The storm had quieted by the time Nia reached the frozen gates of the Eye Palace again. The wind no longer sliced through her bones the way it once had. The Ural Blood Jewel burned steadily within her veins now, a molten gold pulse that warmed her undead blood and shielded her from the Frostlands' hunger. Each step she took across the ice bridges echoed through the silent expanse, the sound swallowed by towering glass walls that reflected her presence a thousand times over. Every reflection showed the same thing — pale skin, tired eyes, a resolve sharpened by loss.
As she moved deeper into the palace, something felt wrong.
The mirrors lining the corridors were no longer pristine. Each one bore an eye carved at its center, wide open and unblinking. From those eyes, crimson tears streamed down the glass, dripping onto the frozen floor below. The scent of old magic hung thick in the air, mixed with grief and decay.
Nia stopped.
"No…" she whispered.
Her voice echoed back at her, distorted.
She reached the central chamber, her heart sinking before her eyes even fully adjusted. The altar stood empty. The pedestal was shattered, drained of every trace of power that had once rested there.
The Practical Blood Jewel was gone.
"I came too late," she said softly.
The mirrors began to whisper.
"Too late… too late… too late…"
The voices were her own, layered endlessly, pressing against her skull until the sound became unbearable. Nia fell to her knees, clutching her head, her breath coming uneven. But when she finally lifted her face again, the weakness was gone. In its place was something colder. Sharper.
"Then I'll find the rest," she said.
"All of them."
She opened the Book of Blood once more. The pages shimmered and rearranged themselves beneath her fingertips, glowing symbols shifting until three names emerged clearly before her eyes — Black Jewel, Golden Jewel, Master Jewel. They burned in her vision like distant constellations, unreachable yet undeniable.
The book whispered:
"These jewels rest in the Skycloud World — the realm of dreamers. It does not exist unless you create it."
Nia's breath stilled.
"A world born from my own dreams…" she murmured.
To reach it, she would need to surrender consciousness itself — a sleep deeper than death.
She reached into her satchel and drew out the Green Jewel, its soft glow pulsing like living moss. Raising it, she closed her eyes. The Eye Palace began to change. Ice softened. Glass shimmered emerald. Flowers burst through frost, vines crawling over once-bleeding mirrors until they turned clear and silent again.
"Let this place be still," Nia whispered.
Green mist exhaled from the jewel, sealing the transformation. The palace fell into timeless sleep. Nia lowered herself onto the crystal floor, folding her hands over her chest. One final spell left her lips, barely audible.
Then her eyes closed.
The Skycloud World began to form.
Far away, Marko and Anthony ran through the woods, breath tearing from their lungs.
"She came this way," Marko said, gripping the Book of Blood tightly.
Behind them, branches snapped.
Anthony glanced back, panic flashing across his face.
"He's following us."
Old Gald's presence burned through the forest, unnatural speed carrying him forward, silver light flickering in his eyes.
"Split up!" Marko shouted.
They separated instantly. Old Gald's roar followed them through the trees.
"You fools! You'll doom us all!"
Neither looked back.
Nyx's mansion loomed in the distance, dark and waiting. Joey entered the main hall, boots stirring dust that had long gone untouched.
"Where are they?" he demanded.
Only Raym Gald stood there, silent as ever.
"They've gone," Raym said. "You shouldn't be here."
Joey frowned.
"I'm their superior. Don't tell me what I should do."
Raym's voice hardened.
"You've already failed Nyx once. Now get out."
Steel flashed.
Raym collapsed, blood spreading across marble.
"You talk too much," Joey whispered.
The house fell silent again.
In the Skycloud World, Nia opened her eyes.
She stood upon clouds glowing faint blue beneath her feet, storms stretching endlessly across the horizon. Black lightning coiled through the sky like living serpents, crackling with intent.
"The Black Jewel…" she whispered.
The storm answered.
Lightning struck — once, twice, again — tearing through air and flesh. Nia ran, pain ripping through her body, refusing to fall. When a bolt slammed into her chest, she screamed — but instead of dying, she absorbed it.
"You can't kill me!" she shouted.
The storm collapsed inward, forming a dark orb that hovered before her. She reached out, hands trembling, and seized it. Darkness poured into her veins, carving a sigil into her arm.
The Black Jewel was hers.
The clouds shifted.
Pink and gold spread through the sky, music drifting softly through the air. Roses scented the wind. Warmth wrapped around her — until she froze.
Nyx stood before her.
Stacy stood beside him.
Their hands intertwined.
"No…" Nia whispered.
The world pressed closer, whispering her fears.
"He chose her…"
"He never wanted you…"
Illusions twisted, turning cruel. Evil reflections emerged, their eyes empty.
"You will never matter," they hissed.
Nia fought them, desperation bleeding into every strike. She fell — until white light shattered the illusion.
Carl appeared.
"Stand up, Nia!" he called. "They're not real!"
Together they shattered the dream. When silence returned, a golden sphere hovered before her. She took it into trembling hands.
The Golden Jewel burned with warmth and sorrow.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Carl was already gone.
The final realm was grey.
Silent.
From the mist stepped her duplicate.
"You can't win," the reflection said. "You are me."
Nia smiled slowly.
"Then I'll destroy myself."
She wrapped her hands around her throat. The duplicate mirrored her — panic flooding its eyes. At the last moment, Nia released and lunged forward, shoving the reflection into the abyss.
The Master Jewel rose from the mist, glowing white.
"At last," she whispered.
In the real world, Marko and Anthony reached the transformed Eye Palace.
"She's here," Anthony said.
They broke the Green Jewel's seal and found Nia lying still, glowing faintly.
"She's dreaming," Marko said. "Wake her."
The spell shook the dream. The Black Jewel slipped — caught by small hands.
Kamara smiled.
"You forgot this."
"I'm sorry," Nia whispered.
Light vanished.
Nia gasped awake, jewels blazing in her grasp.
Anthony handed her a red-bound book.
"Nyx isn't who you think he is."
Before she could reply —
Gunshots.
Marko fell.
Anthony followed.
"No!" Nia screamed.
The moon turned grey.
Darkness swallowed her.
Joey stood over her body.
"She's too dangerous alive," Joey said quietly.
They buried her beneath ancient roots, taking the jewels and the Book of Past.
As soil covered her face, the wind whispered like the breath of a dying god.