I’d seen the tower from a distance before, and I knew it was big, but. Or maybe they were just intimidated by the sight of the spire. From the grim expressions of my peers, I could tell some of them were running the same numbers in their heads that I was. But nothing was reliable.Īpparently, Selys - our beneficent goddess, creator of this death trap tower and all the others - wanted to maintain a degree of mystery for newcomers.Įven with all my preparation, I wasn’t sure what my odds were of surviving the ordeal. I read every book, essay, and scrap of paper that I could find with hints about what others had experienced. Some people held onto stronger memories than others. After a Judgment, the memories of the individual who took the tests would rapidly fade, similar to waking from a dream. I’d studied, too, but there was a limit to what I could learn from the experiences of others. Not currently fashionable, but more likely to slow down a claw or blade. Instead of a silken shirt, I wore a black leather doublet and pants. My boots were more durable than the shoes my companions tended to wear and offered vastly better traction.

Maybe they’d consider my grappling hook a weapon, but crossing a downed bridge was one of the most common challenges, so I doubted it. Instead of relying on the fickleness of chance, I’d taken everything with me that I thought might help.īringing weapons and armor into the test was strictly forbidden, but there weren’t any rules about bringing a backpack full of supplies. Now, at seventeen, I stood among hundreds of my peers. He’d entered the Serpent Spire and, like so many others, he’d never returned. I’d been training for this day for five years - since the day my brother, Tristan, had left for his own Judgment. Possibly even if it’s a goblin, depending on how mean he looks. In the unfortunate event that I’m stuck in a combat challenge, I’ll try to run if there’s anything bigger than a goblin.

If I have a choice between tests, I’ll pick a dialogue or mathematical challenge before accepting a combat challenge. It was the day of my Judgment, and I was prepared in a thousand ways that didn’t matter. Each new life is a shining beacon of hope for the continued existence of humanity. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this book are fictional.įor Ariela Rowe, the newest member of my family.

Andrew rowe sufficiently advanced magic