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He examines the capsules with a flicker of surprise but quickly masks it. Florentius, ever pristine, scrutinises the basket with a scowl.

Akilah bristles beside me, but I hold her back. “May I distribute these?”

The older vitalian grunts, granting me permission.

I walk the line of patients, met with suspicion and avoidance. When I reach a middle-aged woman wracked with pain, I offer a dark blue capsule. She shakes her head, her husband’s shoulders sagging in despair.

“These were inspected. They’re safe,” I insist, but they still refuse, until—

The father of the little girl I treated lurches to his feet, his daughter awake in his arms. His eyes are shining with gratitude. He limps forward. “I’ll take one.”

He thanks me again as I measure his pulse, and with a relieved smile, I hand him a mid-strength capsule. The spell breaks open between his teeth, flooding through him with a glowing blue aura. The light dims; he flexes his bad leg and jostles his daughter onto his hip. Laughter crinkles his face. His daughter presses little kisses on his shoulder.

For three long beats, no one speaks, and then—

A ragged woman with a deep gash on her forearm steps forward, her eyes hooking on the capsules. She stretches out her blood-stained hand.

Whispers. Another two raised hands. Then another three.

The crowd’s shift in attitude is swift and unmistakable; I should feel relieved, but doubt gnaws. They’re desperate. They’ll take anything for now. If they had more choice, would they trust my spells?

Florentius’s scornful expression cuts over the patients’ cries of relief.

I keep my chin up, but there’s a niggling voice in my head that echoes the look on his face. “Areyouan official vitalian?”

“I will be, after the examinations.”

“Aren’t they happening now?”

“They’ve been postponed. All masters and scholars have been sent to the worst hit regions.”

A giddy lurch fills my chest, slicing through my uncertainty. There’s still a chance?

River’s voice echoes in my head.Do you think I was good enough to be reborn linea? Do you think I’ll be able to learn in the schools? Become a scholar? Fill a soldad with stamps?

His biggest wish is mine. To learn. To become a great healer.

Why do we have to wait to be reborn linea?

“Youcan’tenter,” Florentius scoffs.

I stare, lips curving in a determined smile.As Calix Solin, I could.

“Evenif,” he continues, “Your magic will be pitiful against pure linea. It’ll never be enough.”

I feel his words for a long time before I unclench my fist and shakily dust off my cloak. Maybe he’s right. Maybe one day my magicwon’tbe enough. But today... today, I was enough.

As for tomorrow? I’ll do my best.

* * *

Much later, shadows stretch across the courtyard, the scent of autumn dew clinging to the crisp air. Just as I near the corner, a strong arm pulls me back. I yelp, heart pounding.

“Shh,” Nicostratus murmurs, loosening his grip but not letting go. “It’s me.”

I swivel around, hands against his chest, my fingers twitching as I feel the warmth of him. He’s here. He’s real. “You’ve been watching me,” I murmur, my voice catching. “When did you arrive? Why?”

His gaze, sharp yet unreadable, searches my face. “The earthshake... I was worried. I had to make sure.”