“Another pass!” Auntie Okja announces. “Only one more spell to go.”

Hattie grins, and I clutch my hands. She’s almost there!

Mrs. Kim reveals her final test, and a frail old man appears where the woman was lying a moment before. He’s in the fetal position and unusually still. I lean forward, trying to figure out what he’s suffering from.

Hattie crouches down and assesses him from head to toe. She pauses at his face and then again at his neck and at his wrist. She frowns, and I look to Eomma and Appa. “What is it? What’s wrong with him?”

Appa’s forehead creases. “I think it’s a trick question.”

Eomma nods, swallowing hard. “I think so, too.”

I look back at the man and rack my brain for possible ailments. He’s not bleeding, and none of his bones look obviously broken. He doesn’t seem to be in pain, and he’s so still it looks like he’s not breathing.

Then it dawns on me.

“Oh my Mago.” I breathe out.

I look to Hattie just as she rechecks the man’s pulse a third time. She takes a moment to gather her thoughts. Then she stands confidently and announces to the council, “This man is not alive. And while there are certain spells that can bring mortals back to life, it is against the council’s code of conduct to do so, as it would break the sacred covenant the clans have with the Spiritrealm. For this reason, I will refrain from casting any spells to revive this patient.”

“Wise answer, initiate,” Auntie Okja declares, her voice booming with pride. “And you are correct. You have officially passed all three tests, and your Gi is now yours to keep and use at your will. Please come to the cauldron to receive your blessing from the Cave Bear Goddess.”

As cheers and applause fill the sanctuary, Hattie walks over to the cauldron and holds her wrist over its mouth. The cauldron trembles into action, and with it, the food and drink offerings on the altar start levitating out of their bowls. It looks like we’re in outer space and experiencing zero gravity.

A deep guttural wail escapes from the cauldron as Hattie’s Gi and gifted mark glow Gom gold. The glow spreads from her wrist up her arm, through her torso, and down her legs until she is completely bathed in warm light. Then, with a loud, thunderous boom, a bolt of blinding white light hits Hattie.

When the light subsides and we can see again, all the food and drink have disappeared to the Godrealm, and Hattie is grinning widely.

The crowd breaks into another round of applause, and Eomma bursts into tears. Appa claps furiously, and I jump out of my seat to cheer at the top of my lungs. “She did it! You did it, Hattie!”