MIREYA POV
We slowly made our way across the courtyard, each step heavy with exhaustion. The screams from the fallen challengers still echoed faintly in the rift behind us, but the courtyard was eerily quiet now.
Then I noticed.
The line of challengers had drastically thinned. Faces I had seen earlier… some pale with fear, some brave, some reckless…were gone. Many didn't make it. The reality pressed on me like a weight in my chest.
Kaela's hand brushed mine as we walked. Her grip was tight, almost frantic. I looked at her. She looked just as shaken as I felt, her green eyes wide, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Congratulations, you made it," a crisp, commanding voice spoke from the steps above.
I flinched at the sound. A wow man stepped forward, her dark eyes sweeping over us… survivors.
"My name is Neda, and welcome to Brasshall."
There was a moment of confusion, a pause, before the remaining challengers started whispering, murmuring congratulations and relief. Some cheered, but I couldn't.
I couldn't celebrate.
Not for surviving. Not when so many… died.
Screams still echoed faintly in my mind, and the picture of the rift, the stones, the falling, refused to leave me.
Neda's voice snapped across the courtyard, sharp and clear: "Silence!"
Every whisper, every laugh, died instantly.
"Moving on. You'll be placed into your Houses, where you will stay, learn, and train, no matter what level Gifted you are."
She gestured to the four symbols carved into glowing stone tablets behind her. One by one, she called out the Houses:
"House Pyrris. Your Master is Tharon."
A few challengers stepped forward, placing their hands on the glowing stone that represented fire and aggression.
"House Virel. By me, Neda."
Those who valued calm, control, and strategy moved forward.
"House Noctryn. By Sorella."
The shadowy, cunning gifted hesitated briefly before claiming their place.
"House Aetheris. By Jax."
My breath caught. My eyes went to him… the Enforcer, Jax Calder… standing tall, arms crossed, gaze scanning the crowd. My stomach twisted.
Kaela's hand found mine again, squeezing tight. "Looks like we're going with him," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, but I could sense relief in it. Relief that we hadn't been separated.
I nodded, my throat tight, and we stepped forward together.
The others moved quickly, hands hovering over the glowing stone of House Aetheris. The moment our hands touched it, a sharp warmth spread up my arm, a tingling fire that ran straight into my chest.
The stone flared brightly, then dimmed, leaving the Aetheris crest glowing faintly on my palm.
Kaela followed, her hand joining mine on the stone. It flared again, confirming that we were bound to the same House.
Jax's piercing gaze swept over us once more. There was no smile. No approval. Just his usual cold, sharp gaze.
"You will train. You will fight. You will survive, and you wouldn't dare defile me." he said, his voice low but carrying across the courtyard. "And weakness is not tolerated."
I swallowed hard, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on me.
Kaela leaned closer again. "We made it," she whispered.
I nodded, but my eyes lingered on the courtyard, on the rift, and on the faces of those who hadn't.
We had survived… but I knew, deep down, this was only the beginning.
After the house assignment, we were led away from the courtyard by a young man who moved with effortless speed, yet carried himself with an air of authority. He was slim, dark-haired, and had an almost effortless confidence that made the survivors fall in line behind him without question.
"My name's Zion," he said, voice calm but firm. "Welcome to House Aetheris. I'll be showing you to your rooms."
I exchanged a glance with Kaela. Her green eyes mirrored my own mix of exhaustion and wariness. The riftwalk had left us drained, shaken, and painfully aware of just how close death had been.
"There are ten rooms," Zion continued, walking ahead with a graceful stride. "Each of you will have your own. No sharing. No reason to fight. Your rooms are where you'll sleep, train, and plan. Keep them clean. They're yours until the final trial … or until the trial takes you from here."
We followed him through the twisting halls of Brasshall. The stone walls glowed faintly with embedded crystals, casting eerie, shimmering light across the corridors. The air smelled faintly of smoke and metal, sharp and alive, like the building itself was aware of its gifted residents.
I kept my hand close to Kaela's as we walked, the warmth grounding me, keeping me from spiraling into fear again.
Zion led us to a small side corridor where the ten rooms were located, arranged neatly along the hall. Each door was carved with the Aetheris crest, a jagged lightning bolt enclosed in a circle.
He stopped in front of the first door. "This will be yours," he said, gesturing toward a plain, solid door. "Rooms are simple. You'll find a bed, a desk, storage for your gear, and a small ward to keep your magic contained while you sleep. Nothing more. Personalize it if you want, but don't expect luxury. This is House Aetheris. We value strength, control, and endurance here."
I swallowed hard and stepped forward, touching the door lightly. It was cool beneath my fingers, solid and real. My heart still beat fast from the Riftwalk, but something about the room felt… safe. Fragile, yes, but safe.
Zion moved down the hall, opening each door in turn, calling out the names of the survivors. "Kaela … yours is next. Faye…"
I followed him, stepping into my room. It was small but functional. The bed was neatly made, the desk clear, and a faint magical shimmer lingered in the air, pulsing slightly like a heartbeat.
Kaela entered her room just after me, giving a small, shaky smile. I returned it with a nod.
The reality of surviving all this h hit me again. Ten of us. Only ten made it to House Aetheris. Ten who had survived the first trial.
Zion looked back at all of us. His dark eyes swept over the group, lingering on Jax for a moment before returning to us. "Rest. Recover. There's a ball dinner tonight by 10" he said quietly, "your dresses will be sent."
I swallowed again. Ball dinner.. How could they party when people just lost their lives?