The group made camp at the foot of a low ridge where twisted juniper trees grew in spirals, as if sculpted by ancient winds. Snow-Mouth warned everyone that the spirits here were unpredictable, but Temir insisted the trees were simply "dramatic."
By nightfall, the steppe had swallowed all warmth. Horses huddled close together, the dogs growled at shadows, and even the stars seemed sharper than usual.
Ayisulu tried to sleep, but her mind wouldn't quiet. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the Shadow Weaver's masked face.
She slipped out of the yurt quietly, stepping into the moonlit grass. The wind was almost too still.
"Ayisulu?"
Arslan's voice came from behind her. He wasn't wearing armor — just a simple dark coat, hair loose, eyes reflecting firelight. The look suited him too well.
"You shouldn't walk alone at night," he said.
"Everyone keeps telling me that."
"Because it's true."
She smiled faintly. "I just needed air."
He moved closer until the edge of his coat brushed her arm. "Then I'll walk with you."
Ayisulu opened her mouth to argue, but before she could—
A flicker.
A shadow shifted at the corner of her vision.
She turned sharply… but the grass was empty.
Ayisulu's breath trembled. "Did you see that?"
Arslan's hand went to the knife at his belt. "Where?"
But she couldn't point. Because suddenly —
She heard her name.
Not whispered.
Not spoken.
Sung.
"Ayisulu… Ayisulu…"
Her grandmother's voice.
Her legs almost buckled. "Ulpan…?"
Arslan grabbed her shoulders. "Ayisulu. Look at me."
"No — I heard— I heard—"
"Ayisulu."
But her mind had already slipped sideways.
Her sight blurred.
The moon rippled like water.
The juniper trees bent toward her, their branches forming shapes like arms.
And then she saw a woman standing between the twisted trunks.
Her grandmother.
Or what looked like her.
Grey-streaked braid. Wrinkled hands. The old blue shawl she used to wear.
"Come, kızym," the figure said gently.
"Come. I've been waiting."
Ayisulu took one step toward her — just one — and Arslan lunged forward, grabbing her wrist so sharply she gasped.
"Ayisulu, STOP."
"It's my grandmother," she whispered, tears burning. "She's calling me."
"That's not Ulpan."
Arslan pulled her back sharply just as the figure's face flickered — like smoke caught in a wind gust.
Ayisulu froze.
Her "grandmother's" smile stretched too wide, too thin.
A mask formed around her eyes — a smooth crimson veil.
The Shadow Weaver.
Ayisulu's knees buckled entirely.
The illusion dissolved with a hiss and the juniper branches snapped back into place, leaving only moonlit emptiness.
Ayisulu couldn't breathe.
Arslan caught her before she fell, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other bracing her head against his chest.
His voice was low, furious, shaken.
"She almost took you."
Ayisulu clutched his coat with trembling fingers. "I saw Ulpan. She sounded real."
"She used someone you loved."
Arslan's jaw clenched. "She wanted you to follow."
Ayisulu's breath hitched. "I almost did."
Arslan pulled her closer, forehead touching the top of her hair, as if shielding her from the world.
"You didn't," he murmured. "That's what matters."
Her heart hammered painfully. "Arslan… what if she tries again? What if next time—"
"Next time," he said fiercely, "I won't let you go anywhere alone."
Temir burst out of his tent at that moment, holding a frying pan like a shield.
"AYISULU, I FELT A SPIRIT! I THINK IT TOUCHED MY FOOT!"
Kanykei exited right behind him. "It was a leaf, Temir."
"A haunted leaf!"
Bair stumbled out with his notebook. "Was there a supernatural event? Should I write a poem?"
Kereg rubbed his face. "Go back to sleep, all of you."
Arslan still hadn't let go of Ayisulu.
Erlan emerged last, taking one look at the scene — Ayisulu in Arslan's arms, her face buried in his chest — and froze.
"What happened?" Erlan asked sharply.
Arslan answered coldly, "The Shadow Weaver tried to lure her."
Erlan's whole expression changed. "Is she hurt?"
"No," Arslan said.
Ayisulu whispered, "Almost."
Erlan glared at Arslan. "Where were you?"
Arslan glared back. "Saving her."
Kanykei groaned. "Not now."
Ayisulu finally straightened, though Arslan's hands stayed on her arms longer than necessary. His touch was steadying — and possessive enough that Erlan's left eye twitched.
"We need protection," Snow-Mouth said quietly. "She is probing her way into your mind. She will try again. And again."
"Then how do we block her?" Arslan demanded.
Snow-Mouth looked directly at Ayisulu.
"You don't block her. You learn to see through her illusions."
Ayisulu swallowed. "How?"
Snow-Mouth touched Ayisulu's forehead lightly with two fingers.
"By learning to trust what is real," they said.
Their gaze flicked toward Arslan holding Ayisulu's arms.
"Not what is familiar. Not what is comforting. What is real."
Everyone went silent.
Especially Arslan.
Especially Ayisulu.
Temir whispered to Kanykei,
"Does that mean what I think it means?"
Kanykei whispered back,
"Probably. But let's pretend we don't understand."
Ayisulu exhaled shakily. "I'll try."
Snow-Mouth nodded. "Good. Because she will strike again soon."
Everyone froze.
"When?" Arslan demanded.
Snow-Mouth looked at the moon.
"She just did. And she will not stop until Ayisulu reaches the Cloud Monastery."
Temir screamed. "WE'RE BEING HUNTED!"
Kanykei grabbed him by the back of his coat. "Yes, Temir. Congratulations. This has been happening for many chapters."
Ayisulu pressed her palm to her racing heart. "I almost followed her voice…"
Arslan stepped closer — slowly, deliberately — and clasped her hand.
"You follow me," he said softly.
Erlan exhaled sharply.
"That's not how this works."
Arslan didn't break eye contact with Ayisulu.
"It is tonight."
Her breath caught.
Snow-Mouth sighed. "Your triangle of emotions is exhausting."
Temir nodded vigorously. "Yes. For all of us."
But Ayisulu didn't hear them.
Because Arslan hadn't let go of her hand.
And she wasn't letting go either.