The moment the mages were dismissed, I wasted no time.
I moved quickly through the palace corridors, my heart still racing from the events of the day.
There was a lot to process—too much, really—but I pushed it aside, needing to focus on what lay ahead. I hadn't gone far when I saw him.
Master Jared stood in the hallway, his tall frame unmistakable.
His long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, giving him a stern, almost forbidding appearance.
As soon as our eyes met, I knew this wasn't a chance encounter.
He had been waiting for me.
"Master Jared," I said, nodding in greeting, trying to sound calm, though I wasn't sure I succeeded.
"The Emperor received the results of your mana test," he said without preamble, his voice steady but carrying a weight that made my stomach drop. "He's ordered that you be monitored closely. If there's any further development, he is to be notified immediately."
