Dad continued, “Apex Penitentiary lies beneath this academy. It was built during the war, reinforced, expanded, and now used to house only the worst we have ever encountered. The criminals that are beyond rehabilitation but ones for whom death would be too light.”
A few fourth-years whimpered, but Dad didn’t spare them a glance.
“Your final trial is to infiltrate that prison.”
My heart rate spiked.
“The entrance awaits.” He pointed again at the pit, the teeth glinting faintly in the morning sun. “You will dive into that maw slowly and with no fear. It will not eat you if you control your magical essence and emotions, that is.”
A murmur of dread swept through the group.
I resisted the urge to grab my mates’ hands. I wasn’t worried about myself, and I knew they were skilled enough for this. But I felt their worry for me along the bond the same I felt for them.
Dad raised his voice. “Below the water lies a series of tunnels. Twisting, shifting, and built as a death puzzle to deter intruders. This prison was built with the help of the fae. Keep that in mind. Many of you believed the penitentiary’s entrance lies within Apex Nexus. It does not and never has. This is a trial that every single agent should be capable of completing. It tests discretion, stealth, emotional control, and the ability to navigate threats without confrontation. You may use any of your abilities or devices.”
“To pass, you must infiltrate Apex Penitentiary and reach the Visitor’s Book without dying. You must not be seen. Not by guards. Not by inmates. Not by the prison itself. If you are seen, you will be killed.”
A chill gripped the crowd.
Someone swallowed audibly.
Dad’s expression darkened. “The magic below can sense intent to a greater length than the academy. The book sits in the heart of the prison, un-warded. Because no one should ever reach it. Your task is simple: write your House name. Nothing more.”
A few students shook visibly.
My dad’s voice dropped to a near growl. “And if you do not come back…”
He didn’t finish the sentence; instead, he clasped his hands behind his back. “There are stages. Listen carefully. Stage one is the door. It appears only when you’ve swum low enough. It only opens when you’ve agreed to erase someone from your memory. If you do not give it a memory of someone, you will not pass further. The maw will shut on you.”
Someone gasped.
“Stage two is when you enter the tunnels from the door. Follow sound,notsight. But some sounds lie, so be mindful.”
A girl whimpered.
“Stage three will be the silent hall. Do not speak. Even thinking too loudly may trigger the wards, so be aware.”
Excitement thrummed through me.
“Stage four sometimes merges with stage three. Other times, you will not experience it at all. If you do, your footsteps become echoes of your memories. Each echo will become louder. Ignore them and do not stop, otherwise you will fail.”
A knot tightened in my lower abdomen. I didn’t want to hear my memories repeating through a prison hall.
“Stage five will be a spectral shadow that is not real. They will ask your name. Do not answer and continue walking.”
The entire class stiffened.
“The last stage is signing the visitor’s book. Do not touch the stand or anything else. Write your House name, then leave through the door beside the book. You will come up through the bottom of the pit. Swim back up, and you pass.”
The words echoed, and Dad looked over all of us. We started as eighty students, but we had dropped to thirty-four who’d survived four brutal years, who’d trained for this, who’d nearly been killed last night…
“This trial is not meant to test strength or endurance. It tests who you are when no one sees you.” His gaze moved to me again, slower this time, lingering like a hand on my shoulder.
“Year-four of Apex Elite Academy,” he said, stepping aside. “Begin. One at a time. Volunteers to go first?”
“I will,” I said, stepping forward.
Dad frowned. “Very well.”
