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"What a shame it will be, indeed, if you die in the depths of the Void."

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The half-dead treescreaked in the wind, their brittle branches casting strange shadows in the firelight. We sat in a small clearing just beyond the mountain's entrance, where twisted roots broke through gray earth.

"You both understand this little excursion isn't something we can advertise to the other candidates," Effie said, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her uniform. "We're not exactly supposed to show favoritism during trials."

Rethlyn had all but dragged us out here, explaining that he had already set up a small celebration. A fire pit ringed with stones, weathered logs arranged in a circle, and promises of his rice wine—which he swore would “put hair on our chests.”

"Or fraternize with potential recruits at all," Vexa added, pulling Effie closer against her side. "Though after that performance today, I'd say some celebration is warranted."

"Rules like that seem pretty stupid considering everything that's happening," Rethlyn said, producing a clay bottle from his leather bag. "Besides, I've been brewing this for months. Seems like the perfect occasion to finally try it."

"The last time you said that three Sentinels ended up in the medical wing." Vexa eyed the bottle suspiciously. "Didn't one of them temporarily lose their eyesight?"

"That was a different batch," Rethlyn said dismissively. "And they could still see shadows."

"Oh, well in that case," Effie rolled her eyes, "totally safe."

"I've perfected the recipe," Rethlyn insisted, already uncorking the bottle. A smell like burnt metal and overripe fruit filled the air. "Mostly perfected it."

"If I die from this," Vexa reached for the bottle anyway, "I'm coming back to haunt you."

"That's fair." Rethlyn grinned. "Though technically, you'd have to get in line behind the others."

I shifted on the log I shared with Lael, still unsure how to act in such a casual setting with people I'd considered enemies mere weeks ago. But Lael's presence helped ground me—his excitement about the day's events provided a welcome buffer.

"I still can't believe how you controlled that wolf," Vexa said to Lael. "Even Urkin looked impressed, and that's practically impossible."

"Not as impressive as making six Sentinels turn on each other." Lael grinned, nudging my arm. "I thought General Taliora was going to fall out of her chair."

The memory sent a thrill through me. Six minds—more than I'd ever imagined. I could still feel the echo of their consciousness against mine, the way they'd yielded to my will. The look on Urkin's face had been particularly satisfying. That scowl had cracked into something closer to shock when his Sentinels turned their weapons on each other. Even now, hours later, the memory of his barely contained outrage brought a smile to my lips. I only hoped it made a difference.

"Do you think it was enough?" I asked, voicing the worry thathad been gnawing at me since the demonstration. "To make up for yesterday's combat trial?"

"Based on Karis' face alone?" Vexa leaned forward, firelight dancing across her piercings. "I'd say you more than made up for it."

"The only one who looked like he'd swallowed something sour was Urkin," Effie added, accepting the clay bottle from Vexa. "But he always looks like that, so I wouldn't worry."

Vexa turned toward the quietest member of our group. "What do you think, Aether? You've been awfully silent about the whole thing."

"She did well," he said simply, his voice carrying that familiar weight that made even simple praise feel significant.

I couldn't help but study him across the flames. It was fascinating how different he seemed here—calm, collected, almost peaceful—compared to the coiled intensity he carried when we were alone.

"What about the Void?" Lael asked suddenly, his voice pitched with curiosity. "I mean, if we make it through the trials, that's next."

The casual atmosphere shifted, something heavier settling over our group. Effie was the first to break the silence.

"I remember it being... intense," she said, “but the actual details are... fuzzy."

Rethlyn nodded, absently touching his void marks. "Same here. I know I went in, and I know I crawled out, but everything between is just..."

"Like trying to remember a nightmare," Vexa interrupted, her hand finding Effie's. "You know it happened, but the specifics slip away."

An awkward silence fell as everyone's eyes shifted to Aether. He didn't flinch under their gazes, just continued staring into the fire, the embers reflecting in his golden eyes.

"What was it like for you?" Lael asked Aether directly, either too naive or too brave to read the tension. "In the Void?"