Lies & Labyrinths

Little changed the following days besides an announcement of Arleigh’s departure from the school for the opportunity to be an ambassador in his hometown. That was code for him being sacked, and few bought the lie for anything other than that. Lilith had wondered what that would mean for the school’s funding, albeit briefly, realizing Klymviner was still around. Speaking of Klymviner, none of her “special project” students had returned. Lilith was more worried for the stygians than anyone else, having witnessed just how often they were being pulled out of class for whatever assignment the Enchantments teacher had. That had lasted the rest of the week, into the next.

Besides the missing students and teachers, the second week had all but blurred into the first. The only thing that truly changed after was how much faster the anxiety crept in as Lilith drew nearer to the exam that would define the rest of her life.

There was one final assembly the following Thursday evening after the last class, designed for all of the students that had never seen the Weaving before. This of course was dampened seeing as it was, in fact, the worst kept secret of the school.

The first half hour was nothing but a droning message about the power of unity and overcoming all differences with the strength of friendship, or some other hokey rubbish like that. The real meat and potatoes came after.

“For most of you, this will all be well-trodden ground. But for those in attendance who have never taken part in The Weaving, the powers that lay within are magnified, and as we weave above, so do we reap below.”

It was a mish-mash of idioms but it painted a clear picture.

“During your delve into The Veil, you will have glimpses of the world beyond the material realm. These things may be frightening, confusing, or downright strange. As long as one remains on the path and does not stray over the edge of the campus, you will be fine. For those that stray too close to the edge, you may witness a vast labyrinth that covers all the world below, and a spire connecting between our school and the ground. I can assure you, that if you are unfortunate enough to become lost over that edge then you are likely to never return. Labyrnthia is a land we must all walk someday. Do not hasten your trip there.”

“What’s he talking about?” whispered Lilith to Emily, her permanent assembly buddy if she could manage it for the rest of her academic career.

“The land of the dead.” Emily whispered back.

This only succeeded in worrying Lilith more.

“The journey into The Weaving begins tomorrow morning, at the Witching Hour. We will be meeting here in the Great Hall and you will be called to enter into the portal-” The Headmaster gestured to the far end where the main teleporter stood, currently cordoned off. “- determined by your aptitude and overall growth this year. Your place in the Labyrinth at the time of the Orb successfully being moved to its rightful place determines your placement in the next semester. The last student shall carry the orb in, and when it is inside, then shall the Weaving commence.”

Lilith tuned the rest of the speech out at that point, sinking even lower into her chair. She would be dead last, she just knew it. What was worse, there was no way for Emily to go in at the same time with her. She would be truly alone until she found her friend, and every single student would be after her.

Lilith had no appetite at dinner. She could hardly sleep that evening, and even more worrying, she was nowhere closer to getting the fireball spell working. That meant she had nothing but a spectral hand and a dagger to defend herself with when others would be using everything under the sun at their disposal. Lilith did not so much dream as wake up every twenty minutes convinced she had slept and missed the entire thing.

At the stroke of 3, the prefects fetched the Alphas. There was no point in getting the Deltas yet; most of them stayed waiting at the first floor landing. After a few more minutes the sound of the Betas could be heard passing by the doors. Finally, the Deltas were called, names shouted as the line began to form. Lilith had been dead last, just as predicted, placed behind a student who had the most vacant dull expression on his face, mouth-breathing as he picked his nose in boredom.

They were marched across the grounds to the main hall, the room glowing with a bright green hue. The teleporter had been moved to the center of the room, the red carpet usually saved for the stage now forming a trail of students beset on all sides by teachers, most of which Lilith did not recognize. Four bronze pillars had been erected at each corner of the stone circle, flames of red, green, orange and blue flickering with the sudden rush of wind with each successful One by one the students stepped in, a slow steady march of students filtering in.

Cobalt and Crimson were the first of the teachers that Lilith recognized, both smiling and giving a thumbs-up to her as she passed.

“You’ll do great! Just remember to focus!”

“And clear your mind!”

Lilith felt the vein in her forehead throb at the ‘advice’.

Next had been Twixtfeather, who smiled as she neared his spot in the procession.

“I dare say that I hope that you make history today Miss Lavoi!”

“Thank you professor.” She smiled, noting Klymviner next to the owlperson.

“Where are the stygians?” Lilith asked.

“They were the first to enter. It is customary that we mark such folk before their powers grow out of hand, which means they must forge the path. Don’t worry about them, they have a far, far better chance of succeeding than you in there.”

Lilith glared, shuffling forward again. No more teachers to give any last minute guidance. Arleigh was gone, Inam was on vacation. And the staff of Conrad…

He couldn’t have even been here, Lilith reminded herself. She’d do him proud, though. Even if it was futile. Caterpillar teacher was there instead. He seemed half asleep. The man hadn’t bothered to learn her name in a week and she had already forgotten his, so it was nothing more than an awkward nod.

The Vice Headmaster waited on the other side of the stones, beckoning each student to approach and then wait their turn, giving the person ahead the opportunity to pass. Last, and by all accounts least, it was just Lilith.

“Miss Lavoi, you have quite the uphill battle ahead of you. I know you must regret your current placement in line. But if you persevere, I believe you will succeed.”

The Vice Headmaster turned, opening the case and retrieving the orb. He handed it to Lilith, nodding once as he beckoned her forward.

“Go with grace and speed.” he said, Lilith tucking the orb under her arm as she stepped into the teleporter.

Something seemed to hum in the air as Lilith crossed over the threshold. The humming grew louder, and then added a vibration not unlike a hornet's nest. Lilith glanced down, noting it was coming from the Feyline Anchor. All of the teachers stared, and for the briefest of moments before the teleporter whisked her away between the fabric of reality, she was certain that everyone seemed just as surprised as she at the orb’s sudden movement. Before a word could be said however, the light of the teleporter flashed and went racing to finally meet the crossroads of her destiny, unaware of the changes occuring even as she disappeared with a sparkle from the material realm.