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

Sukielookedaroundiakinginthebeautyoftheirsurroundings.＂Wherearewe?＂

＂Quick，hide！＂HanFenglingwhisperedurgently，pullingSukiebehindargetree.

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

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

Sukiefeltamixofexcitementandtrepidation.＂WhyamIhere?Whatismypurpose?＂

＂Whoarethey?＂shewhisperedoheyhadpassed.

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

hherfeet.HanFenglingreachedout，takingherhandinhis.

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

Astheywalkedthroughtheforest，Sukiecouldn，thelpbutmarvelatthevividcolorsandthevibrantlifearouwasasifshehadsteppedintoadream.Yet，therealityoftheirsituationquicklysetiheyheardthedistantsoundofhooves.

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

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

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

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