Contents
Chapter Fifteen
Overview
Sylvia recalls Jasad’s sacrificial fortress and feels the weight of a legacy she cannot meet. Arin’s blindfolded forest drill provokes a feral outburst and exposes conditioning to follow orders. At breakfast, Arin unexpectedly provides Omalian foods; a rare white berry almost reveals Sylvia’s Jasadi origins. Resolute, she chooses misdirection as Arin sends her to train in Hirun.
Summary
Sylvia opens by recalling Qayida Hend, who died channeling Jasad’s people to raise an impenetrable, identity-tuned fortress. The memory sharpens Sylvia’s shame at failing her lineage and her bitterness that Jasad later burned to undo what Hend died to create.
In training, Arin’s perfectionism shows as he drills Sylvia through spear throws until satisfied. He then leads a blindfolded forest exercise to simulate the first Alcalah trial, aiming to make her navigate using only magic—though Sylvia insists her magic will not answer.
Scattered guards harry her. Vaun taunts and startles her, triggering panic and rage reminiscent of Hanim’s brutal lessons. Disoriented, Sylvia accidentally assaults Marek before Arin halts the exercise. When Arin asks why she didn’t remove the blindfold, Sylvia blurts that she was following instructions, exposing a deep, conditioned obedience.
The next morning, Arin has procured Omalian foods for the tunnels, baffling Sylvia. Banter with the guards breaks when an unfamiliar white berry appears. Tasting it jolts a buried Jasadi memory from the eastern wilayahs, and Sylvia realizes this could expose her heritage.
Arin notices her reaction, renewing the hunt for her identity. Sylvia decides to plant misleading clues rather than hope her cover holds. Arin ends by ordering tighter clothing for the next phase: entering Hirun.
Who Appears
- Sylvia (Essiya)Hidden Jasadi heir; drills with Arin, has a feral break in the woods, reveals obedience conditioning, denies recognizing a Jasadi berry, resolves to misdirect him.
- ArinNizahl Heir-Commander; exacting trainer, conducts blindfold forest test, notes Sylvia’s conditioned obedience, supplies Omalian foods, pushes training toward Hirun.
- VaunHostile guard; taunts Sylvia during the drill, escalates her panic and fury, later accompanies Arin to the kitchen.
- MarekAlly from Mahair; accidentally struck by Sylvia in the woods, shares breakfast banter, supports Sefa.
- SefaJasadi companion; eats with the group, examines the mysterious white berry with Sylvia.
- WesGuard; assists Arin, comments on the unexpected Omalian foods at breakfast.
- JeruGuard; engages Sylvia about the trial, jokes at breakfast, observes the berry incident.
- Qayida HendHistoric Jasadi leader; remembered for sacrificing herself to raise Jasad’s fortress.
- HanimSylvia’s former trainer; her brutal conditioning surfaces in Sylvia’s strict obedience during the drill.