Elise stood behind the etched line while Gorren hoisted his axe above the waiting dragon heart.
The ward's pressure squeezed her next breath, and she clutched her examination slip until its folded edge bit her palm. Allen stayed beside the wall lever without urging anyone forward, and his silence felt worse than another lecture about limits.
'Is this about the royal recommendation, or does he drag everyone down here to learn how little they can do?'
She glanced toward Hajin, but his attention stayed glued to the crystal instead of their examiner.
"You'll break it," she whispered, lifting her free hand before remembering the warning about crowding the approach.
Gorren's axe came down as all four Shards blazed around his arms, and his bellow swallowed her warning.
"Die!" He drove his whole weight behind the blade as its edge struck violet crystal.
