Yenni was covered in runes. Her heart fluttered in her throat like a trapped moth as she trailed behind Professor Devon. Professor Mainard’s office was on the very top of what Devon called the Watcher’s tower—a tall structure in the center of the administrative building that soared up some twenty stories high. She looked up at the peak, capped with an iron balustrade bookended by sculptures of resting dragons. True to the name, she could imagine Mainard up there with his tufts of hair glaring down at their approach.

“I thought the professors were off during the study break,” Yenni mused.

“Not Mainard,” muttered Devon. “I’m willing to bet he hasn’t taken a break since Prevan was founded three hundred years ago.”

“What? He’s that old?” Yenni said. “Do Creshens live so long? How? By magic?” And could this longevity of life, she wondered, help her father in some way?

Devon stopped and turned back to her, giving her a sheepish look. “It was a joke, and not a very good one, it would seem.”

“Oh! Oh I see,” said Yenni, disappointed.

He took her through a corridor with high ceilings and tall windows that let in beams of dusty sunlight. Finally they reached a small room closed off by a black, iron gate that squealed as he pushed it aside.

“After you,” he said. Yenni had no idea why he wanted her to step into the little room, but not wanting to appear ignorant, she did as he directed. He stepped in after her and there was another grating screech as he closed the gate.

“Through source rise, floor number ten.”

Suddenly the ground rumbled under her feet and began to rise. Yenni gasped and stumbled into Devon, who put an arm around her.

“Are you all right? This isn’t your first time in a lift, is it?”

She felt her cheeks flush. “Well, yes, to be honest.”

“Ah. It must be somewhat uncomfortable for you, en? You can hold on to me if you’d like.”

She cleared her throat and straightened, sliding away from him. She was not some uninformed savage who needed to be coddled when confronted with “civilized” technology. “Thank you, Professor, but I’m fine.”

The lift deposited them on the tenth floor, which was much more elegant than the main halls below. Here wide windows draped with gauzy white curtains let in muted sunlight and the floor was covered in a rich red carpet that muffled her footsteps.

“Professor Mainard’s office is just ahead; he’s expecting us,” said Devon, and Yenni’s heart redoubled its effort to escape through her mouth. “Just show him what you can do. We’ll give him such a demonstration he’ll no doubt see the myriad benefits of keeping you on. I’m sure of it.”