“Yes.”
“And you are aware that said sigil will prevent you from discussing any matters that are considered selective or exclusive knowledge of Sophrosyne and the Studium?”
“Yes.”
The Trial itself was known to be one such insight that was exclusive knowledge of the gods and Conduits alone. As such, none of us Resonants truly knew what to expect here. We were all going in blind.
“And do you consent to this?”
“Yes.”
“Last but not least, please specify your territory of origin.”
“Samhaven. The Brindlewoods,” I answered.
“Ah, you certainly are a long way from home now, aren’t you? Tell me, does Amaretta Sinclair still live around those parts?”
I blinked in surprise. “You know Amaretta?”
“Indeed! I take it you’re familiar as well…?”
“Yes, actually. She’s my… Well, she raised me. Amaretta is my mentor. Practically the reason I’m here today,” I explained.
“Oh, how absolutely marvelous!”
The old man clapped his wrinkled hands together with an emphatic nod.
“What a small world we live in, Miss Asher. The next time you see her, you must tell her that Ambrose Wallace sends his warmest regards. We studied together when we were your age, you know. I took over her position when she retired.”
So he was a cleric, then. Yeah, that checked out. It would explain why he reminded me so much of my mentor, at least.
High Scholar Wallace nodded again with even more enthusiasm before peering at me from behind his spectacles, which had fallen quite low on his nose now due to said nodding.
“Well then. A Light Resonant from the Brindlewoods, raised by none other than the illustrious Scholar Sinclair. I expect great things to come from you, young one. Great things! But oh dear, Ido digress. Let me explain how we will proceed with your trial,” he said, offering a slight, apologetic wince for having so clearly strayed off-script.
Honestly, I had been grateful for the distraction, but it was time to focus. I had to do this. I had to get into the Arcane Studium. I was thousands of miles from home, having traveled for over six weeks on that gods-forsaken ship, just for the chance…
“In a few minutes, you will enter the Hall of the Seeing by passing through these doors behind me, and you will speak with the Nineteen. I trust that Scholar Sinclair provided you with some insight on the Aetherborne?”
I nodded. Indeed, I knew a great deal about the last nineteen gods residing in our realm, though Amaretta had informed me that I would learn much, much more once I began my studies. There were things even she could not disclose. Perhaps due to the arcane brand.
What Ididknow was that those same nineteen Aetherborne—the gods, as some mortals called them, or Elders, as they called themselves—were both the rulers and the benefactors of this city-state.
While they were neither omnipotent nor omnipresent in the way that some of the more religious zealots of this realm believed the Aetherborne to be, there was a reason we called them gods.
Beyond being the elder species and the first known intelligent life form on Aemos, they were exceptionally powerful beings who had held great influence over the people of Atlas, over humankind as a whole, and for all of history as we knew it.
And they held my fate in their hands today.
“Before you enter, you will select one of these three vials before you and drink the elixir within. While I cannot specify what any of the elixirs do, I can say that there is no wrongselection. They are all perfectly safe for human consumption, and you will be carefully monitored throughout your trial to ensure that remains the case. Your safety and well-being are of the utmost importance to us,” Scholar Wallace explained calmly.
“Alright,” I said slowly, with vague apprehension. I hadn’t really expected to imbibe any strange liquids today.
“What happens after that is entirely up to the Elders, so I am afraid I cannot offer much guidance there. The trial is tailored specifically to the individual, you see.”
Ah. So they make it personal when they take your measure. No pressure, then.
I grimaced.