Chapter 22
Talisa
Two weeks later
“Do you think Chatelaine Lirelle’s going to announce any changes to the tournament’s rules or format?” a commoner student asked from the row behind me.
Her companion scoffed loudly. “Who cares about that? It’s not like they’re going to make it easier for any of us regular students to win.”
The academy’s amphitheater was a giant oval of pale stone with tiered rows of gleaming white benches separated by flights of shallow marble stairs leading up from the sand-covered arena floor to the curving outer walls.
Each of the vertical sections were divided by social class, with the noble students seated in the lower rows with the best views of the arena’s floor, and the commoners assigned to the upper sections where it was harder to see or hear what was happening far below.
In the center of the oval, sand-covered arena floor, a wide raised dais stood waiting.
After two weeks of winter break, the return to classes last week had been marked by an anticipatory tension. Our mage-instructors had been simultaneously distracted and even more demanding than usual.
Then came the hotly anticipated summons for the entire student body to assemble in the academy’s amphitheater.
I’d barely settled into my seat between Mira and Juno when Chatelaine Lirelle walked out onto the dais, followed by her six assistant chatelaines and all the mage-instructors.
Among the sea of dark-blue robes, I spotted Julissa Corvaine and felt a renewed stab of anger at the unfairness of the punishment she’d assigned for something that hadn’t even been my fault.
I turned to look at Elio, who was sitting on Mira’s other side. He was leaning forward, engaged in animated conversation with Tomas, another first-year, who was seated one row below us.
Elio caught me looking and gave me a quick grin and wink before turning back to his friend. I felt a now-familiar rush of pleasure, followed by confusion.
We’d spent nearly every waking hour together during the winter solstice break… but always in the company of my sisters or the other Circle of the Open Hand members who’d remained on campus over the break.
He always paid close attention to me and frequently acted flirtatious, which gave me hope that my feelings for him might be returned…
but he also hadn’t tried to court me or even to spend time with me alone.
It was deeply confusing, and I couldn’t help wondering whether I was misinterpreting his behavior.
Maybe people in Baleares act like that when they just want to be friends?
It was frustrating. But I didn’t dare make the first move to court him, because it would be deeply embarrassing if it turned out Elio was just being friendly. And it might even damage our friendship.
“Students of the Imperial Academy,” Chatelaine Lirelle began, her voice magically amplified. “I trust your winter break provided adequate opportunity for reflection and study.”
The loud buzz of conversation filling the stands died away. The last of the students entering the amphitheater scrambled into their seats.
“I’ve called you here today to tell you that the Aurelian Trials have been scheduled for next month.”
A wave of applause, punctuated by a few whistles, swept through the assembled student body.
“The Trials will be held beginning on the seventh day of Second Month,” she continued, “For those of you who are new to our institution and unfamiliar with the Trials, they are a tradition as old as the Academy itself, established by Dominus Victor Augustus the First of blessed memory to identify and reward the most promising mage-students in each generation.”
Excitement, mingled with nerves, churned through me.
Ever since Dante had mentioned the generous cash prizes for winning the Trials, I knew competing was my only hope to avoid expulsion.
But did I really stand a chance competing against the upper-division students?
Chatelaine Lirelle was still speaking. I struggled to focus on her words.
“As in previous years, teams of two will compete in the Trials. Each team must comprise students from the same year of study. You may select your own partner. Students who wish to compete but have not selected a partner by the last day of registration will be assigned one by the academy.”
A collective groan rose from the older students, drawing smiles from some of the assembled mage-instructors standing behind Lirelle on the dais.
“The tournament follows a single-elimination structure. Once defeated, a team is eliminated from further competition. As always, all years will compete within the same bracket. A first-year team may therefore find itself facing a fifth- or sixth-year student team… should it advance past the first round.”
That announcement drew a mixture of laughter and nervous murmurs. Behind me, the same voice from before commented, “As if any first-years ever make it past Round One!”
Lirelle continued, “The opening round is a series of timed magical challenges designed to test your fundamental aptitude, elemental knowledge, and problem-solving ability. Teams that successfully complete Round One will advance to subsequent rounds, where surviving competitors will face increasingly complex multi-element challenges. The final rounds of the tournament will feature direct competition between teams within the arena.”
A ripple of excitement swept through the amphitheater.
“As in previous years, prizes will be awarded at each stage of the competition,” Lirelle’s amplified voice cut through the rising buzz of speculation and comments.
The amphitheater fell silent once more.
“Every team advancing beyond Round One will receive a commemorative bronze laurel medal and a cash award of five silver denarii each. Quarter-finalists will receive silver laurel medals and twenty-five denarii per team member. Semi-finalists will receive gold laurel medals and one aureus per student.”
Several students straightened noticeably at that. Five denarii might be a pittance to an aristocrat, but it would take over two hours of work for a farm laborer back home to earn that much.
“The two teams that advance to the final round will each receive a place in the Academy’s Book of Aurelian Laureates. The runners-up will be awarded twenty-five aurei to be divided between the partners.”
Lirelle paused, allowing anticipation to build.
“The victors of the Aurelian Trials will receive a gold-and-diamond champion’s badge, along with the traditional Stole of Aurelian Merit, to be worn with formal academic robes throughout their remaining years at the Academy.
Their names will be inscribed on the trophy in the dining hall.
In addition, the winning team will receive a prize of two hundred and fifty gold aurei, to be divided equally between the partners. ”
The amphitheater erupted in cheers. Relief surged through me. Dante had been right about the prize amount. Even split, the sum would be enough to pay my fine and save my spot here… if I could win it.
“Registration will open immediately and remain open for the next ten days. I advise those of you who intend to compete to choose your partners carefully. Talent may win a challenge. Endurance may win a round. The Aurelian Trials, however, are won by teams. Participation in the Aurelian Trials is voluntary,” Lirelle said, “but we strongly advise students in their fourth year and above to enroll.”
The crowd murmured in response, with scattered groans. I spotted some of the older students exchanging glances heavy with meaning.
“Remember, there are professional benefits to consider,” Lirelle added.
“The Imperial Office of Arcane Standards and the Office of Magical Warfare always send representatives to observe the semi-final and final rounds of the Trials. Top performers are usually offered jobs in the civil service or the Imperial Legions upon graduation.”
The news sent a visible thrill through the noble students. I watched their faces light up with ambition and excitement as they clapped and cheered. To them, the Trials were probably a shortcut to glory, a chance to step into the shoes of the heroes from the old stories.
I caught snatches of conversation from the fourth- and fifth-year students seated in the rows behind me.
“—always the same—”
“—fixed so the nobles win—”
“—third-years can’t possibly compete against fifth-years—”
“—waste of time—”
I turned to see who was speaking. And spotted at least two students who’d attended the Circle of the Open Hand meetings.
The girl sitting directly behind me met my gaze. “If you’re thinking about signing up, Miss First-Year, don’t bother,” she told me. “If you’re lucky, they’ll let you make it to the second round before you get knocked out by someone with a prestigious family name.”
“They’ll tell you it’s about networking, not winning,” added the student sitting next to her, his tone bitter. “We’re supposed to be grateful for the experience and the chance to be seen by the imperial recruiters.”
Their cynical words felt like stones flung at my gut. After what I’d seen and experienced here during my first term, of course I should’ve expected the Aurelian Trials to be rigged against the commoners.
Should I even bother to enter? What good is it if they’ve already decided that only aristocrats can win?
My shoulder slumped and spirits heavy, I turned back around. I couldn’t help imagining the long voyage home to Bernswick at the end of the school year with nothing to show for my time here except a gigantic fine Papa couldn’t possibly pay.
But if I didn’t enter the Aurelian Trials, I’d be giving up before I’d even tried.
Even worse, I’d be condemning Mira and Juno to having to drop out. Without the prize money or the promised imperial scholarship that had so mysteriously been withheld, our family couldn’t afford another year’s tuition and housing expenses.
And at this point, I doubted if we’d ever see that scholarship.
But was I delusional in thinking I could compete against upper-division mage students… and win?