Chapter 20 · A passing grade

She swallowed it.

"A passing grade," she said.

Selene's hand dropped.

"Liar," she murmured.

Tess stepped into the frame. "You are one to talk."

The crystal doors locked.

The instructor began the final sequence. "Native ability test. Produce one controlled effect. No borrowed patterns. No aid. Failure results in immediate removal from the academy."

"Define controlled," Tess said.

"The effect must remain within the marked boundary."

"And if it does not?"

"You will be restrained."

"You really need to stop making restraint sound like a school policy."

"Begin."

Tess placed both hands in front of her.

No spell appeared.

The hall waited.

A student whispered, "There it is. She is empty."

Tess looked at him. "If you are going to narrate my failure, at least make it interesting."

The instructor's rod tapped the platform. "Focus."

"I am focused."

"Then cast."

"I am considering my options."

"You have none."

Tess smiled. "That is where you are wrong."

She reached for the system.

The interface hovered behind her eyes, pale and unstable. The copy function waited below the empty stats.