The first assignment couldn't come quickly enough. Seiren tried to steady her breath as she marched up the grand sweeping stairs into the white stone building that housed the council. She'd heard about it before and studied the map, imagining herself as a state mage there swearing her allegiance to the kingdom in the room of declarations; attending the committee chamber for mage meetings; and standing upon the podium in the lecturing hall presenting new runes she'd created to fellow mages.

And now she was here, at last, but she couldn't feel any excitement. Perhaps it was the poor night's sleep that she had where she dreamt her runes failed her just as badly as her burst magic had. Or maybe it was Madeleine, who was still in a huff and refusing to speak to her. Seiren had no intentions of attempting burst magic again, at least not until she'd gotten over the mortification that Rowan had sussed her and Madeleine out without her uttering a single word and his taunts about her never ascending the ladder unless she took off her sister.

She wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.

Seiren paused, frowning. This wasn't the hallway she'd memorised. The T-shaped council building was split into three areas: research, investigation, and administration. Somewhere she'd taken a wrong turn; all the corridors looked very similar: white stones with tall arching windows. Billboards lined one side, displaying the latest runes being tested and burst and flash magic techniques used. Another showed wanted criminals. A third was a general warning about taking care when out and about due to recent attacks. None of the doors she'd passed was labelled the mail room. In fact, they all seemed to be either archive chambers or studies belonging to other mages. She eyed them: Mage Domic Butterworth, Mage Karis Bonneville, Mage Zor Jarsdel. The king's mages. At least Rowan's wasn't there; she couldn't bear facing him again in such a short time. One week's exposure to his arrogance was enough for a lifetime.

But wait... If the king's mages' quarters were here, then that meant their meetings must also take place around here. What they were assigned to do and the information they were privy to were classified information to everyone else, including other state mages.

'Committee Room C' was carved onto a piece of wood upon one decorated door. Mumbles came from behind it. Seiren took one look behind her. The corridor was empty. She probably shouldn't be eavesdropping, but this was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to listen in on her future career.

She scribbled a violet rune on a piece of paper and snapped her fingers quietly. It glowed. She pressed it against the wooden door, keeping an eye out for passers-by.

The conversation reached her ears as clearly as if she were sitting in there herself.

"...have made no progress for several years. It is most disappointing," said a young woman.

"The King's library is vast, Karis. And the ancient tomes are not the easiest to decipher as you very well know."

They went on to grumble about the library. Seiren had only heard about it: every tome and textbook written throughout history to do with magic, all kinds, from burst to rune to flash to other lesser-used ones, were all there. Even the forbidden arts were there, but the place was not accessible by the average person or mage. The king's mages, however, were above common rules.

"We don't have much time left and there is still a significant gap to bridge between life magic and human magic." Seiren's heart skipped a beat. This was what she wanted to do. Human magic was forbidden – although she knew the king's mages and occasionally state mages were granted exemption should their research's potential prove to outbalance the risks. "We will dedicate more king's mages to scout the books, but there is only so much we can do when there are other things to take into consideration. It's getting troublesome with her being constantly out of action."

"I know the plan well, Zor," came the snappy reply. "I only think—"

Footsteps reached her ears. Seiren, heart pounding out of her chest, ripped the still-glowing violet rune off the door and shredded it, and walked on, trying to keep her breathing even and natural. She glanced around, eyes wide and lips downturned.

"Excuse me, miss?" Sure enough, the passer-by stopped her. It was a tall, moustachioed man dressed in the vomit-green atrocity. He tipped his cap at her. "Are you lost? May I assist you? Non-authorised people should not be in this wing."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Seiren pretended to be mortified, her voice hitched several octaves higher. Her eyes darted around, raising a hand to her cheek. "I... I'm newly qualified and on probation. I'm looking for the mail room to get my first assignment but I must have taken a wrong turn! It's so big in here."

"Ah, that's all right. This place is quite the maze. I can take you there."

"Thank you so much!" Seiren allowed tears to glisten on her eyes. She clasped her hands together. "I was worried I would never get out of here!"

Easy on the theatrics, Seiren. Madeleine snorted.

Ah, so you deign to speak to me again.

Seiren took one final look before they rounded the corner. High white arches, bulletins on the side – this wing might look the same as the rest of the council building, but the people inhabiting it were of an elite league all to themselves – and she was going to be one of them, one day.

Her name was among the long list of probationary state mages along the rows and rows of mail inboxes. She recognised most of them from her time at the academy, but she was glad none of them were there getting their first assignment at the same time as her. Graduation couldn't have come fast enough and she didn't need a reunion so soon. Or ever.

Seiren Nithercott. Bingo. Upon it was a single scroll of paper wrapped in violet rune. She swiped it. It disappeared, unrolling.

Name: Mage Nithercott

Task: Civil unrest in Danaway. Reports state potential members of rebellion are recruiting. Kindly investigate and manage as necessary.

Seiren scrutinised the shelves above her and fished out a piece of paper for state mageship consideration.

That sounds a bit morbid. 'Manage as necessary.' Do they want us to execute all those people?

If needs be.

She filled in the details. A year was the minimum period for probationary mageship, but most people remain probationary for at least two or three years. She wasn't going to wait for that long. Even if it meant being a dog for her country, participating in the war, disposed of if needs be... she was going to climb that mageship ladder all the way to the top.

She sealed her application with a violet rune and passed it to one of the clerks on her exit. She could only hope at the end of her probationary period, she would receive that recommendation that Rowan kept dangling in front of her.

Madeleine didn't say much as Seiren purchased her train ticket to Danaway. Seiren jingled the coins in her pouch that sat in one of the inner pockets. There wasn't much money left. What she earned doing odd jobs whilst at King's wasn't going to last her forever, she knew. Enough for food and shelter for perhaps two weeks. Which made it a bit of an issue when she wouldn't be issued any money as a probationary mage until a month into probationary mageship. She grimaced. Perhaps she'd take up odd jobs now, before her first salary. If she had to travel any further than this she was going to run out of money even earlier.

Autumn was fast settling in. As she travelled further southeast from Benover, the polished city of stone gave way to reds and yellows of leaves and bushes. The tightly-packed houses and shops gradually eased into sparser farm buildings, wooden fences, and wildlife. Farmers pottered about, herding their cows and sheep. Labourers worked over the new farmhouses and shelters. Eventually they, too, merged with spreading fields of yellowing grass, peppered with grazing animals.

I think we've been to Danaway before.

When we were six, I think. For the magic festival.

Seiren barely remembered it. Every year, Danaway hosted the festival of magic, showcasing all sorts of beautiful artistic demonstrations from all of Karma. Most of them were burst mages, wowing with dazzling power and explosions of colour, but there were a few rune mages, too, able to display spectacular shows with light mimicking real life people and their stories, all told through pre-woven magic. It was at that point Seiren wanted to become a mage and study for the King's entrance exam that wouldn't even take place until five years after.

We got lost, remember? Mother was so mad, mused Seiren.

And whose fault was that? Who wanted to track down that rune mage who did the galloping horses and wild men?

It was beautiful! You can't say you weren't inspired.

Inspired, yes. Inspired to stalk them to where they lived, no.

Seiren frowned. That male mage hadn't taken kindly to two little girls following him back to his den, which was a creepy run-down cottage that they should have stayed well clear of, now that she was thinking about it. They were terribly naïve and ignorant of danger.

I wasn't. You were.

After his initial grumpy response to the surprise, he'd promised them sweeties and more magic in exchange for going into his house. He'd fed them and gave them sweet tea. He did magic for them, too.

Yes, and then he told us to take our clothes off. Not one of your shining moments, Seiren.

Oh. She'd almost forgotten about that. Madeleine hrmphed in the back of her head, unimpressed.

Just as well I had that panic rune Mother gave us should we ever get lost. That man had it coming to him.

What happened to him, anyway? Stripped of his mageship?

I think he was jailed for a good while, too. We weren't the first. They looked into it.

And you call me invested, Madeleine.

Seiren watched the greenery rush past. The vibrant colours became more green the more south they travelled, where it was warmer and autumn less unforgiving. The pale blue of the morning sky brightened until the sun shone straight over their heads as the train pulled over at Danaway.

How do we investigate civil unrest?

We start talking. I guess you can start runing too. Maybe the odd violet one here and there if you want to stick your ear in where you don't belong. Like you did earlier today.

I wanted to know. The library does exist. It's not just a legend! Think – there may be magic that exist that can regenerate your body again!

That woman already said there's a big jump between life magic and human magic not yet bridged. That king's mage.

But if we can create your body, that's one further step in getting you back. Then all I need to look into is transplanting your soul from this necklace back to the body!

Oh yes, that one tiny little task. So easy. So simple.

Seiren rolled her eyes, pulling her backpack off the overhead racks when the train came to a halt. The announcement for Danaway sounded. She hopped off the train, slamming the door behind her. Before she could fully take in the run-down train station with its rusted ceiling and fallen-over signs, someone crashed into Seiren, sending her flying. She landed in a heap on the ground, the breath knocked out of her. The sound of fleeing footsteps reached her ears. She spun around and pushed herself onto all fours, patting her body for injuries. Her eyes widened.

You're joking with me.

That person had stolen her money pouch.

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