“I don’t mind Imparting.” Viri shrugged. “It has to happen sometime.” She glanced questioningly at her mom and dad. “I heard you talking about me maybe burning out early—I thought this was what you wanted?”
Her parents looked startled to learn about her eavesdropping—almost nervous, really—but it wasn’t like they’d said anything interesting. Most ofit hadn’t even made sense, like how she was “special,” and how someone had warned them about a “cost” and told them never to let her Impart—which was ridiculous, because of course she had to Impart. Not just because of the laws, but because if she didn’t, she would burn out. Her parents wouldn’t have suggested she yield her magic four years early if they weren’t worried about her. But Viri was happy enough to get rid of her ellixen today, since she knew Braedan was sad about it, and having her do it at the same time would make it easier on him.
“We think it’s for the best, darling,” Jorth confirmed, smiling at her, though it was tinged with unease. “We just want you to be as safe as possible.”
Viri wasn’t sure if he meant from burnout or from reapers, but either way, after today, neither would be a problem for her anymore. She wished Reeve was Imparting as well, but he’d stubbornly said this should be a family moment, claiming he didn’t mind waiting for his own ceremony.
“Are we doing this or what?” Braedan asked, looking slightly green as he glanced at the obelisk again.
“Whenever you’re ready,” Amity said, laying her hand on his shoulder and sending him an encouraging look. “You remember what to do?”
Braedan nodded. “I just have to touch the stone and—andwillmy ellixen into it, like an offering, and it’ll automatically draw it out of me.” His face was hesitant but also curious as he added, “Erlis Milton told me siphoning works the same way, just in reverse. That instead of willing the magic out of you, you will someone else’s magicintoyou. Is that true?”
Viri looked at her brother in surprise, as did Reeve, but both Amity and Jorth frowned.
“Young Erlis shouldn’t be talking about things he doesn’t understand,” Jorth said tightly. “I’ll be having a word with his father.”
“Is he right, though?” Braedan asked, undeterred. “Is it really that easy to siphon magic?”
“There’s nothing easy about killing someone for your own gain,” Amitysaid reprovingly. “The act itself might require little effort, but the scars it leaves behind are eternal. To deliberately steal ellixen—to steallife—from another person changes who you are on a fundamental level. So no, it’s not like yielding your magic to the obelisks. That’s a gift, freely given, used to strengthen the wards and protect our community. Siphoning is selfish and hateful and brings nothing but death.” With apparent effort, she smoothed her features. “But today’s not for such unpleasant talk. It’s a day of celebration. So let’s do this, and then we’ll all go out for a nice lunch at the Juniper Grill. Sound good?”
Viri nodded eagerly, her stomach rumbling at the thought of visiting her favorite restaurant in the Entertainment Guild. Reeve nodded with her, as did Braedan, though his came slower, his mind still distracted by whatever Erlis had told him. Viri nearly kicked him so he would hurry up, but Braedan managed to shake himself out of his own reverie.
“All right, I’m ready,” he said, still looking queasy at what he was aboutto do.
“You’ve got this, son,” Jorth said, smiling proudly.
“We’ll be right here, cheering you on,” Amity added, wrapping him in a tight hug and kissing his cheek before stepping away again.
Braedan’s throat bobbed, but then a sigh left him and he turned and strode stiffly across the grass, halting in front of the obelisk. He glanced back just once, his expression unsure, but Amity and Jorth sent him reassuring looks—while Viri and Reeve pulled faces, causing his lips to quirk upward and his tension to ease. With a visible exhale, he placed his hand against the obsidian stone and closed his eyes, concentrating hard.
Viri’s palms turned sweaty as she watched her brother, but only a few seconds passed before his body relaxed and his eyes reopened, a relieved smile curling his mouth as he lowered his hand and walked back to them.
“That’s it?” Viri exclaimed, squinting at him. “Are you sure you did it right?”
Jorth chuckled. “That’s it, darling. It’s not meant to be difficult. It’s agift, remember? Imagine it like the obelisks are grateful to receive your offering and take it as effortlessly as possible.”
“Did it feel strange?” Viri pressed her brother. “Did it hurt?”
“Yes to the first, no to the second,” Braedan said, rolling his shoulders and flexing his fingers, as if feeling for something that was no longer there. “No pain, just a kind of…warm tingle?”
Viri kept squinting at her brother, trying to see if he was lying. He’d always been protective of her—too protective, sometimes—so if it reallyhadhurt, then he would have already started arguing with their parents to let her wait another few years. His open expression said he was telling the truth, and Viri uttered a quietphewsound, not realizing how worried she’d been.
“My turn!” she cried. “Then we can eat!”
“I gave you half my vanilla bun on the walk over,” Reeve said, shaking his head with amusement. “How can you still be hungry?”
“Because you only gave mehalf.”
His lips twitched, but before Viri could see it turn into a full grin, she spun on her heel and began skipping toward the obelisk.
“Viri, dearest, wait.”
Amity’s anxious voice made Viri turn back to find both her mom and her dad looking oddly apprehensive, their cheeks pale, their eyes brimming with fear.
Viri peered around frantically, wondering if maybe their hunter’s marks had begun to burn, indicating a reaper was nearby, but there was no one in sight except the five of them. No danger at all.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
