienting for mortals. If you feel overwhelmed, focus on the sound of my voice. I will be reciting the Passage Poems to ease our way."
They approached the rose arch, and Frost-Over-Still-Waters began to sing in a language Ali didn't recognize but felt she should understand. The words seemed to hover in the air like visible things, each syllable creating ripples of color that spread out around them.
As they passed under the arch, the world shifted again, but more subtly this time. The floating islands gave way to actual ground beneath their feet, though it was unlike any earth Ali had ever seen. The soil was dark and rich, shot through with veins of what looked like liquid silver, and everywhere she looked, flowers were blooming and fading and blooming again in endless cycles.
The air here was heavy with perfume—not the artificial scent of human gardens, but something deeper and more primal. Ali could smell summer storms and midnight jasmine, sun-warmed grass and something else she couldn't name but that made her think of shooting stars and wishes made at twilight.
Their path wound through the gardens in a way that seemed both random and perfectly planned. Archways of twisted living vines would appear just as they approached, only to fade away behind them once they'd passed through. Fountains made of light and shadow played in courtyards that seemed to exist in multiple places at once.
"The Twilight Gardens exist in a state of perpetual transformation," Frost-Over-Still-Waters explained as they walked. "They are the boundary between the mortal understanding of nature and the true essence of growth and change as the fae know it. Watch your step—the ground here remembers every footprint, and it's best not to leave too strong an impression during your first passing."
Ali looked down and saw that their guide's feet seemed to barely touch the ground, leaving no mark at all on the silver-veined soil. She tried to mimic this lighter way of walking, and though she couldn't quite manage the fae's ethereal grace, she noticed her footprints began to fade more quickly than before.
A movement caught her eye, and she turned to see what looked like a butterfly made of living stained glass land on a nearby flower. As she watched, both butterfly and flower seemed to merge and transform, becoming a new creature altogether—something that had wings made of petals and a body that bloomed and shed light like a tiny sun.
"Don't stare too long," a soft voice said beside her. Ali turned to find another tribute had fallen into step beside her—a girl with skin the color of honey and eyes that seemed to shift between brown and gold in the strange light. "One of the others in my group back there tried to follow one of those things with his eyes and got a bit lost. The guide had to sing him back to himself."
"Thanks," Ali said, quickly looking away from the butterfly-flower creature. "I'm—" She caught herself just in time, remembering her mother's warnings about names. "I'm grateful for the warning."
The other girl smiled, seeming to understand the careful phrasing. "We're in the same boat here," she said. "Might as well look out for each other. Call me Sage."
Ali nodded, appreciating the other girl's caution. "Ali," she offered in return, settling on the familiar nickname without giving too much away.
They walked in companionable silence for a while, both taking in the ever-changing scenery without focusing too long on any one thing. The Twilight Gardens seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions, but somehow Ali knew they were making progress toward their destination. There was a feeling in the air, a building sense of anticipation that grew stronger with each step.
"We approach the Court of Eternal Summer," Frost-Over-Still-Waters announced, their voice carrying clearly to all the tributes. "Prepare yourselves. The transition from the Twilight Gardens to the Queen's domain can be... overwhelming for those experiencing it for the first time."
Ahead, Ali could see something that made the rose arch they'd passed through earlier look simple by comparison. It was a massive gateway that seemed to be made of pure sunlight, woven together with strands of gold and threads of what might have been actual rainbows. The very air around it shimmered with power, and even from a distance, Ali could feel its pull like a physical force.
"Remember," their guide continued, "once we pass through the Summer Gate, we will be officially within Her Majesty's court. Everything you do, everything you say, will be noted and remembered. Mind your words. Mind your promises. And above all, mind your manners."
Ali touched her mother's bracelet for reassurance, feeling its familiar warmth against her skin. Beside her, she noticed Sage taking a deep breath as if preparing herself for what lay ahead. The other tributes in their group had drawn closer together, whether consciously or not, as they approached the magnificent gateway.
The Summer Gate grew larger and more imposing with each step, until it filled their entire field of vision. The light it emanated was almost painfully bright, yet somehow Ali found she could look directly at it without hurting her eyes. As they drew closer, she began to hear music—distant at first, then growing clearer. It was unlike any music she'd ever heard before, both beautiful and slightly discordant, as if it was being played on instruments that didn't quite exist in the mortal world.
Frost-Over-Still-Waters paused before the gate, turning to face their group of tributes. In the direct light from the gate, their otherworldly beauty became even more pronounced, almost painful to look at.
"Beyond this point," they said solemnly, "you enter the realm of Her Majesty, Queen Mirabelle, ruler of the Summer Court and keeper of the Eternal Flame. May your steps be measured, your words be wise, and your hearts remain true to themselves." They turned back to the gate, raising their hands in a graceful gesture. "Welcome, tributes, to the Court of Eternal Summer."
With that, they stepped through the gate, and the tributes followed, moving from the strange twilight of the gardens into the full radiance of the Summer Court beyond.