Bastian flashes a half-smile, but the humor doesn't reach his eyes. "Water. Okay. I guess you didn't want to be an air like me?"

I shake my head, still staring at the disguised mark. "What does this all mean?"

His voice drops low. "Just know this: if the wrong person finds out about your mark, it would be... trouble. You have to learn to keep it hidden. Tell no one."

"Why do I feel like you know more than you're saying?" I search his face for answers.

His expression turns guarded. "I’ve heard whispers. But I won’t worry you with rumors because they may do just as much harm as good. I’ll send for the book. Try to stay alive until then and keep this hidden. With luck, the book will give us some answers about what this means.”

I accept his explanation for now. It has the ring of truth, and frankly, I can only handle so many revelations in one day. Now that he knows my secret, he might be held complicit if it gets out. We're bound by this knowledge, whether I like it or not.

We rejoin the flow of survivors. With Bastian beside me, the guards barely glance at my now-blue mark before waving me toward the water corridor. My heart thumps so loudly I'm certain everyone can hear it as we pass. Did it work? Did they actually fall for it?

"Wait," I say, pausing at the threshold. Something in Bastian's earlier words gnaws at me. "What exactly happens in the combat assessment?"

A shadow crosses his face. "A simple training match. Today, I think most offerings won't fully grasp what's going on here. Today, you should still be safe."

"What the hell does that mean?" I ask, already growing tired of half-truths and cryptic warnings.

He steps closer, eyes scanning to make sure we're not overheard. "You're an offering. Yes, you've all shown you have an affinity. But that's only the first step. You're not valuable to the Empire unless you earn an elemental tether on Confluence Day." His voice drops even lower. "Until you tether, you’re expendable. They won’t stop you from killing one another. The strong weed out the weak,” he says in a way that makes me think it’s a common phrase around here.”

Understanding hits me like ice water. "So these combat assessments could turn deadly?" I ask, bile rising in my throat.

Bastian nods grimly. "These two months before Confluence Day will be the most dangerous. They'll train you. They'll teach you about history and magic. But the real test? It's surviving until Confluence Day. Survive that, and the Academy will finally start treating you like the valuable resource you are. Until then, just about anything goes. Your peers won't realize it right away. But it won't be long before they do."

My mouth goes dry, a cold dread settling in my bones. "Who will I have to fight?"