Leo awakened and dressed well before the sun rose over Dragonsreach. He had packed a small bag late into the night, refusing to sleep, fearing the return of the wraiths. Tiptoeing into his mother and sister’s room, he meant to give them a silent kiss goodbye but was met with Emelina’s wide, sad, misty eyes. She grasped his neck as he tried to kiss her forehead.

“Please don’t go, Leo. I shall be so sad,” she whispered, her voice heavy with emotion.

Leo sighed, unable to meet her gaze. “I’ll be back before you know it, Em. Please, don’t cry. Mum will need you to be strong, okay? You have to keep her happy. Shh,” he added, placing two fingers over his lips.

She nodded silently through muffled sobs.

“I love you, little sparrow. Should I leave Soot to watch over you?” he asked, opening his cloak to reveal the sleeping creature nestled in a makeshift pouch.

Emelina almost giggled at the sight. “No. Soot should go with you to protect you,” she said, more solemn now.

Leo smiled, his heart aching. “I knew you had magic,” she whispered as tears welled up again.

“You’re the magic, Em. The only real magic I’ve ever known,” Leo said softly, not daring to mention the events from the previous day. After kissing her forehead, he found she had fallen back asleep.

“Sleep well, sparrow,” he whispered, turning toward the door and walking out into the cool morning.

Leo stood outside, unsure where to go. He realized he had no idea how to find Gwideon’s manor. The twilight sky stretched out before him, offering little comfort.

“What did I do to get myself into this mess?” he muttered, looking up. A soft coo from Soot reminded him of the small creature nestled in his pouch. He began walking toward the castle, shoulders slumped low.

As he walked, he noticed a strange formation in the sky. What looked like a swarm of bats or birds began to twist and shift. First, they resembled a flock of swallows, but then they started to form the unmistakable shape of a dragon’s eye.

Before Leo could make sense of it, one of the shapes hovered over him before dropping to the ground with a thud. Soot squawked, startled by the sudden movement, while Leo took a step back. There, in the dirt, lay an ancient-looking book.

“What…?” Leo muttered, staring down at the mysterious object. The book was covered in symbols, with an old craggy face etched into its surface.

Suddenly, the eyes on the face shot open, and it yawned. “Good morning, young Leo. I am your very first textbook from Gwideon’s manor.”

Leo jumped back. “What? Have I gone mad?”

The book sighed heavily. “I am your book of transports, and your first lesson starts now. Open me to page one, read the incantation, and you’ll be at Gwideon’s manor in no time.” The face bristled impatiently, shifting across the cover of the book.

Leo stared in disbelief. “A talking book? You can’t be serious,” he muttered, but the book nudged him toward its pages.

“Hundreds of years, and the recruits never change. Hurry up!” it grumbled.

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Reluctantly, Leo opened the book. “Novice Transports,” he read aloud, his eyes landing on the incantation beneath swirling wind symbols. “By wind and whimsy, hear this plea, from where I stand to yonder send me…”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a shimmering gold oval-shaped portal appeared before him. Leo stared, awestruck, clutching Soot tightly to his chest.

“If you call for a portal, you’d better step through it,” the book said. “Now!”

Taking a deep breath, Leo stepped through. The world around him blurred into a vortex of lights and swirling fog. For a moment, he thought he saw Eli’s eyes sneering at him through the chaos. But just as quickly as it had started, the swirling stopped, and Leo found himself standing in a clearing, surrounded by other children. They looked as bewildered as he felt.

Before he could gather his thoughts, a familiar mocking voice rang out. “What are you doing here, pig prince? You can’t possibly be one of the chosen!” Eli sneered as Finella and Merrik laughed.

Leo glared at him, but his attention quickly shifted to Gwideon, who now stood at the edge of the clearing.

“Good morning, and welcome to the mystical Whispering Forest, young novices,” Gwideon said, his voice carrying an authoritative tone. “The thirteen of you have been chosen to train here at my manor. Here, you will learn to harness and grow your natural magic and become vehicles of positive change in our realm, and perhaps even the entire world.”

“Magus, is the manor invisible?” asked a small, impish-looking girl standing near Leo.

“Excellent question, Willowmina,” Gwideon said with a wink. The girl blushed, and a few of the other children turned to look at her. “Behind me is your first examination.”

The group looked around, confused. “But there’s nothing there but an enormous hedge,” Finella blurted out.

“Lesson one: illusions can be made to look very real. What you see appears as a hedge, but in truth, it’s a maze. Inside, you’ll encounter tests on each of the elemental powers, including spirit. Each challenge you complete will earn you a jewel from one of your instructors.”

With a flick of his hand, five crystals appeared, circling around Gwideon. “Each jewel corresponds to one of the elements: earth, air, water, fire, and spirit.” As he spoke, the emerald, citrine, sapphire, ruby, and diamond disappeared one by one.

“When a task is completed, one of your instructors will give you the corresponding jewel,” Gwideon continued. As the words left his mouth, six figures appeared behind him—three to his left and three to his right.

“These are your instructors,” Gwideon announced, bowing his head toward them. “Please introduce yourselves.”

The first to step forward was a tall, thin man with the head of an owl and piercing black eyes. “I am Scholar Stryx. I will teach you magical restraints and escapes.” As he spoke, his head turned a full 180 degrees, causing a small gasp from the girl standing behind Leo.

“Do not try to get away with anything when you are with me. I can see and hear everything,” Stryx warned, his gaze locking on the startled girl.

Next, a stout woman with spiky hair introduced herself. “I’m Gale Hawthorn. I’ll be teaching you healing and herbal magic.”

Pyrais Thornroot, a tall, bright-eyed man, followed. “I’ll be teaching elemental manipulation and alchemy,” he said, his voice full of energy.

“I am Celeste Moonforge,” a soft, wispy voice spoke. A slight woman with flowing blonde hair stepped forward. “I will teach you enchantment history and artifacts. We will also learn how to craft and enchant magical tools.”

Then came a tall, dark-haired woman with a stern expression. “Myris Shadowbore. I will teach you illusion and perception magic.”

Finally, a tall figure with a commanding presence stepped forward. “Prince Aeron,” he said, his deep voice resonating through the clearing. “I will be teaching you magical combat and defense. Be respectful, and be diligent.”

“So we begin,” Gwideon announced, raising his arms high. With a flourish, the instructors disappeared.

Leo’s stomach churned. The air was thick with tension as Gwideon explained the rules of their task.

“Here is what you must do: as you make your way through the maze, you will encounter tasks and riddles. When all are completed, the maze will vanish, and you will find yourselves at my manor.”

“Are we to work alone or in groups?” a wiry boy asked.

“That is entirely up to you,” Gwideon replied. “There is power in working together, but the choice is yours. And so it begins…”

With a wave of his hand, Gwideon and the instructors disappeared, leaving the children standing at the entrance of the maze. Leo’s pulse quickened as the shadows of the hedge loomed over them, a mix of excitement and fear bubbling within him.