Jayden pulled up his hood against the strengthening sunlight. “From what I’ve learned, only a small number of people have the potential to wield magic. But, of those not everyone can tap into it.”

“Is that why the Invisible Sword doesn’t test everyone, only those who show potential?”

“That’s right.”

“How do you know who has the potential?”

“One way is bloodlines. Certain families have the skill and they pass it down. Gurice inherited hers from her grandmother. In my family, my grandfather and my father could wield magic. My sister was tested, but failed.”

Questions about his sister pushed up her throat, but the scowl that arrived when he mentioned her warned Shyla to keep quiet.

Jayden continued. “Those that seek out the monks tend to have the ability. Hanif has sent us a few candidates.”

“What does he see in them?”

“An open mind, being flexible in their thinking and not set in their ways. Confidence. Intelligence. Resourcefulness.”

All great qualities. “But not everyone you test taps into their power, right?”

“Right.”

Memories of being chained in the dark threatened to overwhelm her. “Why do you have to test them? Why can’t you explain about the magic and teach them how to do it?”

Jayden huffed in amusement. “Even though the candidates are open-minded, all of them would think we’re insane. I believe a certain sun-kissed didn’t believe in magic even after she witnessed it and successfully wielded it. Then again, she wasn’t that open-minded to begin with.”

She refrained from punching him. “Then why did you test me?” she shot back.

“You have all the other qualities. And you fought back when Payatt took you through the sands.”

Still. There had to be a better way to wake a person’s magic. “Isn’t there another way?”

“Yes, there are plenty of ways, but they’re cruel. Stress and fear are the triggers. When people are pushed to the breaking point, they tap into that inner spark of survival. Our way allows the person time to experiment and then we’re there to teach them.”

Not many people were in those dire situations. “The people in the prince’s special rooms are terrorized.”

“And some of them do access their magic. But, unfortunately, they don’t know how to use it and no one survives the torture.”

“What about the deacons’ confession rooms? Those people live through it and are forced to become deacons. Do some of them have magic?”

“It’s possible,” Jayden said slowly. “Although we haven’t heard any rumors.”

“Might be why the Heliacal Priestess started having her Arch Deacons wear those torques.”

“An interesting theory. We don’t know when she stole them, or even if she did. It could have been one of her predecessors who passed them along. Or Banqui could have discovered their location and sold them to her.” He frowned.