“Your stream isn’t steady, Novice Damian,” Transcend Yellow said, interrupting him in the middle of his Trial. “Any mage with half a brain could cut you off with a Psionic block.”

  His expression darkened as his brow scrunched further in concentration. After his energy shield steadied, Transcend Yellow gave a nod. Talent Khairu stood with shockspear in hand, electricity streaming along its length while flashing a predatory smile. It was the only time Lucian had ever seen her happy—if that terrifying expression could be considered happiness. Through the open archway of the entry hall, the nighttime chill gusted inside.

  Khairu charged. Damian cried out as his energy shield absorbed the impact of the Yellow Talent’s shockspear. When the shield collapsed with a sizzle, Transcend Yellow clapped her hands.

  “Enough, Novice Damian.”

  Damian returned sulkily to the line of Novices, his head hung low.

  Transcend Yellow nodded at Lucian. “Novice Lucian. You’re up.”

  He stepped forward, feeling slightly guilty over the help he’d gotten last night. It wasn’t like he could have refused it, but it still made him a little sick. Khairu was already twirling her spear. Even if the tip was blunted, the electricity sizzling along its length was all too real. Lucian felt inadequate as he drew his shockspear, extending it with a metallic whir. He didn’t even bother streaming. Remembering Transcend Yellow’s lesson, he needed to save every bit of ether he had just to survive.

  For that was the point of this Trial—to last as long as possible against Khairu without “dying.” Lucian had the feeling Khairu would go extra hard on him. Because why wouldn’t she? Even more so because she had to have suspected the training Transcend Yellow had given him.

  Khairu glared, seeming ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

  “Spear up, Novice,” Transcend Yellow said.

  Lucian held the spear with both hands in a defensive posture. He remembered well how suddenly Transcend Yellow had attacked him the night before, so he began by streaming an energy shield, keeping it as weak as possible to conserve his ether. He could strengthen it once Khairu attacked.

  In his peripheral vision, he could make out Damian’s hard stare and Rhea’s stony mask.

  Khairu launched her attack. Electricity shrouded her hands and danced with her spear, swinging with far more intensity than she had with Damian. But Lucian was ready, anticipating the blow and strengthening his shield to match. It absorbed the impact easily, strong enough to make the Yellow Talent grunt and take a step back. She scowled, glancing at Transcend Yellow for further instructions.

  “Not bad,” Transcend Yellow said. “Shields down.”

  Lucian released his stream with relief. But as soon as the stream cut off, Khairu attacked again, perhaps at an unseen signal from Transcend Yellow. Lucian tried to raise his shield in time, but he couldn’t do so before eating a nasty shock streamed from her spear, which sent him sprawling to the floor. The other Novices gasped as Lucian rolled over a few times and was stopped by a pillar. Anger and shock coursed through his veins. Khairu stood a few meters away, her face gloating. She was all but daring him to get up again.

  But Transcend Yellow had not called the match for Khairu, meaning Lucian wasn’t “dead” yet. It was a minor shock, admittedly, Khairu probably meant to toy with him rather than delivering a death blow. Well, that would be her mistake. With Khairu bearing down on him, Lucian scrambled up, shockspear at the “primus” position, point out at a forty-five-degree angle. It was a basic posture, but it was all he knew.

  “Never let your guard down, Novice,” Transcend Yellow called. “Not until you’re sure the threat has passed.”

  Khairu took a swing, which Lucian easily parried with a clang. He backed away a few steps, granting some space. Khairu smirked.

  “It’s not fair!” he called. “You told me to let my shield down.”

  “Do you expect things to be fair in a real fight? A harsh lesson, but it's a lesson you must learn.”

  Khairu seemed to be waiting for his move. Lucian deepened his Focus. It was time to go on the offense. But before he could attack, Khairu herself came forward, putting Lucian back in survival mode. Her shockspear spun in a wide and powerful arc meant to maim. Before the weapon could connect, Lucian unleashed a primal shout. From the anchor point of his palm, he set the focal point aimed directly at Khairu. Then, he streamed a wild burst of Dynamistic Magic.

  A fork of lightning shot right out of his palm directly at Khairu. Her face registered the slightest hint of surprise, but she strengthened her energy shield just in time to block it. A shockwave rebounded off Khairu’s shield, pummeling him and staggering him back a few meters. He managed to keep his feet—but just barely. It was well that he did because only a few more meters would have sent him into the central brazier.

  His ether reserves were nearly empty, and he got the feeling Khairu had plenty left. He’d have to play this carefully. As Transcend Yellow had said, the mage who ran out of ether first lost. Khairu’s face was a severe mask as she approached. It was clear she hadn’t expected this much trouble—not from a Novice she all but regarded as useless.

  Lucian knew she not only wanted to save face but also to put him in his place. And he didn’t intend on letting her do that.

  From the sidelines, Lucian could see the Novices watching open-mouthed, while Transcend Yellow’s dark eyes drank in the sight greedily.

  With a growl, Khairu approached, stabbing with her electrically charged spear. Lucian tried to throw his shield up, but it was too weak. He was forced to retreat until his back was hot with the flames of the brazier. He braced himself to make his last stand, setting his spear in a defensive posture. Khairu’s dark eyes were gloating as she paced back and forth a few meters ahead of him, circling her prey. Then, she struck, stabbing with a flurry of strikes, each aimed at a different part of his body. Lucian sidestepped the first and parried the second, while his shield absorbed the third. She easily parried his counterstrike, then grabbed him by the wrist. Lucian tried to wrest free, but her grip was strong. The next thing he knew, the point of her spear was at his neck while hot flames were at his back. He was undoubtedly dead, and he knew he was expected to yield.

  There they stood for a long moment, eye to eye. His back was hot; one more step backward and his robes would be eaten by the flames. But he would not give her the satisfaction of yielding. She scowled, pulling him harshly from the brazier. She turned her back on him and walked away.

  He had lasted about twice as long as Damian, so he had that going for him at least.

  “Why did you stream lightning, Novice?” Transcend Yellow asked. “Had you not, you might have lasted three times as long against her.”

  Her voice wasn’t accusing, but at the same time, Lucian found it hard to answer. He could feel the stares of the other Novices, along with Khairu.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “I wanted to win, not just survive.”

  Transcend Yellow smiled. “But the Trial was to survive as long as possible. A bit of advice: If you’re going to take a risk like that, you’d better be damn sure you win.” She nodded toward the line of watching Novices. “Your Trial is over, Novice Lucian.”

  Lucian hardly paid attention as Rhea and Marcus went through their Trials. Rhea did well, of course, and even Marcus made a respectable showing, though notably, neither lasted as long as Lucian had. The experience was foreign to him. He was used to being left behind, but outclassing Rhea and Damian was something else entirely.

  Maybe Transcend Yellow was right about his “potential.” Might he make Talent the first year, as no other Novice had? He couldn’t let himself get distracted by such thoughts.

  Once they were dismissed, Lucian and the other Novices made their way toward the dining hall. No one said a word until they had rounded the corner, out of earshot of both Transcend Yellow and Talent Khairu. Both Damian and Rhea fell in beside him.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Did you listen to anything I said after the Binding Trial?” Damian asked.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play coy. You overdrew. Don’t say you didn’t. No Novice can do what you just did.”

  “Well, it looks like I did. And no, I didn’t overdraw.”

  “Yeah, right. I don’t know how you did it, but just know that in this place, cheaters never prosper.”

  Lucian saw that there was no convincing him. “Whatever.”

  Rhea’s voice was accusing. “I’ll be honest. You’ll be lucky to even stay here after that Trial.”

  Well, he hadn’t asked her opinion either. Maybe he had cheated, but not in the way they thought. Besides, it wasn’t as if he had a choice to refuse Transcend Yellow’s training. If he told them the truth right now, their heads would probably explode. Then they could lecture Transcend Yellow about fairness, not him.

  When they reached the dining hall, the long wooden tables were already filled with Novices. He could only hope Damian and Rhea didn’t blab about his performance, but he didn’t have much hope of that. The last thing he needed here was more infamy.

  He sat away from his group. By the time he finished eating and cleaning up, he made his way back to the Novice wing. That would at least keep everyone off his back.

  Lucian found a warm meditation chamber near his room. He sat on the stones, using a prong to stoke the hearth within. Once settled, he assumed his Focus, allowing time itself to slip away. He went to a place where he felt nothing, physical or mental. That was the only place he could feel peace and allow that peace to speed his ether regeneration.

  After a long time had passed, he returned to the entry hall, muscles stiff with idleness. He didn’t know how long he’d sat quietly, but he felt more refreshed. Outside, from the field of white snow, a storm had blown through during his meditation. The chill spilled in through the entrance. Even the central brazier and torches couldn’t take the edge off. Outside, several Novices were sweeping snow off the steps. Lucian would have turned for his room at this point, but he saw Emma among them.

  Lucian found a broom and shovel leaning against the wall and joined the Novices. No longer holding his Focus, it felt as if there were a hole in his consciousness. Something missing. Strange, how something he had once reviled was now a part of him. He reached for his Focus again, and the meditative trance buffered him against the harsh cold. While the other Novices shuddered and shivered, Lucian worked methodically. Even the despair of seeing how much snow needed to be swept couldn’t reach him here.

  Emma sidled over and began sweeping beside him. “You’re working like a droid,” she said, her teeth chattering. “You okay?”

  “Fine,” Lucian said, letting his Focus go. The mental state was meant to strip oneself of all emotions. Useful for streaming and meditation, but not for conversation with a friend. “I’m trying to mentally prepare for the Trial tomorrow.”

  “Same,” she said. “Thermalism is one of my weaker Aspects.”

  “I’d advise against talking about it.”

  A few meters away, Rhea swept. If there was anyone who would rat them out to the Talents for breaking the rules, it was her.

  “I will say this much,” Emma said. “I don’t know what will be harder—the Trial or surviving Transcend Red if I happen to make a mistake.”

  Lucian almost shuddered. His one interaction with Transcend Red hadn’t been a pleasant one. There was a spitefulness to her he didn’t much like. Unfortunately, he would have to deal with her tomorrow. He had streamed the wrong Aspect during the Gravitonics Trial, so he hoped he wouldn't commit the same error.

  “Well, it seems like we’re going to have fun tomorrow.”

  “You have nothing to worry about,” Emma said. “It seems you're making some people jealous.”

  Lucian had a feeling he knew who she was talking about. “Who?”

  “Damian was saying things about you.”

  He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Things like what?”

  “Nothing directly accusatory. He’s implying you might be overdrawing to pass these Trials. He said no one with your experience should have been able to last that long against Talent Khairu.”

  “Well, I did. He’s just a sore loser. He can’t stand being second to anybody.” He looked around to make sure no one was listening. “I’ll admit I did overdraw during the Binding Trial. And during the Gravitonics Trial, too, but only to stay alive.”

  She stopped sweeping for a moment, as if in shock, before starting up again. Lucian had the feeling she would have had a stronger reaction if there had been no one around.

  “What were you thinking? I understand the Gravitonics Trial, but what happened with Binding? Did Transcend Blue notice?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think so. But of course, that will be impossible to know until the results are in.”

  “And the Radiance Trial?”

  “That was all me. For the Dynamism Trial, Damian is running his mouth. I didn’t overdraw.”

  He felt a tinge of guilt at that. He didn’t want to talk about Transcend Yellow’s private lesson, but Emma was the only one here he trusted. He couldn’t bring himself to lie to her.

  “There’s something I need to tell you. I’m not sure what to make of it . . .”

  When he told her about the training, Emma’s eyes went so wide that Lucian thought they would pop out of her head.

  “She summoned you?”

  “Yeah. That’s weird, isn’t it?”

  She didn’t react for a moment, as if processing the news. Finally, she spoke. “Have any of the other Transcends done the same thing?”

  “What, give me private lessons? No.”

  “Hmm.” Her brow scrunched in thought. “She must see great potential in you. But to give you private instruction that would give you an edge on the eve of a Trial? I don’t want to question a Transcend, but that’s an unfair advantage. Do you think she is testing you in some way?”

  “I asked her point-blank, and she said no,” Lucian said. “I didn’t want to question her. When a Transcend says jump, you ask how high.”

  “I understand,” she said. She swept a large snowdrift down the steps. “Or when they say sweep out in the cold, you ask how long.”

  Lucian chuckled. “I suppose that’s how this all got started?”

  “I was minding my own business, walking back to my room to get some sleep. Then, the Talents went through the halls and handed us these.” She held up the broom, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’d think we’d get a little leeway with the Trials, but nope.”

  “I was in meditation, so I guess that’s why they didn’t bother me.”

  “Wait. You’re here by choice?”

  “Yeah. I guess.”

  “You just wanted to hang out with me, didn’t you?”

  “So, about this Transcend Yellow business,” Lucian said. “It seemed like you were going somewhere with that before we got sidetracked.”

  “It’s this. You had a rough start, right? But now, something has changed and people are noticing. You’re rocketing past everyone right now. At this rate, you’ll make Talent before any of us.”

  “It doesn’t feel that way,” he said. “There’s still so much I don’t understand.”

  “You might even make Talent this year.”

  He could hardly believe that. “Remember the Gravitonics Trial? I almost got myself killed.”

  “Even when you fail, you fail impressively,” she said. “Hardly any training in Gravitonics, and you make an impressive showing. Most everyone else would have probably died.”

  She went quiet after that. From her tense expression, it looked as if she had something else to say.

  “If there’s something on your mind, you can tell me,” Lucian said.

  “There is. Remember how they seemed hesitant to train you at first?”

  Where was she going with all this? “How could I forget?”

  “You’re proving them wrong. In a big way.”

  “Am I, though?”

  “Maybe you’re skeptical, but you have a lot of talent. But those with great gifts are burdened with even greater expectations. It’s not only Transcend Yellow who will be courting you to be her Talent. Others will come out of the woodwork soon enough. Especially if you make history as the only one to pass the Trials on the first try.”

  Lucian couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Seriously? I nearly killed myself, and somehow that qualifies me to be a Talent? Someone entrusted with not only learning more but also training the Novices?”

  “Wait and see,” Emma said. “That might be a bold prediction, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened. My advice is to keep your head down. If you continue doing well, that might paint a target on your back.”

  Lucian thought of Damian. “I’ll try.”

  “Just imagine the other Novices’ perspective. You work hard, and then someone who has been here for less than a year starts overtaking you. It can’t be a good feeling.”

  “No, I guess not.”

  “If Transcend Yellow is vying for you already, how soon before others start making their moves? They might not even wait until the Trials are over. Why else would she want to help you?”

  He knew she had him there. “I’m only a Novice, though.”

  “Only in name. You’re forgetting Vera. But trust me, Transcend White hasn’t, and whoever else she has told.”

  Vera, who was the most powerful mage in all the Worlds. Yes, there was that minor detail; Lucian had almost managed to push it fully from his mind.

  “You have a point,” he admitted.

  “Of course I do. I’m only looking out for you. Things can get dangerous when you’re caught in the crossfire of powerful people.”

  Lucian felt as if there were a story there, but he didn’t get the opportunity to ask.

  “We should turn in,” she said. “The job’s done and we’re the only ones still sweeping.”

  Lucian looked around to see that she was right. The stairs were clean, and the still night had grown even colder.

  They went to the central brazier to warm up. Emma watched him from across the flames, her eyes worried. But there was more than just worry there. He had to look away before old feelings resurfaced. Feelings he had mostly suppressed in favor of his training.

  "Are you okay, Lucian?”

  He softened at the concern in her voice. “I’m as fine as I can be.”

  “Are you sure? It seems we barely talk anymore.”

  That was what this place did. It was late, and if anyone caught them here together, it would raise eyebrows at best. They should disperse to their rooms, but Lucian didn’t want to go.

  The truth was, he did miss her. That night on Lightsail on the Ocean of Storms seemed so long ago. Like it had happened to another person.

  “Do you ever think about that night on our way here?”

  She recoiled a bit at the question. “Sometimes.”

  “I’ve been trying to put it from my mind ever since. Some days, I succeed. But other days, I just think about what we’ve lost by being here.”

  She went quiet again, but she didn’t leave either. Finally, she looked up at him. “Such talk is dangerous.”

  Maybe he didn’t care. Maybe he wanted to do things his way for once. Did the Talents and Transcends believe that the men and women here forwent all romantic attachment? Now that he thought of it, he noticed Damian and Rhea often looked at each other a hair too long. Maybe it meant something; maybe it didn’t. But nothing could ever move beyond looks and the most subtle of flirting.

  Not here.

  Emma came around the fire and touched his arm. That was daring a lot. More than he would have guessed from her, who had always maintained distance.

  She said nothing more, leaving him by the fire. Despite its warmth, all he could feel was coldness inside.