Now Kira saw why Graydon had beckoned her. Any thoughts she might have had of blending in with the rest were over now. She'd done her job of distracting Devon's primus a little too well.
She glanced his way again, to find him staring at his desk.
Ah, well, she couldn't exactly take it back now. She'd done what was necessary.
"Big crowd," Kira said, taking a seat beside Raider.
A smirk spread across Raider's face as he made a show of looking her up and down. "Well, look who deigned to show up. Did you catch up on all your beauty sleep?"
"I did, yes, thank you," Kira responded. She made a show of stretching. "It was lovely. You should try it some time."
Raider snickered as he shook his head.
Kira caught Joule craning his neck to get a look at her. "Kira, you're back!"
She grinned at him, slinging her arms around his neck in an impromptu hug. He held still.
"Are you still upset about being support?" Kira asked softly.
Joule made a soft, muffled sound, emotion clogging his throat.
Kira cupped his cheek with one hand, her smile proud. "If you hadn't held your ground, I never would have gotten there in time. Some of you would have likely died or been so damaged it would've taken years to put you back together."
Joule looked afraid to believe her.
Raider nodded, spinning the stylus he held. "She's right. I saw the video. You did good. If this Overlord thing doesn't work out, I could use someone like you in the Curs." He jerked a head at Kira. "She's shit at those shields."
"They only think that because they're humans," someone muttered below. "Anyone can cast a ki shield."
Joule stiffened.
"But they didn't," Raider said with a nasty smile. "They stood there like fish in a barrel. Only you cast that shield, and you held it."
Kira glanced at him, a thought occurring to her. "What videos?"
His grin spread, turning wicked. "Evidently, the forest has an entire surveillance system wired into it. Some enterprising individual accessed the feed and then shared it so others could see. You’re heavily featured."
Kira grimaced. No wonder the initiates were treating her differently.
Raider cast her a sideways look. "It's pretty impressive. I especially like when you threw your broken blade at a drone."
"I was improvising," Kira grumbled.
Not her best plan—throwing part of her weapon away—but it had bought her a little more time.
Joule slid a small coin on her desk. “Ziva wrote you a video letter and asked me to give it to you.”
Kira picked up the coin and rolled it through her fingers, slightly befuddled on what he expected her to do with it.
He grinned and pressed her pointer finger and thumb along the edge.
A tingle rippled across her skin, and then a small hologram of Ziva appeared above the coin.
“Seon’yer, I hope this message finds you well,” the little girl started.
“Joule, why is Ziva calling me seon’yer?” Kira asked calmly.
The boy’s gaze dropped, and he mumbled something indistinguishable under his breath.
“Joule?” Kira’s voice deepened with threat.
“She’s decided she’s your apprentice,” he said, looking guilty.
Kira shook her head and didn’t stop. “No. That’s not happening.”
Joule didn’t answer, steadily avoiding meeting her gaze.
“How can she decide something like that?” Kira asked. “I’m not even past the uhva na. I’m in no place to be someone’s seon’yer.”
Joule lifted a shoulder. “Ziva is stubborn. Once she’s decided on something, it can be very difficult changing her mind.”
Kira studied him with narrowed eyes. Something told her Ziva wasn’t the only one.
She picked up the metal disk again and pressed the two spots Joule had shown her. Ziva’s message resumed.
“I have undertaken training with Luatha as you instructed.” The girl’s mouth screwed up in a grimace. “They’re not as skilled as you, but it’s a good place to start.”
Raider’s shoulders shook beside Kira.
“Your advice to find allies was wise. I’ve made a few acquaintances. Two of them will make good additions to House Maxiim when the time comes. They’re refusing to join us right now, but I have plenty of time to change their minds,” Ziva said, looking serious.
Kira’s eyes widened as she stared in horror at the recording. Raider’s shoulders shook harder. Blue didn’t even try to hide her laughter.
“That’s not what I advised at all,” Kira said in dismay. Her gaze swung to Joule. “You know that, right?”
He nodded slowly, not looking very convinced.
Raider clapped Kira on the shoulder. “Congratulations, your pupil shows the same diabolicalness as a certain drone we both know. I’m sure the two of them have much to learn from each other.”
Kira shook her head and raised her eyes to the ceiling. How had things managed to spiral so quickly?
“At least she’s making friends—even if she’s planning on eventually luring them from your aunt’s House,” Blue said.
Wren stepped into the center of the room, cutting short any further discussion. Kira slipped the metal disc into her pocket. She didn’t even know how to begin addressing Ziva’s misconceptions on her advice. She was afraid to even try for fear Ziva would do the same again.
Wren’s presence had an immediate effect as those in the audience fell silent.
"You have all done well to make it this far." Wren's deep voice rumbled through the amphitheater. "I want to commend you on your tenacity."
The initiates sat up straighter.
"There are those among you who have risen to the challenge, surpassing the limits you've placed on yourself and overcoming every obstacle." Wren paused, his attention shifting to where Harlow and Graydon sat. "Which is why the uhva na has opened."
The initiates below stirred, their whispers breaking the silence. Even Devon was unable to hide his interest.
Below them, Wren held up his hands, demanding quiet. A hush fell as the initiates sat forward in their seats, anticipation electrifying the air.
"You know what an honor this is. The appointment of a formal seon’yer isn’t something we do lightly. Once you pass the uhva na, you will be acknowledged as a warrior and will gain Roake’s sponsorship to the adva ka when it opens," Wren said. "We've been monitoring you since your arrival to determine who is ready and who still needs more time. The next few days will be your last chance to change our minds."
Kira sat back as the initiates erupted into chatter.
"A word of warning—I know passing this phase seems like a given with how far you’ve come, but I warn you, it's not easy. There is no shame in waiting until you're ready." Wren's eyes lingered on Kira.
She stared placidly back. He could warn all he liked, but if she had the opportunity, she was taking it.
"I caution you to know your limits," Wren continued. "The trial has claimed lives in the past. Once you are in its depths, not even we can easily save you should you stray."
The lights in the room dimmed as Wren stepped to the head of the stone table, touching it. A hologram formed above it, a planet and stars glittering as they came into focus.