“Is the candle extinguished too?” Professor Haliver asked suddenly.
I glanced at the everlasting wick and took a step back. “It is.”
What the fuck? Was I mistaken about the candle they were using?
Heavy silence followed, and I panicked thinking that maybe there was a chance I’d be kicked out of Weatherstone today. “Thankyou, Ms. Hallistar. I think we are finished with fire. Let’s move on to water.”
Breathing through my nose in quick rapid breaths, I nodded jerkily and exited the fire area.
For water, I was in another glass cage, this one sealed on all four sides and above my head.
“You must survive for ten minutes,” the male assessor told me. “If you run out of breath, you can use that button to drainthe water.”
He showed me the large red button that was impossible to miss.
As soon as they stepped back, the cage sealed and water poured in on me. Taking a deep breath, I was fully submerged in lessthan ten seconds. I hadn’t been in water like this since the day I’d almost drowned in the lake, and I’d been expecting someunease, but it was panic. Full-blown panic, triggering me back to those moments right before I almost passed out.
I reached for the button, needing to escape, but for some reason I couldn’t push it. I couldn’t witch out like that, not inthe middle of an assessment.Come on, Paisley.Closing my eyes, I let the sensation of water wash into my energy. Like fire, it had particles that I could feel againstmy skin, and breaking them down, I was able to move a fraction of the liquid away from my mouth.
Taking a tiny breath, I kept centering myself.
“Six minutes remaining.”
The update came through loud and clear even under water.
Pushing more of the water away from my face, my nose was now free, and I drew in more shallow breaths.
“Two minutes remaining.”
My relief was immense as I joined in with a mental countdown, chanting as loudly as my brain could handle, determined to makeit through.
Whoosh.The water drained away with a loud crash, and I stood there soaked for a beat, still unable to master the art of completelydrying myself.
“Excellent, Ms. Hallistar. Next we have earth.”
I got through all five elements, showing a solid general aptitude for all. Next was spells, and I had no trouble whippingup the five requested. Even better, all of them worked exactly as they should. Alchemy was last, and I felt no nerves now.I formed a strong talisman using liquid metals.
“Excellent work, Ms. Hallistar,” Professor Garrickson said as I stepped out at the end. “Your professors were right—I thinkwe have another spellcaster on our hands. We’ll inform Headmaster Gregor.”
He didn’t wait for my response, already excitedly discussing the fact that Weatherstone had three spellcaster students.
Exiting the room, it felt as if a ton of bricks had been lifted from my shoulders. I’d finished my assessment, and while Ihad no doubt I was far from the strongest student they’d seen, my energy was no longer completely locked away in my chest,and I knew I owed Logan a huge thanks.
A thanks I’d give first, and then I’d demand answers.
Chapter 38
“I’m so excited!” Belle shouted, shaking her ass around my dorm room. “We did it. We fucking passed freshman year, and nowwe’re going home.”
“I’ll miss you guys,” Sara said, pouting dramatically. “Can we try to organize a meetup somewhere during our break?”
“I’d love that,” I said as I finished packing away the last of my crystals, slipping the necklaces on over my head. I hadn’tworn them in weeks, and it felt right to have them on for graduation. “We’ll be back in the land of technology and phone receptiontoo, so text me every freaking day. I want to know what’s happening in your lives.”
“I’ll be getting a job,” Haley sighed with gusto. “I need to help with next year’s tuition. I just wish it wouldn’t interferewith reading time.”
“Get a job at a bookstore,” I suggested, closing my suitcase. I had my backpack for tomorrow’s change of clothing and toiletries.
Haley threw her arms around me. “That’s the best idea, Pais! There’s this glorious romance bookstore in the downtown areanear my house, and I’ve always wanted to work there. I all but live there when I’m not at school or studying. They know mewell.”
