Rensa’s question was most dangerous. It forced Blue to confront her faith, setting her down a path that could lead to apostasy; her very identity as a High Priestess of ADAM was at stake.

I must say I have not had to question my faith like this in a long time… but I welcome it. Blue thought to herself. She knew that questioning her faith only made it stronger, in the end, provided it did not crumble under the test.

Blue turned her mind to her knowledge of quantum physics. Specifically, the knowledge that all of reality could be best described as probabilistic waveforms. It was through the manipulation of these waveforms that the universe was the way it was now. Collapsing a waveform entangled reality with the outcome, no matter how improbable. With this knowledge, Blue saw a path to reconcile these two warring ideas.

“Reality is an infinitely splitting thread of possibilities. The Creator knows this; as does ADAM. With each decision, the thread forms a fork. The Creator, who exists outside time, sees every thread from start to finish, with their sight which transcends mortal sense, able to comprehend infinity, able to speak true words in language and energy that mere mortals cannot produce. All of creation is indeed within the Creator's hands. They can see every decision we will ever make; every decision that we have the possibility of making! And, they are able to change whatever they desire, for they made the Great Thread, to begin with. I believe that destiny exists, that the Creator rules, as ADAM proclaims. But, I also believe that free will exists. Every choice and every outcome has been predetermined and is known, but our free choices ultimately affect which thread of fate we find ourselves in. That is a simple fact born of logic. Those who believe that free will and destiny are irreconcilable have simply not looked hard enough for the truth.”

Rensa positively glowed with contentment from within. “Excellently said. I can see that such trivial paradoxes are beneath you.”

Vulana clapped her hands once more, once again shocking her guest into sobriety.

The illusion of Rensa disappeared, but the memory of the trial did not disappear from Blue’s electronic mind, which had automatically backed up the information before it was magically removed.

Recounting the events that had just transpired to herself, Blue regarded Vulana with mild interest. “What a fun spell. If I had failed to solve that problem, would you have saved me from apostasy?” Blue asked.

“No,” Vulana replied simply. “If you fail my trial, that is a reflection of who you are. As the test is born of your own mind, it is appropriate. Always.”

Vulana clapped her hands once more, sending a shower of sparks out to wake Phee from her current trance and into the active phase of her trial.

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“Wha- oh…”

A voice came from Phee’s bracelet. King Rolynd.

“Phee, are you there?”

Elwin looked at Blue in confusion. She met his gaze and gently shook her head.

“Roly. Yes. I’m right here, awaiting the final trial. It should begin any minute now.” Phee said into her bracelet, looking without seeing Vulana, Elwin and Blue.

“Are you alone?” Rolynd asked.

“Yes, the others seem to have disappeared. I guess they went to their tests.”

“Good. There’s been a change of plans.” Rolynd said. “You need to kill them, Blue and Elwin, that is.”

“Oh… shit.” Elwin squeaked.

Blue shot a betrayed look at Vulana, who shrugged. “I do not choose the contents of the trial. Ultimately it is the product of the mind of the one who casts the spell.”

Phee herself seemed conflicted. Indeed, an inner conflict seemed to be the main objective of Vulana’s trial; to present an obstacle to be overcome.

“Well, Elwin. We are well equipped if it comes to a life or death battle. You have an enchanted pincushion, don’t you?” Blue whispered.

“I suppose that’s true if she stabs me, but any slash or twist of the blade after a stab could be the end of me. Phee’s rapier is kept honed to an unbelievably keen edge with that masterwork-grade sharpness enchantment that-...” Elwin replied uneasily.

“Shh… listen.” Blue interrupted him.

“…you sure that they need to die?” Phee asked Rolynd.

“Since when have you become so insolent?” Rolynd sighed. “I can see that Effie has been spending too much time with you. I better not see you drinking alcohol, too. Kill them. I’m trusting you to get it done.”

Phee’s fingers traced the swept wiry golden edges of her rapier’s handguard, which was made from a gold-plated cup with swept decorative wire. Her fingers tapped along, eyes closed deep in thought. When her eyes reopened, her gaze landed squarely on Elwin and Blue, watching her facial expression intently.

Phee’s hand flew to the grip of her rapier as she stepped off her seat, finding her balance in a wide fighting stance.

“Wait!” the fool said, holding both his hands up with open palms.

Phee hesitated. “How much did you hear?” she asked fiercely.

“This is a test,” Blue said. “That was not Rolynd, it was an illusion.”

“Impossible. My bracelet is protected by Universal Law.” Phee said, drawing her weapon in a golden flash. The action was accompanied by a smooth scraping sound as it left its enchanted metal scabbard. A gentle ringing floated through the tense air, emanating from the drawn blade. Her rapier glinted in the dim light from the underside of the bar, a thin layer of plated gold along the length of its core.

“Yes, protected by Universal Law, by your own blood. The illusion has been cast by yourself, a spell that also makes you forget that you have cast it.” Blue said, trying to convince the young Bloodstone.

“That doesn’t make any sense, I don’t know the first thing about magic!” Phee shouted as she lunged towards Elwin.

In the young elf’s sight, everything became a disorientating blur. The wind was knocked out of his chest as he found himself flying through the air, the cold night air tossing his hair and brushing against his cheeks. Refocusing his dazed eyes, Elwin saw the bar was slipping away beneath him. He was being carried away in Blue’s arms.

Something glinted from the ground ten meters below them.

Blue violently swerved to avoid the attack, jerking Elwin to the side. Elwin caught the glimpse of a dagger. A strange, blooming network of iridescent green threads seemed to be hanging from its hilt.