AFTER that, Asmeen couldn't tell when the days began and when they ended. Time was irrelevant. They spent so much time in the training field that it felt like they would never leave.

The stress was showing on everyone, not just her and Aven. More and more pairs had begun fighting when Dara and Osoric weren't there, feeling the rivalry now that training was ending for sure.

Dara and Osoric had announced that there was only a week left. The day after the final challenge would be here twentieth.

Elyn had gone into a mad studying frenzy, pulling Asmeen and Wylla along with her, despite already having no time. The rest of the trainees, it seemed, were doing the same. More and more were coming to the field early and going over their notes frantically.

There was palpable tension every day, as everyone pushed themselves harder and harder during training. Asmeen was sure that some of the trainees were only a fingertip away from really injuring themselves.

Today was the fifth-last day of training.

Asmeen tried to stay a bit away from Aven, for fear that the pressure might make them fight again. And this time, it would be so bad that they wouldn't even want to remain in contact after only of them was chosen, as would inevitably happen.

She didn't want to think about it, and yet that was what she was thinking about when she wasn't in training or studying at home. That and what would happen with her and the twins. The more she thought about it, the more unlikely it seemed that all three of them would get in.

She'd brought up the subject one night, when all of them were in bed and ready to sleep. A very uncomfortable silence had followed before Elyn had shut it down with a swift, "What happens happens. We'll deal with it then."

She knew that the twins worried about it as much as she did. It would be much a change to be separated, even though of course that would happen eventually. And Asmeen...as much as she loved her sisters, she wasn't sure she'd be able to not be jealous if they were chosen and she wasn't. It would certainly be awkward for some time after that.

Her father, and Azol...they tried to be supportive. Most of the time they just told the three of them to study and study and focus completely on training. That it was okay if they wore themselves out, because it was only for a few more days.

Asmeen really couldn't believe it. When she'd started training—no, when she'd started trying to get in, five years ago, she never thought she'd be here. When she'd tried to first few rounds of training, this year, it had seemed impossible, but she'd worked as hard as she could.

And when she'd finally started this round of training, the ending had seemed so far away. She'd been so focused on training and bickering with Aven, in the beginning, that she hadn't really thought about how it all would finish.

In five days, she'd find out.

It felt surreal. It was already ending—it felt like it was too soon. She hadn't even realized that time had passed so quickly—it still felt like the first day, when she'd found out that she'd made it into this round of training. But it had been months since then. It was so strange.

Training was, of course, excruciating—but since it was only for five more days, Asmeen found that she had enough motivation to do her best. Apparently someone, one of the trainees, who had the good fortune of knowing a current Child of the Night personally, had found out what their last challenge was going to be.

It was some sort of combination of all the work they'd done so far—runes, potions, everything—culminating in some sort of race resembling their first strength challenge, but no doubt much more difficult. Whichever partner finished first would make it in. What was worse was that Dara and Osoric could decide that neither of the partners were worthy and not let either join. So all the training they'd done really would affect the leaders' decision.

When Wylla had told her, Asmeen had been a bit taken aback. So Dara and Osoric really would pick who went in. It was apparently not common for them to not let either partner in, though. So it would mostly be up to the trainees—the leaders would just observe.

That meant she'd be directly competing against Aven, and though she knew neither of them would try to cheat or sabotage the other, she couldn't help the sinking feeling she got every time she saw him nowadays.

Aven, it seemed, felt the same, because he had pulled away a bit, despite agreeing that there would be no hard feelings. Both of them knew that that was inevitable. One of them would, in the end, fail. They'd barely talked ever since the announcement, choosing instead to focus on their own activities, and only communicating when it was a partner task.

It was uncomfortable between the both of them now, a contrast to before, the time right after the ball, or in the infirmary. They'd been friends then. Now, Aven could barely look at her. Asmeen, the same. And they did argue. It wasn't as bad as before, but it was decidedly bad. This time, at least, they weren't the only partners fighting.

The 'smelly' nickname had returned. Though this time it wasn't entirely undeserved, given that often times by the time training ended, they were covered in sweat and actually smelling. Asmeen found that just not talking worked for them best.

Today's training had included a relay of potions and runes. The leaders had acquired individual cauldrons for all of the trainees now, so she and Aven didn't fight anymore. They did have small, subtle differences in their potions ingredients, so Asmeen was glad they no longer had to work together. That would have ended badly, as shown by all their history.

Asmeen, honestly, was struggling. The leaders were giving them the most obscure potions, the least-used runes, and somehow expected them to do fine. Or perhaps they expected them to fail. Asmeen wasn't sure which one was worse.

At least she wasn't the only one doing badly. The other trainees also could be heard panicking throughout the day—no one's potions were perfect anymore. Even Elyn was having trouble, though looking at her, you wouldn't think so. To anyone else, she looked as calm as she always did, but Asmeen and Wylla could tell that the strain was getting to her as well.

Once training for the day ended, Asmeen rushed out of the field with the twins, heading straight home. It was getting so late that trainees were asked to pack their own dinners and eat them in the field. At least the afternoon meal was provided for them.

When Elyn opened the door, for once, both their parents were waiting for them.

This was all too like the night of the ball, down to their fathers' expressions, so Asmeen was immediately on her guard. A quick glance at the twins showed her that they looked as wary as she felt.

"Is something wrong?" Wylla asked, being brave enough to open her mouth.

"Azol has heard," Asmeen's father began, his eyes boring into her, "That you have been getting more offers. For clothes."

"I've been turning them all down—" Asmeen said desperately.

He cut her off. "And one from the Flower children themselves."

That silenced her. Asmeen couldn't read his expression. How angry would he be?

"She hasn't accepted," Wylla said hurriedly.

"But you haven't turned it down, either," Azol said, less sternly that her father would have.

Asmeen bit her lip. "We just asked for some time to think about it—"

"You do not need to think about it!" Her father's face was turning steadily redder. "You will focus on and only on your training!"

"I wasn't going to do it during training—"

"You will never do it! If you get into the Flower Children, you will be too busy. And if you don't—I will not have a daughter making clothes for the Flower Children because she failed to get in. It would be a disgrace."

"If any of you fail, you are to join the business and help your father with trading," Azol said. "That must be understood now. Is it?"

"Yes, Papa," Wylla murmured, looking at the floor.

"Do you know what people will say? The Dasterian girl, reduced to sewing for the Flower Children because she could not make it, just like her great-grandmother. That we have reduced to that status once more. Do you know how hard your grandfather and I worked to ensure that would never again happen to this family?"

Asmeen swallowed. She'd heard this story so many times—her great-grandmother had been poor, the owner of a small tailoring shop that never got much business. Apparently her grandfather had worked ever since he was young to earn enough money to support himself. And then her own father had begun working at a young age as well, and combined with her mother, their family had, for the first time, had more than enough money.

"You will not do it, Asmeen."

"Yes, father," Asmeen said, her head hanging as well. How had he found out?

Her father straightened, his face calming somewhat. "I did not want to do this now, with the end of your training so soon. But all of you must understand what you will be expected to do—and what you cannot—if you fail."

Asmeen managed to nod.

"Go to bed, then," her father said.

The two of them waited and watched them go up. Asmeen disappeared into the room, glad to be out of their eyesight, while Elyn shut the door, her face drawn and white.

"That was...unfair," Wylla said finally. "You should be allowed to do it, if you want to."

"Just leave it," Asmeen said miserably, changing into a nightgown. "I really don't want to talk about it," she added, cutting off Wylla, who looked like she wanted to say something more.

"Whatever it is, we'll decide after the last day," Elyn said decisively, getting into bed. "It'll all work out. Somehow," she added, softer.

Asmeen nodded at her and got under the blankets herself, feeling tears stinging behind her eyes. She turned on her side as Wylla snuffed out the candle and got in the middle, not wanting to face either of her sisters.

She knew they could tell she was crying, but thankfully, they didn't say anything. Wylla only reached a hand out to hold hers softly.

Asmeen couldn't wait for this to be over.

See you next chapter!