The air in the palace had grown colder, more oppressive. Moxie could feel the weight of it pressing down on her shoulders as she moved through the daily rituals of the academy. Ever since she had stumbled upon that forbidden scroll, it was as if every shadow held a pair of eyes, every echo carried a whisper meant to remind her that the walls had ears. Her heart thudded louder with each passing day, and sleep had become a fleeting luxury.
Morning classes passed in a blur of rote recitation and forced politeness. The warden had taken a new, harsher approach. Her gaze swept over the girls like a hawk searching for prey, pausing on each one with a calculating glint. It was clear she was on high alert, which made Moxie clutch the knowledge of the scroll tighter to her chest. She kept her head down, muttering responses only when prompted, hoping to deflect any unwanted attention.
But she wasn't the only one who sensed the change. The other girls moved differently now, their laughter more subdued, their interactions tinged with an underlying tension. News had spread quickly about some sort of "assessment" the warden was conducting, though none of them knew exactly what it entailed. There were whispers that some of the older girls had already been called in for questioning, though no one knew what happened behind those closed doors.
Lunch was served in the grand dining hall, and despite the golden tapestries and the ornate chandeliers, a heaviness settled over the room. The clinking of silverware on porcelain dishes mingled with the hushed murmurs of conversations. Moxie picked at her food, her eyes scanning the room in search of familiar faces. Across the table, Lily sat, her brow furrowed as she toyed with her bread roll.
Before Moxie could say anything, the double doors at the far end of the hall creaked open. A chill swept through the room, and the clamor of conversation died instantly. Every girl turned in their seat to see the tall, foreboding figure of the emperor's advisor striding into the hall. He moved with an eerie grace, his black robe trailing behind him like a shadow.
"Attention, girls," he commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "By order of the emperor, significant changes are being implemented within the palace."
A ripple of unease passed through the room, girls shifting in their seats, exchanging nervous glances. Moxie felt her pulse quicken. She forced herself to remain calm, though her mind was racing. This was it—the change that had been hinted at in the scroll. She felt the grip of fear tighten around her heart as the advisor's eyes scanned the hall.
"The warden will be conducting assessments over the next few weeks," he continued, his tone cold and precise. "These assessments will determine the most suitable candidates for special assignments within the palace. Those who do not meet the requirements will remain here for further training until they are ready."
Silence descended like a shroud. Moxie's mind whirled. Special assignments? Further training? This was far worse than she had imagined. The emperor was planning to divide them, to break their spirits and keep them under his control.
The advisor's gaze fell on Moxie, pausing for a fraction of a second longer than she was comfortable with. She fought the urge to look away, keeping her face blank. Could he know? Had they discovered she had been in the forbidden room? She couldn't afford to slip up now.
With his announcement delivered, the advisor turned on his heel and swept out of the hall, the door closing behind him with a resounding thud. The warden followed in his wake, her eyes lingering on the girls, her expression one of cold scrutiny. The tension in the room thickened, wrapping around Moxie like a vice.
A moment later, the hall erupted into frantic whispers. "What do you think this means?" "Are they going to separate us?" "What will happen to those who get chosen?"
Moxie felt a tap on her shoulder, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. She turned to find Lily standing beside her, concern etched into her features. "Moxie, did you hear that? What do you think is going on?"
Moxie glanced around the room before leaning closer. "I don't know for sure, but it can't be anything good," she replied in a low voice. "We need to keep our heads down and watch what happens."
Lily's face twisted with worry. "But why now? Why this sudden change?"
"Let's talk later," Moxie whispered, scanning the room to make sure they weren't overheard. "Somewhere private. This isn't the place."
Lily nodded, her eyes wide with understanding. "Alright. Later then."
As the afternoon wore on, Moxie's mind refused to settle. She moved through the rest of the day in a daze, her thoughts drifting back to the scroll and the emperor's looming influence. What was he so afraid of? Why was he pushing for this separation now?
Finally, as dusk fell, Moxie and Lily slipped out of the dormitory and headed to one of the palace's lesser-known courtyards. The air was crisp, and the sky above was streaked with hues of pink and gold. It was quiet here, far enough away from the prying eyes of the warden and her enforcers.
Lily paced nervously while Moxie leaned against a stone pillar, gathering her thoughts. "Alright, spill it, Moxie. You know something," Lily blurted out, her eyes narrowing.
Moxie hesitated, glancing around the courtyard to make sure they were truly alone. "I found a scroll," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was hidden in a room deep in the palace. It talked about how the emperor is using the warden to separate us, to keep us from becoming a threat."
Lily's jaw dropped. "A threat? To him?"
Moxie nodded. "He's afraid of us, of what we could do if we ever united against him. That's why he's implementing these changes now. To divide us, weaken us, keep us under control."
Lily ran a hand through her hair, her face paling. "But if that's true, then what chance do we have? He controls everything, everyone."
A fierce determination welled up in Moxie. "That's exactly what he wants us to think. But we can't give up. We need to be smart. We watch, we listen, and we find out who we can trust. We don't make any sudden moves until we're ready."
Lily stopped pacing and looked at Moxie, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "So… what's our next move?"
"For now, we play their game," Moxie said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "We go along with whatever the warden throws at us, but we stay vigilant. We gather information, and when the time is right, we'll figure out how to use it against them."
Lily nodded, resolve setting into her features. "Alright, I'm with you. We'll do this together."
They shared a brief, tense silence, the weight of their decision settling over them. The palace was no longer just a prison; it was a battlefield, and they had no choice but to fight for their freedom. As they made their way back to the dormitory, Moxie glanced up at the imposing towers of the emperor's chambers. There was so much they didn't know about him, so many secrets hidden within these walls.
Rumors of his dark powers had swirled for years, whispers of things unseen and terrifying. But those secrets would remain buried for now. The time for confrontation had not yet come, and Moxie knew they had to be patient.
The emperor had made his move, but she was ready to counter it. One step at a time, one secret at a time, they would unravel his web of control. And when they were ready, they would strike. For now, the palace was their stage, and the game was far from over.