Page 57 of Fading Sun

I curse and place the crystal down near my feet. Now that it’s been used, it’s worthless.

Damien’s and Morgan’s are, too.

Five crystals down.

Fourteen to go.

“It’s okay, Amber,” Damien says, steady and reassuring. “Just adjust the angle slightly. You’ve got this.”

“You say it as if you direct beams of sunlight through crystals every day,” I snap, unable to keep my frustration from coming out.

He remains calm as he walks to the chest and removes three more crystals. “True,” he says, approaching me and dropping a fresh crystal into my hand. “But I know how to wield a blade, and how to control the air in concentrated blasts. The concept is the same. Focus, precision, and an unwavering belief in yourself.”

My heart flutters at how close he’s standing to me, and all I can feel is the intensity of his gaze.

“I said focus,” he repeats, amusement dancing in his eyes. “On your magic, and on the crystals. Do you think you can manage that?”

Yes, if you stop standing so close to me, I think.

“Sure,” I say instead. “Third time’s the charm.”

He turns around and steps back onto his disc, positioning his new crystal in the same place as before.

Again, my beam of light passes perfectly through his crystal, and I pivot slightly, redirecting it toward Morgan’s.

My control wavers, and I miss.

Anger rushes through me, and I chuck my crystal at the wall.

It cracks against it, but it doesn’t shatter.

It’ll take another beam of light through it to make it do that.

“Off again.” The Abbot puffs out his chest, despite the ropes binding his wrists behind his back. “You’re not worthy of entering the portal. It’s best you save your energy, get out of here, and find another way to retrieve the Solar Scepter.”

“I am worthy.” I grit my teeth and march to the chest, pulling out two more crystals.

The monks nearest to the chest watch me closely, not saying a word.

I turn around to hand a crystal to Damien, but he’s not standing on his disc anymore. Instead, he’s walking around the room, taking note of the locations of the rest of the discs.

“Let’s adjust our positions,” he says. “Even a slight change might help.”

It’s a good idea. So, we spend the next few minutes strategizing new discs for Morgan and Blaze to stand on.

Once we’re set, I steady myself and try again.

I fail.

I keep failing until there are only four discs left.

There are four of us. This is my last chance. If I blow it, it’s over.

The Abbot will have been right about my not being worthy. I’ll disappoint Sunneva, Damien, the entire clan, and, most frustratingly, myself.

“I have an idea,” Blaze chimes in before I can start.

“What?” I ask, open to anything.

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