I make my way down the stairs, and strangers erupt with compliments and well-wishes all around me, making my cheeks turn scarlet. They treat me like I’m already one of them, but how can I be? They’ve all done this before; they know the rules.

I feel like I’m stumbling through a game I don’t know how to play.

Annika waits behind the table. A hint of yellow scarf sits beneath her braids, and she wears the same worn brown jacket from earlier. But her eyes are brighter today, more hopeful than cautious.

I stop in front of the bowl, eyeing the feather and locked box in turns.

“You don’t need to be nervous,” she says. “This is just a simple test to discover which direction your mind gravitates toward.”

My eyes flick toward the nearby crowd. “If it’s so simple, then why do we have an audience?”

“I told you it’s been a while since we’ve welcomed anyone new.” Annika follows my gaze. “Everyone is very curious about you.”

A few familiar faces appear at the edge of the crowd. Theo and Shura stand side by side, eyes blazing with excitement. Ahmet and Yeong are there too, making their support clear with a simple nod and the wave of a hand. And then there’s Gil, arms crossed and brows knotted together, staring at the floating lanterns like he’d rather be anywhere else.

“Maybe not everyone,” I mumble under my breath, and pull my eyes back to the table.

Annika folds her hands together. “Most of the people in the Colony fall into three categories: the casters, the veilers, and the engineers. Casters have a talent for using their consciousness to seek out power. They can summon elements and will objects to move. With the right training, they often excel in battle. Veilers are gifted with the ability of illusion. They’re able to shift their appearance and make themselves invisible—even from the Residents. And finally, engineers are unrivaled when it comes to making alterations to this world. They are our inventors, our builders, and perhaps our greatest chance at one day winning this war.” She lowers her chin, eyes gleaming. “Are you ready to find out what your consciousness is drawn to?”

I look between each object. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Lift the feather. Unveil the hidden object in the bowl. Unlock the box.” Annika watches me carefully. “And you must do so using only your mind.”

I grimace. “I have to do all three?”