I gave a frustrated huff. I should have known he would apply a loophole.
Septimus cleared the trail, stepping onto a small landing at the base of another towering mountain. He held his hand out once more, and I let him pull me up before he released his grip and slowly swiveled me around to take in the view.
I hadn’t realized how high up the slope had stretched. Looking down, I could see the top of Valhan House and, beyond that, the city of Lomask. Dawn had barely broken, and pale light gilded the treetops and slated roofs of townhouses in the distance.
Septimus pointed a ringed finger to the left, where a tall building jutted out against the skyline. “That’s Pyxis. And over there–” His hand swept right to where a thick forest sprouted.“Those are the Forests of Dalhur. Beyond those lies Dalhur, the city of magic.”
I breathed in deeply, taking it in. “I can see why this is your favorite place. Why did you bringmehere?”
Septimus shrugged. “I thought you might feel more comfortable practicing lower magic up here than down there. It’s less noisy.”
That was weirdly considerate of him.
“You’ve been gifted a kernel of power through the sacred oath. Now, mortals can’t practice upper magic – your bodies can’t handle the current – but some have been known to perform lower magic, on occasion. I heard you already channeled during the first challenge?”
I nodded.
“So, this should be easy for you, then.”
“It was… involuntary. I wasn’t trying to cast magic.”
“In times of stress, your body is capable of great feats,” Septimus said. “I’m going to teach you how to draw on the power, the grain of magic gifted through the link, while your mind is in a quiet state. Often, we find that being emotional can lead to… volatile results. So, I’m going to ask you to close your eyes and focus on your breathing.”
I did as he asked, my eyes shutting out the magnificent view in front of me. I breathed in, then out. But my mind was restless and my thoughts wandered, breaking off into smaller segments.
“Pull it back,” Septimus guided. “You’re not focusing. Try to find something to ground yourself in. Like the sounds of the birds. Or the feel of your lungs expanding and contracting.”
I tried again, forcing my mind to quiet. To become as still as the snow on the peaks. It was difficult though, and each time I felt my mind inching toward calm, my thoughts intruded. There was simply too much to worry about. The second challenge was in a few days, I didn’t have time to be practicing my breathing.
“Stop tapping your foot.” Septimus sighed. “You’re not grounding yourself properly. You need a still mind for this to work.”
I loosened a breath, rolling my shoulders to expel the tension sitting in my muscles. Calming thoughts. What were calmingthoughts? There was… one, I supposed. The memory flickered inside my head like a forgotten song. It was thirteen birthdays ago, when Umma had taught me how to bake a cake. She had handed me a leveler, the ingredients and a recipe card, and told me to follow the instructions. She had left the kitchen then, promising to return in exactly half an hour to see how I was managing.
It was the calmest I had ever felt, slowly measuring out the flour and the sugar, carefully whipping the batter and spooning it into the baking tray. Everything had a precise order, an exact measurement and place to go. And when it was done baking, Umma had proclaimed that it was the tastiest cake she had ever eaten.
A gentle wind brushed the strands of hair which had come undone near the base of my neck, and I relished in its cool kiss on my cheek. My breaths came deep and even. And somewhere, flickering inside my chest, something stirred.
“Follow the thread.” Septimus’ voice was soft and distant.
I tugged on the link and with each pull, a spool unraveled.
Hello, vicious, a voice cooed at the back of my mind, like silk. I startled, not expecting it. It was different to Kilian’s voice, far darker, but not foreign. I was sure I had heard it before.Have you come to greet me?
My hand reached toward it, my fingers curling around nothingness.
“Let it come to you,” Septimus urged.
The magic whirled and undulated, just beyond my reach.How do you wish to wield me, wicked one?
I recoiled, pulling my hand back. It rumbled inside me.
Have I offended you?it called, its voice soft as a slithering snake.Being wicked is not so bad. Indeed, it is far better than beingweak.
My eyes snapped open. Septimus stood in front of me, his gaze on my upturned palm. Floating a few inches above my fingertips swirled a ball of darkness, no larger than a pomegranate seed.
It was fascinating, and I couldn’t help staring at it in disbelief. The tiny orb felt warm above my hand, like an extension of my body. Its edges blurred, warping in different directions, whispering to me.
Use me.
