I groaned. Everly joined me, though Brit snorted out a laugh.
Adam beamed at her before continuing his explanation. “The Architect has an entire branch of magic, focused on making raw power and technology from BT play nice. It might not be as exciting as fight or physical, but if you like puzzles or patterns, we have a spot for you.”
“How is it different from science?” Everly asked. “My family doesn’t make a distinction.”
Adam smiled again. “Excellent question. Science is the study of how the natural world fits together. It focuses on magical inventions, not non-magical, like technology.”
“Interesting so…” Everly continued.
I rubbed my frilly tunic again and glanced at the ring in the middle of the room. Every minute that passed brought me closer to Everly’s plan and taking control of my future. Despite being glued to my friend’s side, I reached back and laced my fingers with Cayden’s.
After technology and science, I learned the difference between fight and physical. Fight collected people interested in being enforcers, bodyguards, or spies.
Brit grinned, sticking her hip out at a very robust man with a sizeable beer belly. “Lay it on us, Joe.”
The man stuttered. “Ah, fight.” He put his hands up, balled into fists as if ready to take a punch. “It’s good.”
Brit’s eyes sparkled, and I almost choked on my pear cider.
Physical came next and was exactly what it sounded like: people who wanted to build or craft, like Brody’s metalwork. Speaking of Brody; for the third time, his olive-green hair appeared in my peripheral vision. Was he following me? Or circulating like everyone else? He wasn’t a trainee, but he could be with friends.
My nerves were making me paranoid.
By the time we arrived at the spiritual booth, the countdown to my part in tonight's activities was on. I danced with excitement. I was still nervous as hell, but the new me wasn’t sitting back and following rules. Right or wrong, real or not, I was doing this.
“My runes do everything,” Cayden said, speaking up for the first time tonight. “Why would I only heal when I can also create? One of our placements was on creativity, yet this system pushes compartmentalization.”
The man behind the booth’s jaw dropped. “I mean, it’s how we organize information. Not everyone can do everything. Doing a few things well is better than doing everything poorly?”
Cayden stepped forward. “Are you saying I do things poorly?”
The man put his hands up. “I didn’t say that… ah, but you did?”
Cayden’s eyes bugged, and he took another step forward. I lurched to his side and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the booth.
“Ok, I know why I’m on edge… but what was that all about?” I asked.
Cayden scowled at me. He looked back at the booth once before shaking his head. “My family assigns everyone a role, and that’s their job with little variation. As the most powerful of our line, I was encouraged to explore my magic and capabilities. However, most of my brothers were taught what they needed and only what they needed to complete their jobs. Until I came here, I never thought about their lack of knowledge.” Cayden swallowed. “And now that I see the limitations, this”—he gestured to the booths—“rubs me wrong.”
I reached out and squeezed him to my side. “I get it. But specializing is not limiting. Anyone can still walk into the library and learn more.” I held up my empty cider glass. “It’s like saying I’m going to be an expert on pear cider.” I licked my lips. “But still drink wine.” I grabbed his glass and took a sip. “Oh, and now that I’ve touched this, you can’t drink it anymore.”
Cayden humphed and took the glass out of my hand, placing his lips exactly where mine had been to drain it. My heart raced.
“What are you two doing?!” Everly burst between us. “It’s time!”
Butterflies, bats, and bumblebees filled my stomach all at once. I handed Cayden my empty cider glass and looked toward the center of the room. Four men, also dressed in simple but formal attire, stood in a line with a spot at the end just for me.
Chapter 20
Rowan
She’ssomethinguniqueanddeserves a future of her choosing.
I grasped onto my commander’s words as we joined the crowd of partying trainees. A few gave us confused looks before parting to let us pass. I still wore the same pants and the white short-sleeved tunic I’d thrown on the day before. They stuck to my swollen, sweat-streaked body, displaying every corded muscle. My commander’s blacks were disheveled from our fight, and a bruise crept up his neck.
I’d never gotten into a fight with someone above me in the chain of command. Ezra started it, but instead of rolling over and letting him beat the crap out of me, I’d fought back, and now he moved forward like it never happened.
I tried to follow his lead, but Ezra was my commander. Nothing about how I handled this situation was right. I should’ve told him the second I felt it. Instead, I’d left her bleeding and unconscious. I deserved every bruise he gave me. How big a piece of shit was I?
