Spring arrives in a flash, bringing with it new developments and challenges. I’ve made excellent progress understanding how mana works. Thanks to discussing theory with Melina, and trying all winter to observe what’s happening with energy flows when people activate Skills, I’m on the verge of a breakthrough. I’ve grown more skilled at both fighting and glassblowing. While I boast no new Skills despite the glimmer of other people’s mana I see while cycling my own mana to my eyes, I’m more confident than ever that it will work out in my favor soon.

Still, I have nothing to complain about. Work at the studio is going well, and I’m in a good rhythm as my confidence and determination improve by leaps and bounds. Training with the Iron Lunk has done wonders for my strength and stamina, and I’m filling out my slender frame.

My routine doesn’t last long.

Ember calls me into her overseer’s office early one morning, before the start of the work week. A tightly-controlled smile brightens her usually impassive face, as she struggles and fails to appear stern. She lifts her hand, gesturing toward an elegant man in expensive-looking black silks. “Nuri, this is Ezio, Rakesh’s mentor. I don’t have the skills to teach you magic properly, and you’re liable to hurt yourself if you keep playing with mana, so I hired an expert to intervene. If he can’t help you, then no one can.”

Ezio inclines his head. Magical energy glimmers, swirling around him in a mesmerizing spiral, visible even without circulating my mana. His olive skin is smooth and his hair lacks any hint of gray, but his dark amber eyes look far older than the rest of him.

I bow deeply, my hands clasped in greeting. “Rakesh speaks highly of you. I’m honored to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Ezio says, his face crinkling into a kindly smile. “I’ve received a good report from Rakesh; he said you and Melina are scholars at heart, even if you haven’t pursued the path of the academic. I look forward to tutoring you.”

A tutor. Hired with Ember’s own money? I’m short of breath as I realize just what she’s done for my sake. Ember seems like a solved puzzle to the uninitiated: an ex-soldier, a strict businesswoman. I consider myself a leading expert on her behaviors after so many years of close proximity, so I know she’s full of surprises. Even so, this one catches me entirely off guard. She hides her generosity under a steely exterior, but this is extraordinary even for her.

In a daze, I incline my head to Ember, fumbling for words. “Thank you. I owe you more than I could ever repay.”

“Don’t get all mushy on me. Taking care of my crew is part of the job.” Ember jerks her thumb at the door. “All right. I got work to do. Get out of my office.”

“What about my work orders?” I squeak out, still baffled by the turn of events.

“Lionel and the Linas already split them up between them. You can thank them later—or not, if the clients complain. Now get,” Ember says with a chuckle, shooing us out with a flourish of her hands.

Ezio falls into step beside me as we vacate the office, his silks rustling in an impressive, scholarly manner. A look of wry amusement momentarily creases his brow, but he smooths out his features, offers an easy smile, and manages to look downright dignified as we walk past the grinning co-conspirators outside.

“Don’t forget to tell Mikko who helped you fulfill your orders,” Avelina calls from her spot at the flameworking station, fluttering her eyelashes in the most exaggerated fashion I’ve ever seen. Her sister elbows her in the ribs, but they both smirk when I simply roll my eyes and walk away, following my new teacher toward the front door.

“Is this typical around here?” Ezio asks softly once we’re outside. “Seems like a rather, ah, spirited operation.”

I shrug one shoulder. “Yeah, I’d say so. Beats not having any fun. We work hard, we play hard.”

He rubs his chin as he thinks over my response. “My colleagues could learn from your example. They tend to be stuck up. I hope you apply yourself to your studies with equal vigor.”

“I’ll try, Master Ezio, but I’ve never been good at school,” I admit. “I wanna learn anything you’re willing to teach me, but I hope you won’t hold me to unrealistic expectations.”

“Ha! Please just call me Ezio. Master is such a stuffy term for someone who only studies books,” Ezio says, flushing slightly. He’s far from the aloof and judgmental mental image I’ve built up of a premier scholar from the Silaraon City Academy.

We stroll in silence for a moment before Ezio clears his throat and speaks in a more professorial tone. “I have no expectations other than hard work. What you get out of this arrangement is entirely up to you. That said, I do expect you to make the acclaimed Master Ember’s investment worthwhile. Don’t let her down.”

I fiddle with the clasp on my collar, suddenly feeling too hot at the mention of investment. Ember’s gift is overwhelming. I know she thinks of me as family, but this is overly generous. “I—I have funds. If I pay you directly, will you refund her?”

“No,” Ezio says immediately.

When I open my mouth to argue, he cuts me off with a raised hand.

“That’s not because of any policy, Nuri. It’s simply the right course of action. Refusing a gift is hardly polite. Besides, when you get to my age, you start to think about legacy. Ember has no family other than you. Pouring her time and care into you is likely the most meaningful thing she can do with her resources. Accept it for the honor it is.”

“That’s a good way of putting it. Thank you for your wisdom, Ezio,” I say, wincing slightly at my awkwardness. I don’t know how to talk with an important scholar, so I’m defaulting to the obsequious tone I take with Lord Garman’s [Chamberlain]. I don’t like how insincere it feels.

Ezio‘s eyes spark with amusement. “Relax, Nuri. I’ll push you hard to learn, just like with any of my other students, but I don’t bite. Much.”

“Look at that! You’re teaching me already,” I reply, an impish smile on my face now that I know he has a sense of humor. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. If Ezio is a friend of Ember's, then he can't be too bad. And we already owe Rakesh for all his help, so I’m inclined to listen to his master.

“Ah, well, learning is hardly confined to an institution,” Ezio says, deflecting my praise. He seems strangely humble for such an important figure in the Silaraon City Academy. “Now, we’ve got a busy schedule, so let’s get moving.”

He picks up the pace, his long legs striding along with more spryness than I expect from a bigshot [Scholar]. For some reason, I have a hard time shaking my preconceptions about a birdlike frame and bags under the eyes—a malnourished, perpetually-peevish look that comes from lack of sunshine, food, and friends.

You’re being unfair, Nuri. Try to get to know him, I chide myself. This is your opportunity to step onto the path of the [Mage]. Don’t drop the glass before you get to the annealer. It’s not a perfect analogy, but my mind always defaults to glass. I don’t want to bungle this up.

“Academics don’t often venture into the Crafters Quarters,” I observe after we’ve left the glassworks and blacksmith shops behind, watching for any signs of a bad reaction. To his credit, Ezio doesn’t so much as twitch a muscle.

“We’re a rather insular group,” he replies, surprisingly agreeable for a man with such an exalted position. “Perhaps it would do us all some good to get out more. Hm. New experiences naturally give rise to new thought processes and modes of adaptation, after all. That reminds me! We’ll have to discuss encoded experiences later.”

I slow down as we pass by a broad street, noting the immaculately manicured lawns and stately wrought-iron gates. Though lacking the luxury of Lord Garman’s estates, this is still an upscale neighborhood, far removed from the smell and hustle of crafters. A few servants are sweeping the streets in front of the houses, ensuring that the minor nobles in residence never have to deal with anything as mundane as dirt or debris.

“Is that why you agreed to take me on? Dealing with a working-man rube will provide just the insight you need to progress to the next Threshold,” I tease.

“Exactly! Great instincts,” Ezio says, his voice rising as he gets excited. I didn’t expect him to take me seriously, but it sounds like I’ve inspired him.

“Wait, really?” I ask, incredulous. “This partnership is actually beneficial to you? You’ll have to explain that one.”

“You already summed it up nicely,” Ezio replies. “Our words overflow from our particular groupings of beliefs about the nature of the world, which in turn are derived from experiences that are uniquely ours. If I only ever attend lectures and read the writings of other academics, then I’m missing out on new ways of communicating, new ways of thinking. Taking on a student from a different paradigm propels me forward. I jumped at the chance to work with you.”

“Oh. No wonder Ember could afford it.”

Ezio shrugs, but doesn’t turn to face me. He keeps walking, forcing me to keep up if I want to continue the conversation. “There’s nothing inherently wrong with making choices that benefit yourself. Or do you think altruism is the only virtue in life?”

I shrug. “I don’t mind ulterior motives; I just like to be aware of them. People are more predictable with clear motivations and goals.”

“Pragmatic. I appreciate that attitude in a new student,” Ezio says, and his tone sounds genuinely approving. “Speaking with you has already been profitable, and I suspect that you’ll come up with many questions my more classically-trained students never think to ask. Please, continue!”

“All right, but tell me if I’m prying too much,” I say, still not sure how to speak with Ezio. He talks to me just like the old [Gaffer] does—like he’s everyone’s favorite uncle, whether you’re related or not—but he looks like he’s only a few years older than I am.

That gives me an idea. At first it sounds rude, but I won’t get the measure of the man by asking safe questions. Seeing how he reacts to potential conflict will give me a lot of insight into how we’re supposed to work together going forward. I stop walking for a moment and turn to face the [Scholar], taking a deep breath. “Ezio, mind if I ask a personal question?”

“Counting on it!” he replies, smiling warmly.

“All right. How old are you, anyway? You don’t look like you have your own students, but Rakesh is my age and has been studying with you for half a decade. Hiding secrets?”

“Always,” he replies, striding away again.

I roll my eyes. Smooth, Nuri. Dunno what you expected. I asked him the question half in jest, but I thought he might give me a better answer. His reply sounded straightforward on the surface, but it didn’t actually tell me anything at all. Huh. Maybe that’s just how academics communicate. Hiding the truth by answering a different question. With a start, I realize he’s halfway down the street, and I’m forced to run to catch up.

His long, measured strides cover entirely too much ground to be natural, and it takes me almost half a minute of running before I rejoin him. As soon as I step into line next to him, I find that I can walk at a normal pace again. Strangely enough, we’re still passing by the houses in the Burgher district far more quickly than we should. Perhaps he has a hidden movement Skill with an area effect?

I scratch my jaw. What an odd thing for a [Scholar] or [Tutor] to pick up. If Ember hired him, though, then there’s definitely more to him than first impressions might suggest. I snap my fingers as a thought occurs to me. “That’s it! I’ll bet you’re bending time, aren’t you?”

“Maybe. Why do you say that? Something tip you off?” Ezio asks, matching my question with two of his own—all the while still avoiding the original discussion about his age. I’ll have to take notes on his impressive ability to dodge questions.

“Hm. My guess is that we’re moving faster than usual not because of a spatial anomaly, but because you have Skills related to time. Research takes a long while, right? So, it stands to reason that you’ll have some sort of workaround.”

“Clever,” Ezio replies, nodding at me. “Rakesh was right. You’re observant and quick to make connections. Lacking foundational mana theory, perhaps, but the raw potential is there.”

I shrug off the praise. “Eh, I’m just trying to think like Mel. She really should be here, too. Did Ember talk with you about her? I’ve never seen anyone so meticulous at reading, testing her theories, and notetaking.”

Ezio scratches his nose. “I’d be happy to bring her on as another student, but isn’t she one of your coworkers? I thought that they’re handling your work orders this week. I’m not sure how that will work if you’re going to join me for private studies.”

“What if we attend your lectures, instead of private lessons?” I blurt out. “I’ll split my time between the glass studio and the Academy. Melina can come along and study. She already meets with Rakesh, so she has a better working knowledge than I do, honestly.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Ezio says, nodding along. “I’ll have to discuss that with Ember, however, and we’d have to talk about tuition fees. An entire semester of study for two students at the SCA is more than what your master paid for a few private study sessions with me for this week. But, perhaps I can let you audit the courses. We’ll see.”

I don’t push the issue, sensing some hesitation. Enrollment at the SCA is probably a more complicated affair than I initially assumed. I ponder his words as we walk through the grounds of the Academy, lost in thought until we arrive at his office. I’m fixated on my new goal of bringing Melina along to study with Ezio. I’m not sure if Ember will allow it, though; a surprise week off unasked-for is already extremely generous.

Paying for not one, but two of her most talented glassworkers to miss a full semester of work? Unconscionable! She’s encouraged me to practice, but this expensive investment in my future almost makes me tear up. I owe her more than I’ll ever be able to repay, and I don’t want to take advantage of Ember’s good fortune by asking her to let Melina out of work, too.

Then again. If we only attend two lectures a week, and make up our orders outside of work hours, then maybe it will be fine. Maybe I can—

Ezio waves his hand in front of my face, breaking me out of my daydream. “Nuri? Ah! I’d like to welcome you to my humble office.”

“Thanks,” I stammer in embarrassment as he ushers me inside his office. I manage to recover my composure and avoid gawking at all the books he’s stuffed into his bookshelves. The shelves line the room wall to wall, other than a gap for a painting of a field of wildflowers.

Ezio motions for me to seat myself on a plush red chair near a mahogany table polished to a shine. He looks far more animated than the reserved persona he presented back at the glass studio. He rifles through the drawers in his desk and pulls out two metal orbs, each the size of his fist. Attached by slender wires to a strange, oblong metal tool with a spike at the end, they form a simple apparatus that looks more like a weapon than anything else.

Humming to himself, Ezio arrays everything on the table in front of me. Underneath his cheerful tune, I can hear another sound, like strange dissonance, buzzing from the object. In his own element, he’s far more personable than I ever thought a [Scholar] could be, but something about the device seems sinister.

“This is a mana gauge, Nuri. It’s one of the staples of our research here in the SCA. I’m in the synthetic aspects department—and I’ll explain what that means later, never fear. Back to this little artifact, though: have you ever seen a mana gauge before?”

“No,” I reply, squinting at the little contraption as though extra scrutiny will reveal secrets of its construction and purpose. I decide to bluff. “Seems straightforward enough, though.”

Ezio nods, apparently pleased with my assessment. “Precisely. It does more or less what you’d expect from the name. Tell me, Nuri, have you ever tried a mana control test? Ember said your foundation is lacking, and she hopes our time together will help you improve, but she was too busy with work to give more than scant details.”

I shake my head, then second-guess myself. “Not officially, no, but I have a set of glass orbs I made in the hot shop. They’re both mana- and heat-resistant, so they make good training tools as I try to develop my control over [Heat Manipulation] by warming and cooling the pair in a set sequence. I have to precisely adjust how much mana I use, or else the glass lights up with the wrong color, since I used temperature-responsive elements to make the batch. Is that good practice for mana control?”

Ezio tilts his head to the side, as though examining me in a new light. “Innovative! I am extremely impressed. Practical drills like that are essential for young minds, yet are too often skipped because they’re hard and—well, let’s be realistic—rather boring. Your glass orbs will operate in a similar fashion to this test, if I understand their function correctly, although this is significantly more painful.”

I chuckle nervously, and shift my feet on the floor so I can jump up and run more easily if I have to make a quick getaway, but he’s piqued my interest. “Painful? I thought we would just go over some paperwork and subjects. You know, school stuff. What exactly do you mean?”

Ezio’s sudden grin takes on a predatorial cast. “It’s up to you. I won’t force a temporary student to take the test, but the benefits are well worth the trouble. Just like with your glass orbs, you’ll pull out the stored mana through one node of the test apparatus, and inject the flow back into the other node, which houses a mana sensor. Simple, but not easy. Outside mana intrusion itches like a nasty rash all throughout your mana channels, and overcoming the initial resistance to taking in foreign energy will feel like getting stabbed. Repeatedly.”

I’m halfway to standing when Ezio waves me back down, and the force of his attention is not what I expect from an academic. He’s the other side of Ember’s coin, then. More verbose, but just as ruthless. Maybe we’ll get along just fine after all. I sit back down in the seat and pay closer attention to his words. This is a valuable opportunity, and I’d be a fool to pass it up.

“The advantage of taking an actual test like this,” Ezio continues, warming to his subject, “is that despite the significant discomfort, a mana control test produces a standard, repeatable result. When the pain is over, we’ll have a measurable way of establishing your baseline, as well as tracking future progress, assuming you come back for additional weeks of training. I am not in the business of taking on students lightly. So, tell me, Nuri. Are you in this for the long haul? Do you have what it takes?”

I sit up straight and eye the gleaming metal test apparatus with sudden longing. Future opportunities to learn? A chance to train my mana control under the auspices of a Silaraon City Academy instructor? I’m not stupid; there’s no way I’ll pass up a double blessing like that. I nod firmly, but my attention never leaves the mana gauge. “Let’s do it. I’m ready when you are.”

Ezio marks down a note on a pad of paper at his desk. He leans forward, and I glance up and meet his gaze. He taps his fingers on the top of the desk for a long moment. “You’re absolutely certain you want to go forward with this? I promise you that I’m not underselling the pain. You see this spike? We have to pierce your flesh to extract blood while the test runs. Trust me, I’m not as sheltered or as weak as I look; I’ve done field research, not simply sequestered myself in an ivory tower, and this is as nasty as it comes.”

“I’d be a fool not to take the mana test,” I declare more confidently than I feel. I want the results, but I’m sick to my stomach just thinking about it. The spike isn’t even the worst part. If I accept foreign mana into my channels, then it’s going to burn like spilling hot glass on myself. Even if the test mana is truly unaspected, and the test is administered by a skilled official, the risk isn’t light. Some fighters specialize in intrusive mana attacks, and I’ve heard it’s terrifying to face in battle. What if my insides explode from the test?

I swallow a lump in my throat and nod again. “Let’s do it. I can’t pass up an opportunity to learn from an expert.”

Ezio leans back in his chair and grins. “Whew! You’ve got grit. Excellent. Fret not, Nuri, I wouldn’t dream of making you take this kind of test unprepared. I merely wanted to ensure that you’ve got the right stuff to succeed here. You’d be surprised how many prospective students of mine want the prestige of learning about magic, but aren’t willing to put up with any of the hard work and consequences along the way.”

“I’m determined to do whatever it takes.”

Ezio arches an eyebrow. “Determination is admirable. But don’t leap before you look. It’s good to also cultivate a healthy sense of skepticism and self-preservation. If you’re interested in the test, I’m administering it to the entire class of incoming students this semester. Assuming we work things out for you and Melina, then you’ll get a chance to participate.”

I shift in my seat, licking my lips as I try to think of a suitable response. I’m torn between the excitement of learning about magic and the worry that I won’t measure up. What if I’m not able to keep up with the other students? They’ve had years of training, and I’m fumbling along in the dark, trying to figure out things on my own. I settle for a brisk nod.

“Looking forward to it, Sir.”

His eyes crinkle up again as he smiles. “Don’t call me that, either. Ezio will do fine. Let’s turn our attention to what you want. I’ve been less than forthcoming with you today, for which I apologize. No more tricks or tests for the moment. What’s on your mind, Nuri?”

An answer springs to my lips immediately. I’ve been thinking about magic for far too long to hesitate now. “Mana senses, mana manipulation, and ensuring that my [Heat Manipulation] Skill isn’t going to break while I use it. I overstrained myself helping fight off the Shadow Jaguar irruption in Peliharaon last year, and there are still a few faint cracks. I’m worried I might hurt myself if I push too hard.”

“Ah. Have the cracks lessened over time?” Ezio asks, shifting forward and fixing me with a serious stare. When I nod, the tension in his face relaxes, and he offers me a warm smile. “No problem. Consistent mana use over time will continue to heal the Skill if it’s not getting worse.”

“I don’t have to see an arcane [Healer]?” I ask, still nervous about crippling myself for life if something goes wrong.

He shakes his head. “Rumors always abound about promising young [Mages] burning out in spectacular fashion—bonus points if the subject of the rumor is a beautiful young woman recently rescued from a life of crime, or a rich nobleman who will tragically no longer inherit his family estates—but no, you don’t require a specialist. As long as your Skill works, you’re not in significant pain, and the minor cracks are improving over time with careful mana practice, then you’re fine. I’ve seen exactly one contrary example.”

“Oh, someone you knew?”

“Many years ago, one of my students did something incredibly stupid,” Ezio says with a sigh. “I regret not giving him more oversight. He was always pushing ahead, regardless of the risks involved.”

“Sounds gruesome. What happened to him?” As soon as the glib words slip out of my mouth, I regret the question. I wince at my insensitivity, digging into his past. I’m not sure I need to know the details of someone’s horrific accident. Plus, now I’m going to worry that it might happen to me, too. Why do I stress myself out like that?

“He thought that he could forcibly rank up a rare Skill by channeling the full power of an industrial-strength mana crystal through it. Not pretty. I’ll spare you the particulars, but know that it took an enormous amount of resources for him to live a semi-normal life afterward. I’m not just saying this as a cautionary tale, Nuri. Do not mess with forces outside of your comprehension. Slow and steady is your guiding truth. Got it?”

I nod seriously, a bit queasy as I imagine what it would feel like to handle that much raw power all at once. Living through a raging storm inside my soul sounds terrifying. What if it had worked? a small voice whispers in the back of my head. Wouldn’t that have been worth it?

Ezio claps his hands together. I flinch in guilt, worried that he can sense my thoughts somehow. “Now! If we’re going to update the deal and focus on getting the two of you into Foundations of Magical Theory and Mana Manipulation, then you’ll need your own textbook. In addition, I’m assigning you a supplementary reading about one of my clients, Tem Cytekin.”

“You know Tem?” I fairly squeak, leaping up out of my chair before I can stop myself. My inner critic is yelling at me that I’m acting a fool, but I don’t care. “Tem is my biggest hero. I’ve read his biography so many times that the pages are falling out.”

Ezio chuckles and rummages through the pile of books stacked up on his desk to find a specific text, which is bound in a simple, hard backed green cover with brass-colored text for the title. “You’re hardly alone there, Nuri! Half the young [Mages] in Densmore dream of growing up to become the next Tem, I’ll wager. Here, read this book.”

I accept the slim volume he slides across the desk, noting with amusement that Ezio is the author. “Never seen this one before, and I’m always asking for new books about Tem and his brigade of [Scouts]. The Mage-Killers are legends!”

“Indeed,” he replies, laughing. Ezio hesitates, and a brief flicker of something that looks like worry crosses his face. “Ah, Nuri? I should mention that I’ve written this one for personal instruction. For multiple reasons, which we lack time to discuss at present, I haven’t published this manuscript. Not officially. Within, you’ll find a rundown of the various [Mage] factions: their histories, notable members, major goals, and preferred methods of magic.

“In addition, it more fully explains the commonly-accepted system of assessing power: Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Iridium, Palladium and Mercury—more commonly known in colloquial speech as Quicksilver. As you likely know, based on your enthusiasm for Tem’s crazy adventures, this scale applies to both heroes like Tem, and serves as a general threat ranking for monsters and dangerous areas.”

“I’ve fought Bronze-ranked jaguars. Almost killed me,” I say, shuddering.

“Good job surviving. Most people start with Coppers. Oh! Speaking of dangerous areas, this text will also touch on the phenomena of Rifts, beast irruptions, mana-empowered monster incursions, and, of course, the mysterious wraiths who sometimes launch full-scale invasions.”

Ezio sighs dramatically. “I can see from your starry-eyed expression that you’ll spend as much time and energy thinking about this tiny book as you will studying the much longer, more ordinary, and information-dense textbook for the course. Ha! As long as you apply yourself, I won’t chide you for daydreaming.”

“Magnanimous,” I reply wryly. “Do you have that book on hand, or will I need to purchase it for the Foundations of Magical Theory and Mana Manipulation?”

“Neither,” Ezio says. He scribbles down a note with a pen of pure mana that materializes in his fingers, writing on a sheet of paper. A letterhead featuring his crest adorns the top of the page. “Here, take this to the library on your way out and they’ll loan you a copy. Please note that they’ll scan your mana signature, bond it temporarily to the book, and keep a record on file, so don’t even think about trying to sell the textbook for a pile of quick gold.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it!” I say, clenching my fists at the insinuation that I’m a petty thief. “This is more important to me than money. I’m here to learn, and I’m not afraid of hard work.”

“Excellent!” Ezio says, standing abruptly and striding over to the door. He opens it for me to leave, signaling the all-too-sudden conclusion of our first meeting. “I’ll notify my Dean that I’m expecting two new students. Don’t worry about arranging something with Ember; I’ll take care of it. I will see you and Melina in class in two days. Ask around for directions to the South Lecture Hall, basement level. We start at the tenth bell. Punctual is late.”

“We’ll be there early,” I assure him.

“Counting on it,” Ezio says drily. He extends his hand, and we shake, sealing the pact to study together more long-term.

I stop halfway through the door and turn around. “You still didn’t tell me about your age,” I point out. “Give me a hint?”

“Appearances are deceiving,” Ezio says grandly. “My age is reserved for my friends, but perhaps you can figure it out for yourself during our studies together this week. Bonus points if you get it without asking my colleagues.”

I nod, shoving away my disappointment. I’m about to head to the library, anyway, so I’ll look up information there.

Ezio smirks and leans forward. “I’ll give you a single hint, however: aging tends to slow as you approach the second Threshold. I’ve been hovering there for at least as long as you’ve been alive.”

He winks as my jaw drops in shock. I was teasing him about the Second Threshold, but it seems like he wasn’t kidding. Just how advanced a [Scholar] did Ember find for me? If Ezio is hobnobbing with Tem and on the verge of achieving the Second Threshold, then how does he have time for a lowly crafter?

My mind whirling, I bid Ezio farewell and make my way to the SCA library, determined to find the answers. Two days. That’s all the time I have before class. All I have to do is figure out how old Ezio actually is, convince Ember and Melina that attending the SCA is a good idea, and read an entire textbook in an attempt to cram years of study into my brain all at once.

How hard could it be?