Page 513 of Axis of Fire

I'll do everything I can...

...to make sure you never regret giving me the chance to live.

Anastasia Lang's POV

After Seris's soul had been sent on its final journey, the official induction ceremony into Istmond Academy began.

One by one, the students stepped onto the stage, where each of us was presented with a brooch bearing the academy's crest.

The Strongest Twelve had been placed upon a raised platform at the top of the ancient staircase—steps said to be the very first ever built in all of Istarus. It was the academy's way of honoring them before the incoming class.

I'd already received my brooch and was standing with the newly accepted students, waiting for the rest of our little group to finish.

Including Ria.

She was doing everything she possibly could to ignore Airis's gaze.

He hadn't looked away from her once.

It was oddly amusing to watch.

Every time she caught him staring, her cheeks puffed ever so slightly with annoyance, and her hands instinctively smoothed the skirt of her gorgeous gown.

"I wonder if we're allowed to keep these maps," I heard one of the first-years ask.

I'd never seen her before, which meant she hadn't been among this year's strongest candidates.

She was speaking to two other girls while holding her Selection map.

"They still haven't taken mine," another girl replied as she unfolded hers. "So I think we can. At least I really hope so."

I was about to turn my attention back to the stage, where another student was receiving their brooch...

...when I froze.

Her map looked different.

Different from mine.

Different from Taylor's.

Rosalie's.

Azalia's.

The other two girls unfolded theirs as well, comparing them.

Every single one was identical.

The mandatory checkpoints were all there.

No empty locations.

No false trials like the ones we'd been forced through.

And Point Z...

Point Z was on the opposite side of the temple, beside a small pavilion of repentance.