But . . . but I’ve never even heard of lightning relay before tonight! And I don’t know anything about lightning! Mina felt like sinking into the floor. Every bit of doubt and fear came rushing back again. Now that she was here, her daydreams felt silly at best—​and at worst impossible.

«We can do this!»

I don’t know that I can! I’m supposed to be a farm girl!

«You’re supposed to be you. And I know you can do that!»

Chapter
Seven

Professor Werrin led the way, with Jyx, Chauda, and Pixit trooping after her. Mina slunk along behind them, certain that at any moment the headmistress would notice she didn’t belong. After all, the stationmaster and the river-ship sailors had seen it instantly, and her own family was certain of it. She stared down at her feet, not making eye contact with anyone, wishing she were better at hiding her thoughts from Pixit.

Pixit’s thoughts were broadcasting clearly, and there wasn’t a shred of doubt in them. «This is going to be awesome. Stop worrying. We’re going to fit in great!»

As they walked through a corridor, she was hit by sound: shouting and laughing.

Mina felt like running in the opposite direction. She made herself keep walking forward.

“Lights out is in forty-five minutes,” Professor Werrin explained. “Until then, all are encouraged to expend their excess energy. Quite literally, in fact.” Stepping through an archway, she gestured with both arms. “Welcome to the heart of Mytris!”

It was a cavernous room that Mina would have called a dining hall, if you ignored everything except the rows of tables and chairs. You couldn’t ignore everything else, though. Obstacles filled the walls and ceiling: a maze of metal rods, a climbing wall, chains that stretched from one corner to another, and metal ladders that dangled from the ceiling. Guardians and beasts zipped through the room, chasing one another, clinging to the ladders, and racing through the maze. Sparks flew in white-and-blue arcs between all the metal. And towering over everything was a black basalt statue of a lightning beast with golden eyes, which seemed to survey the chaos.

“Whoa!” Jyx breathed.

“Hands on your beasts,” Professor Werrin said briskly. “They’ll ground you.”

“What about you, Professor?” Jyx asked.

The professor brandished her cane, and the orb opened into an umbrella-like metal net. She held it over her head. “Sensible shoes and an electricity cage will protect me nicely. Come now.” She forded into the room.

«Oh, Mina, doesn’t it look fun?»

It looked the opposite of fun.

The sound was nearly deafening—​every student seemed to be shouting at the same time. Mina didn’t know how anyone could hear themselves think. She hurried through. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jyx smiling and waving at everyone, loudly introducing herself and Chauda. Clearly, Jyx was going to fit right in.