Page 14 of Unbound

It’s like Bastian said… my life will be easier if I pick water or air, even if neither element represents what I feel inside.

I still feel like fire, ready to lash out and burn everything around me to ash after the last few days. But that's not the normal me. It's not the girl who grew up loving her time on the waters in Saltcrest's bay. The girl who spent half her life reading currents and finding fish.

In the end, choosing anything but water would feel like running from my past. And maybe this place is going to claim my life before long, but I’m done running.

I squeeze my eyes shut, thinking about my father and brothers. I picture the flowing wave pattern I've seen on other hands. I reach for the memory of salt spray on my face, the rhythm of waves against our small boat, the peace I used to feel watching the tide roll in.

A sensation like icy fingers crawls across my palm. My skin stretches and pulls as if being remolded by invisible hands. Heat flashes through my veins, followed by bone-deep cold, then both at once. I clench my teeth around a grunt of pain, brows furrowing as I focus through the discomfort until the sensations finally subside.

When I open my eyes, the mark has changed—appearing as a blue wave on my palm. Looking closely, I can still see threads of silver tracing through it like veins of quicksilver, but unless someone was specifically looking for them, they'd never notice.

"How did I—" I stare at my hand in disbelief.

Bastian flashes a half-smile, but the humor doesn't reach his eyes. "Water. Okay. I guess you didn't want to be an air like me?"

I shake my head, still staring at the disguised mark. "What does this all mean?"

His voice drops low. "Just know this: if the wrong person finds out about your mark, it would be... trouble. You have to learn to keep it hidden. Tell no one."

"Why do I feel like you know more than you're saying?" I search his face for answers.

His expression turns guarded. "I’ve heard whispers. But I won’t worry you with rumors because they may do just as much harm as good. I’ll send for the book. Try to stay alive until then and keep this hidden. With luck, the book will give us some answers about what this means.”

I accept his explanation for now. It has the ring of truth, and frankly, I can only handle so many revelations in one day. Now that he knows my secret, he might be held complicit if it gets out. We're bound by this knowledge, whether I like it or not.

We rejoin the flow of survivors. With Bastian beside me, the guards barely glance at my now-blue mark before waving me toward the water corridor. My heart thumps so loudly I'm certain everyone can hear it as we pass.Did it work? Did they actually fall for it?

"Wait," I say, pausing at the threshold. Something in Bastian's earlier words gnaws at me. "What exactly happens in the combat assessment?"

A shadow crosses his face. "A simple training match. Today, I think most offerings won't fully grasp what's going on here. Today, you should still be safe."

"What the hell does that mean?" I ask, already growing tired of half-truths and cryptic warnings.

He steps closer, eyes scanning to make sure we're not overheard. "You're an offering. Yes, you've all shown you have an affinity. But that's only the first step. You're not valuable to the Empire unless you earn an elemental tether on Confluence Day." His voice drops even lower. "Until you tether, you’re expendable. They won’t stop you from killing one another.The strong weed out the weak,” he says in a way that makes me think it’s a common phrase around here.”

Understanding hits me like ice water. "So these combat assessments could turn deadly?" I ask, bile rising in my throat.

Bastian nods grimly. "These two months before Confluence Day will be the most dangerous. They'll train you. They'll teach you about history and magic. But the real test? It's surviving until Confluence Day. Survive that, and the Academy will finally start treating you like the valuable resource you are. Until then, just about anything goes. Your peers won't realize it right away. But it won't be long before they do."

My mouth goes dry, a cold dread settling in my bones. "Who will I have to fight?"

Bastian's eyes dart over my shoulder, and his expression hardens. I turn to follow his gaze and find Raith standing with the other fire affinities, his eyes already watching me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.

Though I can't say for certain, I think he is taking personal offense to the fact that I'm standing and talking to Bastian right now.

"Some days, the instructors will allow challenges," Bastian says quietly. "I expect they'll let us know we're able to issue them today as a way to set the tone. I would normally say not to worry, because you haven't had time to make enemies."

My smile feels brittle on my face. He knows it, too.

Beside Raith, I see the beautiful, dark haired girl with the braid. She's leaning with her arms crossed and her perfect lips are curved into a predatory smile. Like Raith, she's watching Bastian and me.

Already, I think both of them might just break me and leave me for dead if they're allowed to challenge me.

"Everyone," a guard calls. "Move along to the training arena. Sparring matches will begin soon."

The girl meets my eyes, then drags a finger across her throat as she smiles sweetly.

My newly disguised water mark throbs on my palm, and somewhere deeper, the silver spiral pulses in rhythm with my racing heart—a heart I hope will still be beating in a few minutes.

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