The school mirrors the palace in that it’s also built into the side of a cliff, with training platforms carved out along the ridge. Margery, the advisor I recognize as the Minister of Education, greets us at the front doors before leading us to a massive meeting room where hundreds of students have gathered, eager looks on their faces. When Laurel enters, there’s a shuffling as students and teachers stand to bow, but she waves them off.

“Please welcome Her Majesty Queen Laurel,” Margery says and begins clapping, giving the audience an alternative to bowing. Laurel’s cheeks blush. I love seeing this side of her—the shy and reluctant leader who cares deeply for those she serves.

“Thank you,” Laurel says to quiet the applause. “I’m also joined today by a special guest, His Highness Prince Hawthorne of Velmara.” Awkward applause and murmuring breaks out, the students unsure what to make of my presence. “Prince Hawthorne, would you give the students a demonstration of your light magic?” There’s mischief in her eyes. I nod, and the room erupts in blinding light as several awes sound throughout the room. I bring the light into small orbs that whizz around the room, playfully dancing around the students. Then the light rushes forward toward me and collects in a massive long sword that I swing around my body. The applause that breaks out this time is fervent, and Laurel’s eyes sparkle with a plan well executed. I give her my own appreciative grin. “Thank you, Prince Hawthorne,” she says. “As you can see, the Prince has a very rare and unique power. He’ll be taking those of you with light channeling abilities for a private lesson later. But first, what questions do you have for me or Prince Hawthorne?”

Dozens of hands raise, and I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face. The students are eager to learn and clearly adore their Queen. Laurel fields their questions expertly, turning a few over to me. Most are some version of how we learned to use our magic, what our training looks like, or how they can learn to make swords with their magic.

“Is it true that you have an affinity for every conduit?” a very young student asks Laurel, awe in her eyes. Laurel stiffens for the tiniest fraction of a moment, so quick few would catch it. Rather than answering the question, she quickly displays magic using all conduits. Water streams through the air, sliced by a metal dagger she pulled from her waist. Plants crawl through the windows, illuminated by orbs of light. She finishes the demonstration with a gentle breeze of air. The students applaud, eyes wide in fascination and bodies moving with uncontainable energy from their excitement.

It’s a smart way to evade the question.

“One last question,” a beaming Laurel tells the group, and she calls on a student no older than ten in the front row.