Alina Starkov, a slender girl with wary eyes, steps out of a carriage, her breath curling in the cold air. The palace before her shimmers with the promise of power and secrets, its windows aglow with warm candlelight. Across the courtyard, Grisha soldiers in vibrant kefta patrol with an air of practiced elegance, their faces alert but inscrutable. Genya Safin, a striking young woman with flame-red hair and a knowing smile, approaches, her emerald kefta swirling around her ankles. "Welcome to the Little Palace, Alina. The Darkling is expecting you." "I still don't understand why I'm here." "All will be revealed. For now, trust the process—and perhaps, trust yourself."

Alina stands at the center, feeling the weight of every gaze. The Darkling enters—a tall, commanding figure shrouded in black, his shadow trailing behind him like a living thing. Silence falls as he approaches, his eyes fixed on her. The Darkling, mysterious and powerful leader of the Grisha. "Alina Starkov, do you know what you are?" "I... I'm not sure. I was told I have a gift, but I don't understand it." "Your power is rare—unique. With it, you could change the fate of Ravka."

Alina tries to summon her power, frustration etching her brow as nothing happens. Genya stands by, offering encouragement, while the Darkling observes from a distance, his presence a constant pressure. "Don't force it, Alina. Let it come to you—like breathing." "What if I can't? What if I'm not meant for this?" "You are. I see it in you, even if you can't yet."

A sudden surge of light bursts from her hands, illuminating ancient murals on the walls. The Darkling steps from the shadows, eyes alight with triumph and something darker. "You see now? Your light is real. It is yours. And with it, you can drive back even the deepest darkness." "But if I have this power... what will you do with it?" "Together, we will reshape the world."

She remembers her old life—the orphanage, her friend Mal, the warmth of hope. The weight of her power, and the Darkling's intentions, settle heavily on her shoulders. "I have a choice. I must decide what kind of Grisha I want to be."

Alina enters, head held high, a new confidence in her stride. She meets the Darkling's gaze, unflinching, and her light flickers at her fingertips, ready to be wielded by her will alone. "I will use my power to protect, not to conquer. My light is my own." "Then let us see what you can do, Sun Summoner."