The Final Strife

—

“And that was how the plants evolved over time to withstand the tidewind. Any questions?” Master Fadel had drawn the transformation of a type of tree on the board. It might have been a rubber tree, or an oak, but Anoor hadn’t been paying attention. Suddenly, a question struck her. Her arm shot to the sky.

“Yes, Miss Elsari?”

“Did the founding wardens bring the plants with them? When they sailed across the seas?” Anoor asked.

Someone in the back row groaned. They all wanted the lesson to be over.

“Yes, they propagated the plants when they arrived, and over time, they grew hardy. That was one of the many things they brought with them in their ships.”

Anoor sat up straighter in her seat. Again, her hand shot through the air with the speed of one of her arrows.

“Yes?”

Master Fadel cleared her throat, waiting. She was used to Anoor’s capricious questions.

“Where did the founding wardens sail from?”

There was laughter to her left.

“Here she goes again.” Someone behind her murmured, “Off in dreamland asking things no one cares about…”

Master Fadel looked bewildered. “Why, from the mainland, of course.”

“Where exactly is the mainland?” Anoor pressed.

“It’s gone now, the Ending Fire destroyed it.” Chatter had sprung up from the corners of the room. Master Fadel was losing their attention, and she knew it. “Anoor, if you have questions about history, may I suggest you approach Master Guna, who specializes in that subject?” She drew out the word “subject” like a curse. “We’re here to learn biology.”

“But Master—”

“No.” The word was a whip to the rampant eru of their attention.

Anoor couldn’t help the sigh that seeped out of her like the stale air escaping a jar. The master didn’t seem all that concerned about Anoor’s prying. She settled back in her chair and let the matter lie. Maybe Sylah was right, and there was nothing to the nothingness.

Master Fadel continued her lesson, and Anoor’s mind drifted away, out of the Keep and up to the sky where she settled among her thoughts.

If I can win the Aktibar maybe I can ask the wardens. They must know about the mainland.

She imagined her classmates, those who had laughed at her for years, cheering from the bottom of the five hundred steps as she ascended after winning the Aktibar. She smiled. She would show them. She was going to be the next Warden of Strength, and their teasing and mocking would cease as she reigned with the tenacity of Inquisitor Abena, like in her zines. She would bring justice to the people, all people.

“Anoor?”

How much time had passed?

“Yes, Master?” She pushed herself up in her seat.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“No, Master.”

Laughter. Laughs that would one day turn to cheers.

“Quieten down, class,” Master Fadel said without authority. “I was asking the class who intended to select the guild of knowledge on Choice Day. As you know the guild is the most esteemed and, in my opinion, the supreme attribute among the four. Given your…lack of interest, Anoor, I assume you won’t be selecting knowledge. Is there anyone else who I will be welcoming to the fold?”

Anoor let the insult settle on her shoulders until the master’s stare moved on.

“I will be joining the guild of knowledge,” someone spoke up.