The temple had no end.

Corridors twisted beneath the mountain.

Staircases descended into darkness.

Doors opened onto rooms that seemed larger inside than outside.

In one chamber, hundreds of lanterns floated upside down.

In another, an entire forest grew beneath a glass ceiling.

In another, there was only water.

And beneath the water, something enormous moved.

Lyra decided not to ask.

They eventually reached a narrow bridge spanning a bottomless cavern.

Kael crossed first.

Lyra followed.

Halfway across, the bridge cracked.

"Don't move," Kael said.

Lyra froze.

The stone beneath her foot broke.

She fell.

Kael caught her wrist.

For one terrible second, she hung above darkness.

"Kael!"

"I've got you."

His grip tightened.

Lyra looked up.

His face was strained.

"Let go of the sword."

"What?"

"Your sword."

"I need it."

"You need both hands."

He hesitated.

Then dropped the sword.

It vanished into the darkness.

He pulled her upward.

She collapsed onto the bridge.

They lay there breathing.

Kael rolled onto his back.

"Are you all right?"

Lyra nodded.

"Yes."

"Good."

She looked at him.

"You dropped your sword."

"I noticed."

"That was your favorite sword."

"It was."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

He looked at her.

"You're more important."

Silence.

Lyra's heart stopped.

Kael seemed to realize what he'd said.

He looked away.

"To the mission."

Lyra smiled.

"Of course."

"The mission."

"Obviously."

Neither believed him.

They continued.

Eventually, they reached an enormous circular chamber.

At its center stood a pedestal.

On it was a lantern.

Small.

Ordinary.

Completely dark.

Lyra approached.

The moment she touched it, a memory exploded through her.

Her mother.

Young.

Running through this very temple.

Kael beside her.

Both laughing.

They were younger.

Much younger.

Seraphine turned toward him.

"If anything happens to me..."

Kael answered:

"Nothing will happen."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

The memory changed.

Fire.

Soldiers.

Seraphine placing the silver crescent pendant into Kael's hand.

"Find Lyra."

"I will."

"Protect her."

"I swear."

The memory ended.

Lyra stood trembling.

Kael looked at her.

"I remember."

"You were there."

"Yes."

"You promised my mother."

"Yes."

"And then she disappeared."

His eyes filled with something she couldn't name.

"Yes."

Lyra stepped toward him.

"What happened?"

Kael whispered:

"I failed."

She wanted to be angry.

She wanted to shout.

Instead she saw the grief in his face.

And suddenly understood.

He had been carrying it for twelve years.

Alone.

Lyra reached out.

She took his hand.

Kael looked down at their hands.

Then at her.

"I don't know how to fix this," she whispered.

"Neither do I."

"But we're going to."

He nodded.

"Yes."

For the first time, Kael held her hand willingly.

They stood together beneath the dead lantern.

Then it ignited.

Golden light flooded the chamber.

A door appeared in the wall.

Above it were five words:

THE HEART REMEMBERS EVERYTHING.