Page 95 of Ashes of Aether

At first, my voice fails me. Fortunately, it comes rushing back before I can yet again make myself look like an idiot. “What is it you wish to ask me?”

He pauses. Many heartbeats pass between us. Then he finally asks, “What are you doing on Thursday evening?”

“Nothing,” I reply. “Aside from sleeping early so I’ll be well rested for my final trial. Why do you ask?”

“I was wondering whether you would like to join me for dinner?”

I blink, momentarily taken aback by his question. It’s hard to believe he’s asking me this. That this isn’t some cruel joke.

“Yes,” I breathe, before sense can return to me, “yes, I would love to.”

“Great,” he says with a smile. “Then meet me here at six o’clock on Thursday evening.”

“Won’t you be busy working?”

“I have enough staff to handle things for a few hours.”

“In that case, thank you.”

“For what?” he asks.

“For inviting me to dinner.”

“And thank you for accepting my invitation.” He steps away, and I suddenly realize how cold it is without him so near. “Best of luck with your trial tomorrow.”

I thank him again and start toward the door. Eliya is waiting there, a curious look spreading across her face.

When we burst out of the tavern, she turns to me and exclaims, “You’d better tell me exactly what just happened. Every last detail!”

And so, I tell her everything.

Twenty-Seven

ArchmageGidstonleadsusdownadark,steepstaircase.Aethercrystalsglistenalongthewalls,illuminatingthestepsaheadofme.Icanseelittlebeyondthat,asidefromthebackofEliya’shead.Everythingelseislosttotheshadows.

With the passage being so narrow, we’re forced to walk in single file. My palms skim across the coarse stone walls as I try to maintain my balance. When we first started down here—the South Western exit of the Arcanium’s atrium—there was an ornate metallic banister to guide our way. But now we are so far underground that the smooth steps have turned to jagged rock and I stumble over them.

Thousands of steps lie between us and our trial, just like with the Trial of Heart. At least this time, the stairs are going down.

Eventually, we reach the end.

A vast cave stretches out before us. Aether crystals protrude from the walls, bright enough to illuminate every inch of the chamber.

Archmage Gidston strides to the stone altar at the center. An enormous hourglass floats above it. Instead of sand, aether dust fills the lower bulb, and an ornate golden frame houses the glass.

“Today, you will all undertake your second Mage Trial, the Trial of Mind.”

No one dares to breathe as Lorette speaks. Down here, there’s no wind. When she pauses, an unnatural silence fills the cave.

“These tunnels form an underground maze beneath the Arcanium,” she continues, gesturing around us. Aside from the stairs, there are five exits. Only darkness lies beyond them.

She points ahead at the largest exit, the one directly opposite the stairs. “Though the tunnels are long and winding, they all converge back to this chamber, and you will have an hour to return. If you cannot escape the maze within that time, you will fail your trial. As this is the Trial of Mind, you must use your wits to solve the many magical obstacles which will stand in your way.”

If I pass today, I will be one trial away from graduating the Arcanium and becoming a Mage of Nolderan. Though I do not know what obstacles await me inside this maze, I know many adepts fail this second trial. Especially compared to the first. I can’t be one of those adepts. I can’t fail.

Archmage Gidston’s eyes narrow as she scans across us. “Do you all understand what this trial requires?”

We answer her question with nods. Except for Kaely. She raises her hand.

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