Page 1 of The Nature of the Warden

Chapter1

NADINE

Avery’s hand squeezes mine so hard her knuckles turn white. I look over and see that she’s smiling at me, her eyes alight with joy.

While I remain shrouded in bitter worry.

Of course, Avery is happy. What shouldn’t she be? She’s always known what she was destined to be: an ether magi. One who controls air.

Being indecisive, I never studied any element particularly hard. I had a talent for water but decided it bored me and focused more on nature. Again, boredom took hold, leading me to earth magic, which I was terrible at, and fire magic, which caused me to scar my wrist.

To round out the big five, I dabbled in air, and took to the spells nicely, but being indecisive, I never wholly committed.

Which I now regret, because since I haven’t strengthened my talent in any of the core elements, I could end up specializing in a fringe element, which is terrifying.

So much is unknown about the outlier elements, because magi inclined towards them are so rare. As if that wasn’t bad enough, magi who specialize in fringe elements have a much harder time finding a warden.

Wardens make it possible for magi to walk freely upon the earth, as they assist magi with controlling their magic.

As the Witching Tribunal peaks, I watch as faces light when their true elements are revealed. Of course, Raven communes with nature, just as Tory was always destined to be an ignis magi and wield fire.

Sophie showing as a stygian magi is a shock to everyone because communing with darkness often leads to deviant practices. Typically, they’re paired with lux wardens as they are strong in the light.

When Avery’s name is called, she squeals with excitement and bounds up to the maven mother, the one who watches over us all as a mother should.

A sour feeling spoils my gut. Avery has always been a good friend to me, and it’s shameful that I should be jealous.

But it’s not just that she knows her place in the world that has me envious.

It’s that she hashim.

Blane, the hulking nature warden she’s been so keen on since she found out she was inclined towards ether.

They’re so close, it’s like they’re already bonded. Even the mavens have chuckled over it.

I want to be happy for her. I truly do.

But how is that possible when my fate is so clouded?

Avery kneels, and I watch as the maven mother touches her forehead, uttering words of old.

To my surprise, fiery orange runes connected by thin lines rush across Avery’s flesh.

I blink a dozen times, wondering if I’m seeing things, but if I had any doubt left, the shock of red hair that appears from what was once flaxen blonde tells me the poor girl’s fate.

Ignis.

Gasps fill the room, because no one expected Avery to be anything other than air. It’s what she’s trained so hard to be for over a decade.

But all those years don’t matter now. Not with those runes emblazoning her skin.

Guilt needles me. It’s not like I had anything to do with it. You can’t hex anyone into a different element. It’s just not possible.

Avery struggles to rise, clearly stricken with the revelation. She’d hardly bothered to practice fire magic, as she felt she wasn’t inclined towards it.

She’ll have a lot to learn.

“Nadine,” the maven mother calls next.

---