So I've edited all this, for new readers, I wish you well on this journey. Hopefunlly you don't hate this. For returning readers who wanted to reread, Hope I caught it all this time!
Prologue
Aira Amell
"Pleased to meet you, I hope you guessed my name" – Sympathy For the Devil ~ The Rolling Stones
I was almost ready for bed. The First Enchanter, Irving, had sent a note to me during my last lesson of the day. It was just a summative lesson about Primal magics. The note had said I was to bring my staff with me to the Harrowing Chamber tomorrow at 11 am the next day.
"Aira!" I turned to see my two best friends turning the corner of the hall. One was tall and lanky, dark, shaggy haired and almost perpetually worried, the other was better-proportioned with a long blond ponytail. Both were around nineteen and didn't get along very well with the other boys.
"Anders," I greeted the boy who called out, "Jowan."
"Didn't think you were going to bed before saying goodnight, did you?" asked Jowan as he pushed his dark bangs off his forehead.
I shook my head. "Me? Forget? As if you two'd let me!" I feigned horror.
Anders chuckled and rolled his eyes. One was still swollen from the beating he had received three days ago when he was caught after the latest escape attempt. He was thrown into solitary for the duration of the last 90 days. I had offered to heal it for him, though he was more than capable of taking care of it himself. He had refused, saying all the apprentices should have a chance to see what Templars are really like.
"Anyways," I said, "goodnight guys."
"See you in the morning!" Anders called as he opened the door to the boys' room.
"Night," echoed Jowan as he ducked in after Anders.
I entered the girls' chambers and plunked down on my bottom bunk right at the door. As the second most experienced mage apprentice in the Tower I got to sleep in the draft of the door. I was supposed to handle anything that could creep in as we slept and not panic before letting an Enchanter know.
I crawled into bed and said my 'goodnights' to my bunkmate above me, a young woman half a year older than me named Cassendara. Then, I closed my eyes and tried to relax. I kept thinking about my Harrowing. Apprentices went to the Harrowing Chamber with First Enchanter Irving and came out senior mages. They changed during the Harrowing. Many died.
I tried not to let that thought sink into the Fade with me as I entered the dream world to sleep.
