Asterin froze at the declaration. The General seemed less than pleased about the situation, but the Wanderers—standing before them now unmasked—seemed quite content with themselves. Especially Meren.

How did this happen?

More than a few recruits seemed to be asking the exact same question, muttering amongst themselves.

“I thought the Wanderers were only supposed to monitor Skirion. Anything else is overstepping.”

“Yeah, the Valkyr are meant to be an entirely separate organization.”

A Mer with pronounced laugh lines and the same golden eyes as the three brothers stepped forward, his commanding demeanor nearly rivaling the General’s. He wore the same shadowy armor as the other Wanderers, though several inscriptions were embroidered in silver thread along the lines of his cloak. He looked over the recruits, a kind expression on his face despite the gravity of the next words he spoke.

“With the return of the Shadowfaen, the recruiting season for the Valkyr is a prime location for them and whoever their commander is to attack. To mitigate this, and to prepare the eventual graduates from what they will face out in the real world, we have taken it upon ourselves to assist in overseeing training this year.

Why does he seem so familiar? Asterin tried to wrack her brain, but came up with nothing.

One of girls standing near Asterin, dressed in overly fashionable emerald robes, muttered, “It’s because they’ve taken all say away from Parliament for not taking more action against the Shadowfaen. Made them shit their beds and give them more power now than the old treaties did.”

“What was that?”

A chilling presence appeared beside Asterin, accompanied by a voice that she hated to admit still caused her heart to flutter.

Meren leaned in between her and another recruit, peering at the girl who had spoken with a warning in his gaze.

When had he gotten there? How did I not notice?

“Say it again. Louder, for everyone to hear.”

The recruit remained silent. Asterin couldn’t blame them.

This man in front of her… he wasn’t the same boy she once promised to spend forever with, to run away from their places in society and pledge their lives to the Gods and their ancestors. No, this was Meren, one of the Heroes of the Sky, a Wanderer who fought against the forces beyond the Val—Shadowfaen or not. He dedicated his life to stop chaos in its wake before it could threaten the stability of the realms.

That is who stood before her. She couldn’t let herself forget it. Even if he held the face of a man she once loved.

Meren glanced down at Asterin and she turned to face forward, adjusting her makeshift glasses—also part of her facade. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught him examining her, looking for something, but the Glamour hid her true face and—while he was quite the capable sorcerer—she knew he wouldn’t be able to tell what lay beneath.

A few seconds passed. Asterin’s lips slightly trembled with each breath that passed through them. He narrowed his eyes. She tensed.

He looked back to the outspoken girl. “Be wary of how you speak. There are eyes and ears everywhere, and you will surely get in trouble if you don’t mind your words.”

With that, Meren left them, returning to his place up on the raised platform whilst the man who had been speaking continued on.

“Today, Lieutenant Ailadon,” he motion to who Asterin assumed was Ada—based on his towering form—stepped forward, “will evaluate each of you based on your magickal potential. Afterwards, we will hold a physical test to see your potential in battle, and that is when training will begin.

“This will not be the same standard competition you have no doubt heard of, for it is common in our work as Wanderers for those with the most potential to be hidden from view at first. We will begin with seeing your potential in both of these areas, and then we will conduct training in four phases.

“First, knowledge, for you must be more cunning than those you face. It is a common mistake to think beasts such as Shadowfaen hold no intelligence. Second, physical ability, for you must be resilient in battle and adept with at least one type of weapon. You cannot always rely on your magick in battle. Third, magickal readiness, for while they may be useless against the Shadowfaen, you will face many more creatures against which magick is your best bet to defeat them.

“And finally, the most important and perhaps infamous of the phases, is the trial against your own peers in front of the Capital and your Empress. That is where all of your training will culminate, and where you will shine brightest.

Asterin tensed. Sure, she was knowledgeable. Between her and her brother, she took to her studies far easier than him. But everything else, even with her recent training… it was practically slaughter. And no mention was made for those who didn’t pass each phase… or the Tournament…

The recruits were all forced into a single-file line and made to approach Ada, who seemed to grow more irritated, based on his muttered commentary, the longer had to stay there and evaluate. And, naturally, Asterin found herself at the very end of the line of one-hundred-and-forty-three cadets.

The outspoken girl with the fashionable emerald robe stepped forward next. Her large bundle of dark brown curls gave the impression of an earthy halo surrounding what even Asterin had to admit was an angelic face. It would have suited the girl well in court—and perhaps it did.

Asterin thought back to what she had overheard with each recruit’s arrival. Lady Nienna, they had called her. Someone rumored to share a bloodline with the late-Emperor, but through a bastard. Her family held an elevated status, sure, but things must have fallen apart recently for her to be here.

Ada closed his eyes and held out a hand to her. She took it, bowing her head.

Asterin used her Sight and watched as Nienna’s energy, a soft green, floated like a small wisp from her to him. When it touched his forehead, it melded through his skin. He winced, but so slight no one would have noticed if they were not paying apt attention.

With a start, Asterin sensed something, as that was the only way she could find to explain it. A knowledge passed through her as she watched the exchange, and she knew—just as Ada did—that Nienna possessed the ability to control minds and meld them with her own, giving her ultimate control. At her current level, she couldn’t do more than influence their thoughts and actions, but with time… she would certainly be a powerful person indeed.

Ada opened his eyes and nodded to Meren. “She will be a powerful enchantress. It would be best to put her under your guidance.”

And that is how the recruits continued to be sorted, to be under one of the Wanderers’ tutelage to refine their magickal abilities when the time came, and to also sort out those who did not possess strong magickal talents. Those ones fell under the Valkyr, who grew more irritated each time he carelessly passed one off.

The two friends from earlier in the night stepped forward.

The younger one with braided hair went first. Aspen was her name. Her magickal energy reminded Asterin of a soft wind, its silver tendrils moving softly as they caressed Ada’s skin. This time the knowledge flowed smoother, calmer. Aspen’s gifts allowed her to be as perceptive as air itself, an element she could manipulate already with great efficiency. She fell under Meren’s supervision.

Her friend, with scarlet red hair, did not have an affinity for fire like Asterin assumed. No, her magick was a faint shimmer, looking more like a gentle breeze carrying a million stars as it floated towards Ada. She had the gift of foresight, but the Oracles must have rejected her. More help in combat would make her an unstoppable force, which brought her to Seren’s purview.

Several more passed, with a few more standing out to Asterin. A half-Faen with an affinity for perception that made her a more than capable fighter—it also helped that she already possessed a burly form that hinted at years of preparation for this day. She and General Marley looked quite similar, though they went out of their way to not even look at each other.

Then there was Maven, a stoic woman with many braids in her hair who moved stiffly.

Maven was an odd situation. She wouldn’t be suited for combat, but Ada insisted her knack for knowledge would make her invaluable. She would have been a better fit for the Sages, though the Valkyr insisted they could find a place for her in their ranks so long as she did well enough in combat training. She was placed with Meren.

A few more passed before Asterin learned that the golden-eyed woman she had encountered several times now was named Raibyn. Her magick confused both Asterin and Ada, though the latter had more insight and insisted it was a rare form of raw potential that had yet to take shape. She was placed with Dralais to figure it out further.

The one before Asterin was a sight, to say the least.

Dox was a Sandu—the only one in the entire group. Asterin wondered how she did not take notice of the green-skinned Faen before who towered over everyone except the Wanderers. She walked up to Ada with a kind smile, holding out her hand for evaluation.

His eyes widened when he took her hand, and Asterin could certainly see why.

Dox’s energy nearly blinded her. It was a huge swath of white emanating from her entire body. The manipulation of all the elements at her fingertips—and it felt as though she knew very well how to use them. Of all the recruits, Dox stuck out as the most prepared and seemingly the most level-headed of them all, taking everything in stride with a calm and welcoming face.

It irked Asterin to no degree, and she couldn’t pinpoint why.

When Asterin stepped in front of Ada, she didn’t miss the way he and his brothers straightened.

“You—“ Amos clapped a hand over Dralais’ mouth.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, and how she would definitely be on their radar now, Asterin sent a sly wink to Dralais—her body relishing the memory of their brief fight.

“Name?” Ada questioned, his voice taut.

“Merina Calathon.”

He huffed and held out his hand. “We’ll find out soon enough,” he whispered, perhaps more for her benefit than anything else.

Asterin placed her hand in his, noticing the warmth lingering under his skin. Now that she was up close she could sense his energy. The violet rays cascading around him like darkened sunlight warmed her, though they also felt like they were draining her very being. Is that how his power worked up close? Maybe she should have paid attention during the less-interesting cadets’ turns.

But what will he see? She wondered, staring at him as his brow furrowed.

He stiffened, his grasp around her hand tightening.

I see your name, for one, Asterin. Ada’s voice echoed in her mind. She would have thought he was speaking if she wasn’t watching him.

Now it was Asterin’s turn to recoil slightly, but he pulled her back.

Make a scene and they’ll know. And I don’t think you want Meren finding out.

He was right and she hated it.

Now, why do I feel nothing within you?

Because I have no magick.

No… that’s not it. I would feel the absence. I would feel the remnant dregs. But for you, it is as though there is no trace amount of magick at your core.

Asterin didn’t know what to say. Especially since what she said was a lie. She did have magick, or something akin to it. She remember what happened with the Shadowfaen and that one officer. One thought and it was dead, one thought and he left.

You used the Voice on my brother, but that’s not the same as what you did to them… You can See the energy of the world, yet you were never an Oracle of some kind… Ada sounded confused. Your Divine Mark… could it be the reason?

That was what Asterin suspected, at least.

No… these are not the same powers as the other Marked ones. These are beyond the void itself.

Ada opened his eyes and loosened his grip. We will discuss this later.

“There’s nothing that overtly stands out for her, but she is capable. I will take her under my wing.”

That earned everyone’s attention, even the head Wanderer.

General Marley and Captain Rialis shared a concerned glance.

Because Ada had not yet claimed a single recruit through the entire assessment, making Asterin his only one.