I see Holly stand and wave at me from her seat, with our little troop from lunch sitting beside her.
As I make my way through the crowded rows toward my new friends, I’m surprised to notice we aren’t the only friend group that comprises multiple factions.
“Saved you a spot, roomie,” she says, winking at me and motioning to a spot between her and Brix.
She couldn’t be more obvious if she tried. I’m sure it would make her and Sly’s date nights a little easier if their roommates were also together, but a relationship is the last thing I need right now.
“I’m surprised,” I say, looking around. “I figured everyone would keep to their own factions, but it looks like a melting pot.”
“Well, curiosity beats out fear,” Holly responds, getting comfortable next to me.
“That thing is creepy.” Sly says next to Holly, pointing at the bond arch.
“It’s not creepy; it’s magnificent.” Cleo responds with hearts in her eyes as she stares at thearch.
“The bond arch is a staple of Vail and one of the few resources that is shared among all territories, owned by no one. It makes its way through the country every year, guarded and transported by a fierce guard of powerful mages. Every major city of Vail holds a bonding ceremony yearly. This arch has seen the entire continent hundreds of times over.”
“It’s a Sloth relic. It’s dangerous.” Sly responds.
The bond arch is one of the few magical sloth artifacts that are not banned and do not require forbidden magic to operate. A team from Sloth, the only faction capable of wielding and using magical artifacts and relics, travels with the arch, guarding it.
I push my bag under my chair, turning back to Holly. “How was your first class?”
“Delicious,”she replies.
“Delicious? History of Factions was delicious? I gathered from breakfast that Cleo was our group nerd.” I respond in jest.
“Hey!” Cleo yells from down the row, throwing a pencil at my face.
“I meant that with all due respect, Cleo. You’re a badass hacker. Please don’t kill me in my sleep.” I threw up my hands in surrender with a grin.
Holly punches me in the arm playfully.
“No! It was delicious, because there’s a new professor this year, and my eyes have never eaten anything better. Professor Gabriel can teach me all his ways,” she says salaciously.
I look at Sly on her other side, wondering if he was meant to hear that.
“Oh, Sly was drooling over him too.” She says, laughing, reading my face.
People quiet down, and I see Dean Bellows step up on stage. She’s wearing another skirt suit, hair tied back, highlighting her rigid bone structure. She is a fierce-looking woman. No wonder she commands the room.
“Welcome, students, to another year at SinVail Academy. It is with great pride and expectation that I stand before you today. As you know, SinVail has long been a base of knowledge, discipline, and power. You were chosen not merely for your abilities but for your potential to shape the future of our society.
"The year ahead will be demanding. It will test your limits, push your boundaries, and challenge your very understanding of what you are capable of. Remember that you are part of a legacy that stretches back through the ages. You are the custodians of our future, the architects of our destiny.
"To the freshman class, I suggest you heed my warning. You will face challenges, and you will encounter obstacles, but know this: every trial is an opportunity for growth. Every failure is a step toward mastery.
"In this auditorium, beneath these vaulted ceilings and before this ancient arch, I see not just students, but the future leaders of our world.”
The doors and windows shut and lock. The hum of magical energy gets louder, echoing off the walls.
I rub my chest. It’s been days of non-stop anxiety. I hope this goes fast so I can get some more sleep.
"Many of you are already familiar with the bonding ceremony. We will begin with our most senior attendees, including faculty and staff, and proceed through the grade levels to end with the freshmen. No one may leave until the ceremony concludes.
"If your bond mate is present at the academy, you will feel the tether connect when they walkthrough the arch. There will be no mistaking it. After your turn, you will return to your seat.
"Remember, your bond's tether will connect for you when your other half walks through the arch, but it won't connect for them until you yourself walk through, tethering them back. If you are one of the lucky few who tether a bond, this is only the start of your journey. You get to choose when to complete the sacred bond. Some students wait until they have completed all four years at the academy."
