The day before the Trials always carried a strange weight, as though the world itself were holding its breath. Whispers clung to the stone halls, eyes lingered longer than they should have, and every student knew that by tomorrow, some lives would change forever—while others would remain exactly where they were, forgotten.
Jace rose from his desk as the bell rang, its chime echoing through the stone halls like a dismissal spell. He gathered his books with practiced haste, feeling the weight of eyes on him. Out of the corner of his vision, he spotted his sister standing by the arched doorway, waiting unmoving, inevitable.
He met her gaze and squared his shoulders, bracing himself for an argument he had already sworn not to lose.
"Let's go home," he said flatly.
Cali folded her arms, her expression drawn tight with the kind of patience that only came from being older and from fighting the same battles too many times. "No, we are going to the library."
He scoffed, glancing bast her into the corridor where students drifted by in clusters. "What happened now?"
"Mom has guests," she said with a tired exhale, "And besides, the Trials are tomorrow. You are not ready."
A short, bitter laugh slipped from him. "I'm just going to end up with some useless ability. It's not even worth trying." His voice dropped. "We both know people like us don't get chances."
He looked back at her, chin lifting, defiance plain in his eyes. "Fine. Let's go to the library. But don't forget—this is a complete waste of time."
Cali's lips curved into a small, hopeful smile as she fell into step beside him. "You never know. There's always a chance you gain something strong enough to leave this town. Maybe even make it to the Academy."
Jace stiffened, his brow furrowing. "You really need to rein in that imagination," he muttered. "That kind of talk gets people in trouble. There are always ears listening."
* * *
Entering into the library felt like crossing an unseen threshold. The air seemed to change, cooler, heavier, laden with the dry scent parchment and settled dust. Towering shelves rose in solemn rows, their order unbroken, their leather-bound spines worn smooth by countless hands. Titles etched in gold and silver had faded with time, their letters dulled but not diminished, as if the knowledge within refused to be forgotten.
Light spilled through tall, arched windows along the rear wall. Painting the stone floor in pale bands of gold. Long tables and mismatched chairs waiting beneath the glow, untouched and reverent. Above the librarian's desk, an old clock ticked steadily, each measured beat echoing through the silence like a spell allowed to persist only because nothing else dared disturb it.
"Let's go sit ever there," Cali said, gesturing toward a shadowed corner near the back.
Jace gave a soft huff but followed her all the same.
"So Jace," Cali began as they walked, her tone casual but calculating, "if you were already enrolled in the academy and we lived in the castle, what would you hope to gain from the trial?" She was clearly fishing—hoping to steer him toward something he might actually study.
Jace let out a long sigh, "Really? Do you even hear yourself?"
"Come on," Cali pressed, exasperation creeping into her voice. "There has to be something you want badly enough to wish for it."
Jace didn't answer. His gaze drifted across the shelves as they passed, and with each step, an odd sensation stirred in his chest- a subtle tug, like an invisible thread winding tight. He slowed, then stopped altogether, drawn toward an older section of the library where the shelves sagged beneath the weight of age.
Without thinking, he reached out, running his fingers along the cracked spines of the books.
ZAP.
Jace jerked his hand back, a sharp sting snapping through his fingers. "What the hell?"
Frowning, he reached again and pulled the single volume free. Its cover was dark and scarred, the lettering etched deep into the leather.
Snake Bite: The Art of Perfecting Poison.
Something stirred within him—recognition, hunger, curiosity all at once. Before he could question it, Jace opened the book and began to read, his feet carrying him back toward their table as if guided by something unseen.
Cali looked up, surprised to see a book in his hands. "What did you find?"
"Just some stupid book that looked random," Jace muttered, already reading the first page.
As his eyes traced the opening lines, a strange certainty settled over him—a sense that he needed to take in every word, as much as he could.
Poison is the lie the strong tell themselves about the weak.
Jace snorted inwardly. Yeah. Poison's just a cheap way to fight. Everyone knows poison abilities are looked down on.
But as he read on, that certainty shifted. The words unfolded with unsettling clarity, each line reframing ideas he had never questioned. Understanding crept over him, quiet and relentless.
The hours passed unnoticed as Jace read without pause, utterly engrossed in the tome's teachings.
"Hey," Cali said at last, trying to draw his attention back. "I think we should head home. Mother's probably wondering where we are."
"Hm?" Jace replied absently, finishing a section before looking up.
"You know," she said, stretching, "I don't think I've ever seen you this focused on a book."
"Just a bit longer," he said quickly. "I want to finish this part."
Cali glanced at the clock, "Wow, it's been 4 hours. You know Jace, you can check it out and take it home, right?"
Jace looked up sharply. "Really? Then yeah—let's do that. I'm honestly surprised how much information is in this tome."
"Oh?" Cali asked. "What's it about?"
"It's about cultivating poisons and harnessing their power," he said, excitement slipping into his voice despite himself.
Cali frowned. "You know anything involving poison is looked down on. I really think you should choose something else."
"No," Jace said firmly. "I feel like something wants me to read this—to gain its knowledge."
She studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "Alright. Fine. Let's check it out. I just hope you know what you're doing."
With a huff, Jace slid a scrap of paper between the pages as a bookmark and carried the tome to the front desk.
"Hi," he said, setting the book down. "I'd like to check this out. How long can I keep it?"
The librarian—plain and unremarkable, the sort of person easily overlooked—rose slowly from behind the desk. They wore a simple gray robe, hair neatly tied back, posture unassuming.
"All book rentals are for two weeks," the librarian said in a dry, rasping voice. "However, the school year ends next week. It must be returned before then."
"Perfect," Jace said eagerly. "I'd like to check it out."
The librarian's eyes flicked to the title, surprise briefly breaking their calm. "Poisons?" they asked. "Do you know what you dabble in, young man?"
"Yes, sir," Jace said, puffing out his chest. "I have a feeling I'll receive an alchemy gift in tomorrow's Trial."
Alchemy was rare—highly sought after. Only a handful appeared each generation, and those known were overworked and undervalued.
With a quiet sigh, the librarian filled out the form and slid the book back across the desk. "Remember to return it."
"Don't worry," Jace said with a grin, tucking the tome into his bag. "I'll bring it back as soon as I'm done. Thank you!"
He turned to Cali. "Ready to go?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Let's get going."