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It was minutes before she began again. “This academy wasfounded to bolster the next generation of witches, so ask yourself today, what will you bring forth to this new world? Just remember, the possibilities are as unique and infinite as our stars.”
The Celestial Supreme scanned the auditorium before raising both arms up. “Everyone, please rise.” Her opalescent magic swirled toward the ceiling, forming thick clouds overhead. They grew and grew, filling the entire auditorium. Without help, it was a release of magic only a Supreme could muster.
“A divine future to all,” she shouted before dropping her arms, bangles clanking along the way.
The room went wild as her clouds exploded into a mist of shimmering stars.
Soon after, each student called to cross the stage and accept their Scroll of Achievement. There were cheers after each name, likely her classmates’ families, proud enough to hoot like owls.
Thessa’s chest hollowed as self-pity crept in. She tried to remind herself there were other orphans here today, although that trick never worked. She shifted her weight side to side until her name was called through the enchanted amplifier.
“Ms. Thessa Skiafer.”
Like her final dagger, she would not falter.Not here, anyways. Breathing in for courage, she stepped on stage and made her way toward the podium. From the corner of her eye, a faculty member rose from their seat. Her self-pity molded to joy when a burly man, without his filthy work apron on, stood tall and whistled with two fingers.
The moment she made eye contact with Professor Shovak, tears welled in her eyes.
Arriving at center stage, she met the gracious hands ofChancellor Dulameer and accepted her Scroll of Achievement.
Once all the students made it through, festivities continued in the courtyard. The pomp and circumstance would go on for hours, but she had a carriage to catch.
4
LECTURE NOTES FROM IMMORTAL GENETICS:
The purest of bloodlines are rare, that is part of what makes our Supremes, supreme. Since marriage has never been restricted between the three bloodlines, parental designation is no longer a reliable method of power prediction.
Thessa sent a silent prayer to the goddess as she sprinted toward the gates of the Central Divinity. At least the gravel beneath her clogs provided enough traction in the pouring rain.
“Everything alright?”
She halted to answer, knowing better than to dismiss an Elemental guard. “I’m trying to make it to the work-and-board carriages.”
Their scarlet uniform remained pristine and dry. It was typical for Elemental soldiers to use their air-magic for protection from rain or snow, creating a sphere aroundthemselves. Meanwhile, she was drenched. Tucking her duffle bag beneath her cloak had only helped one thing: her duffle bag.
They dismissed her. “Better hurry then.”
As I was trying to do.
She nodded and pressed onward.
Other than fish markets, the gravel processing factories took up most of the capital. Sand from the coast and gravel from the riverbank were mixed and melted here. The final product made up the foundation of houses and roads. It was sold locally or shipped, while the profits funded resource distribution across Andera. The same resources she’d depended on—until now.
There was one more corner to turn.
“Do you need help?” Another soldier cut off her pursuit, their arm outstretched across her chest.
Had she not been stopped four times already, she’d be there. Thessa grumbled, “I’m trying to make it to the carriages.”
They dismissed her.
Gravenport had not always been so rigid. She learned fear had washed over the capital a century ago, after the UnResting—when demons found their world. The battle for domination that followed spared no side of deaths. The fear of future infiltrations had set in like a plague, evolving the capital into the unyielding regime of fire-spewing witches it was today.
Elementals in Andera had to complete a mandatory ten-year training program in the capital. While that may feel like a snippet of time to an immortal, Thessa craved freedom from the capital she was born into. Whatever witch she may be, she wished not to be an Elemental. She’d not leave Gravenport, to be shuffled right back.
After bending the final corner, the bells on the clock tower chimed.
Noon.