Day Blackwood hunches over the bathroom basin. His green eyes follow the scar that runs down on the side of his face. Day's hand tugs at the academy tie around his neck, loosening it. He doesn't understand how anything has happened. Tomorrow will bring the last task of The Revealing.

For months, Day has avoided the topic of heirs, not allowing himself to truly think about it. But as always, Gwendolyn Highmore had been right. It is time to accept his place in the war, heir or no heir.

His fingers twist the knob and the sound of flowing water fills the bathroom, drowning out his heavy breathing. His cupped hands splash water in his face. Day rubs his face and stares at his reflection in the mirror.

The top strands of his hair, now wet, stick to his forehead. His eyes; wide and frantic. His heart rate; erratic. His Adam's apple moves as he swallows.

Day closes his eyes, his arms tensing as they support his weight against the basin. He dreams. Day Blackwood dreams of a better world, a better place. A place where he doesn't need to live in fear. Where his family can eat dinner without having to worry if he would wake up to see the next day. A time where his mother can call him to ask about his grades, not the classmate who died a few metres away from him. A future where his children do not have to worry about Malefactor attacks. In that moment, Day is not a candidate, nor an heir to the entire witch kind. He is simply a dreamer.

A dreamer who hopes to make a change.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Sierra Kingsley is a worrier. She uses a bamboo toothbrush, as she worries about climate change and global warming. Sierra worries about her lactose intolerant friends as they eat ice cream without any care. But in Sierra's personal opinion, worrying isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Until she lines up with the rest of the candidates, and the professors approach them with protective gear appropriate for duelling. Sierra's gut sinks and in that very moment, Sierra hates being a worrier.

She hates being a worrier, as Lucas banters with Alec, uncaring about the task. Sierra hates being a worrier, as Amisha stands next to her, ready to take on the world regardless of what it brings.

Once the candidates have been fitted into the gear, the Governor steps forward on the podium.

"Today we are gathered here for the last task of The Revealing. We are left with seven candidates, six of whom will be declared as the heirs to our kind." The audience claps. The Governor continues, "The task at hand requires the candidates to compete with one another in a duel. I request Lucas Faye and Amisha Jeet to step up to the circle."

Finn Huntley and Cassandra Wood, members of the council, step forward just as Lucas and Amisha make their way. The two council members gesture wildly around the circle and Finn Huntley lifts his hand to the sky. He mutters an incantation and a loud bang fills the air.

Sierra worries as Lucas and Amisha lock eyes, and before Sierra can blink, hexes are flying around the circle. Sierra watches in a daze as Lucas takes a defensive stance, Amisha not giving him a chance to attack. Amisha throws another hex, grey smoke hitting Lucas, and he staggers out of the circle, his arms flying as he falls. Finn Huntley raises his arm, and another loud bang fills the air.

Cassandra Wood announces, "One win for Amisha Jeet."

Amisha stalks up to Lucas, her arm out as an offering. Sierra watches Lucas hesitate for a moment, before grasping her hand and pulling himself up. He brushes the dirt off him and they walk back, taking their place in the line.

Sierra watches Alec and Day duel, doing a similar dance, one that lasts significantly shorter due to Day's quick reflexes. After Day is announced as the winner, the boys bump fists, and run back over to the line.

As Noah is declared the winner in his duel with Zoe, Sierra walks up to the circle with Lucas following. They stand in the circle, waiting for what is now a familiar sound. The bang sounds, and Sierra's hand rises.

She pushes the air, the blue wisps following her hand as she attacks and defends herself.

"Oppugnatio!"

"Contego Noxa."

"Motum glacias!"

Her breath tightens when she remembers a familiar scene, the day she had lost control and nearly injured Lucas. Her breath falters along with her steps. That one second is all it takes for a hex to move through her shield. The yellow light, a simple disarming hex, hits her shoulder and Sierra stumbles out of the circle.

"Win for Lucas Faye!" Cassandra Wood announces.

Dazed, Sierra watches Amisha and Alec duel, and the pair move in sync. Their eyes following each other's movements, predicting the next step and the next spell. Finn Huntley raises his arm and Cassandra Wood declares Amisha as the winner.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Three hours tick by, as the candidates duel one another. As Gwendolyn Highmore studies the students, she realises just how far they have come. Her eyes follow Day Blackwood's movements as he duels with Noah Woods. The two boys who took the wizarding community by surprise.

This would be the last duel for today, and with Day having lost only one – to Sierra Kingsley – she ponders at who will triumph this one. Noah Wood's eyes don't stray from Day, doing his best to seek out Day's weak spots. But as Noah does this, Day follows his movements, predicting the Bender witch's next move.

Gwendolyn can see where Day's movements are little slower than usual, his muscles strain as he tires. In a similar state, sweat trails down Noah face and his neck. Ten minutes later when neither of the boys look to be backing down, Gwendolyn wonders if they'll have to draw a tie.

And then Gwendolyn gasps.

Day Blackwood's consumer vestiums glows red, brighter than ever. A gust of wind surrounds the circle, and then the Earth shakes as Day channels Noah's magic. Noah, caught off guard, lets down his shield and staggers out of the circle.

Finn Huntley, who has to be one of the most obnoxious witches Gwendolyn has met, raises his arm and the bang sounds. Sweet and charming, Cassandra Wood declares Day as the winner.

Huntley moves towards the podium, handing the Governor a sheet of paper. With powerful strides, the Governor moves towards the podium.

He clears his throat before speaking, "Dayton Blackwood wins todays task with five successful duels. Followed by Noah Woods with four and Amisha Jeet tying with Sierra Kingsley at three. Lucas Faye and Alec Bacani tie at two duels resulting in Zoe Argent being eliminated with one duel."

There is a hush in the crowd as they await the words the entire kind of witches has waited over three decades for.

"I now announce our heirs: Noah Woods, Sierra Kingsley, Dayton Blackwood, Alec Bacani Lucas Faye and Amisha Jeet."