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The marker behind us fractures. Its words vanish. We reach the other side together. The arch flares with silver light. Four spaces wait. One for each bracelet. We press our wrists against them. 117. 118. 123. 64. The numbers rise above the arch. Then new words appear. FOUR STUDENTS. A pause. ONE QUALIFIED DECISION.
Rowan exhales. "Only one?"
"We made several," Nyra says.
"Apparently most were terrible."
Cassian looks at me. "Still counts."
The arch opens. Not onto another forest path. Onto darkness. Complete. Waiting. Our bracelets pulse together. The same calm voice speaks from all four. "You have learned how to find one another." The darkness beyond the gate shifts. "Now learn who you trust when you cannot see."
Rowan stares into it. "I would like to formally request the drowning."
No one laughs. Not because it isn't funny. Because something moves inside the dark. And this time it sounds real.
Chapter Seven
The darkness breathes. That is the first impossible thing I notice. Not wind. Not movement. Breathing. Slow enough that it could almost be my own, except it surrounds us instead of coming from within me.
The arch vanishes behind my back. There is no sound of stone closing. No footsteps. No rustling clothes. The four of us have crossed together, yet I cannot tell whether anyone remains beside me. I cannot even see my own hands.
Vampire sight has always pierced darkness. Not this one. This darkness is something else. I raise one hand before my face. Nothing. A pulse of cold spreads through the bracelet around my wrist. Then the familiar voice returns. Calm. Emotionless. Closer than thought. "Only one voice may guide." Silence follows. No explanation. No further instruction. Only one voice. Somewhere to my left,
Rowan exhales dramatically. "You've got to be kidding me."
The bracelet burns. A sharp sting. Rowan curses. Then falls silent. Interesting. The Trial has already corrected her.
"Can anyone hear me?" Nyra asks quietly.
No pain follows. Her voice echoes strangely, as though the darkness chooses how far each word travels.
"I can." I answer. The bracelet remains cool.
Cassian speaks next. "So can I."
A pause. "Same," Rowan mutters, much more cautiously this time.
For one brief moment, relief washes through me. We are still together. Invisible. Blind. But together.
"What do you think it means?" Rowan asks.
Before anyone can answer, four bracelets pulse at once. The same voice speaks again. "Choose."
Then nothing. No list. No options. Only one word. Choose. I almost laugh. Of course. The Academy would never waste an opportunity to make uncertainty educational.
Rowan sighs loudly. "I vote Eirea."
"No, Nyra has to do it." I answer immediately.
Silence. Not because they disagree. Because I answered too quickly.
"Eirea—" Nyra begins.
"I said no."
"Why?"
Because my first instinct is always to lead. Because Professor Neris already exposed that instinct yesterday. Because every challenge so far has punished certainty more than hesitation.
