The academy gates opened only for bloodlines, money, or miracles.
Lena Orr had none of the first two, so she carried a borrowed coat, a cracked wand, and a miracle she had not told anyone about.
The entrance exam placed her alone in a room of white stone. On the table waited a candle with black fire.
A voice in the wall said, "Extinguish it."
Lena lifted her wand.
The flame turned toward her like an animal.
She remembered the ash storm that had taken her village roof by roof. She remembered the same black light moving inside the clouds.
Instead of striking the candle, she whispered, "Who trapped you here?"
The flame bowed.