"So what's your solution?"
Elowen glanced toward Orren, who looked toward Garran. The High Commander's expression remained as severe as ever, although the brief exchange between them suggested that whatever answer they were about to give had been discussed long before the Guardians entered the chamber.
Elowen turned back toward Vorga.
"An academy."
Vorga stared at her.
"A what?"
"An academy," Elowen repeated. "An institution dedicated to preparing the Seven Blessed for the coming Trials, with the resources, instructors, and facilities necessary to develop their abilities as quickly and thoroughly as possible."
Vorga looked around the chamber.
"You brought us all the way here to tell us you're building a school?"
Sair smiled.
"When you put it like that, it does sound rather disappointing."
"We aren't building anything," Elowen said.
Veska's mechanical eye shifted toward her.
"You're using an existing facility?"
"Yes."
"Which one?"
Elowen spread her hands slightly.
"The Concord."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Korin glanced around the enormous chamber, while Tanila's expression remained unchanged. Oria tilted her head, and Vaelor slowly raised his eyes toward the ceiling as though reconsidering everything he had seen since entering the building.
Veska was the first to respond.
"The entire Concord?"
"Not every building, of course. There are institutions and facilities here that must continue operating as they always have. But the Concord already possesses nearly everything an academy of this scale would require."
Elowen looked toward Torren.
The elderly Warden adjusted himself in his chair.
"Training grounds, workshops, laboratories, libraries, medical facilities, living quarters, and more specialized chambers than most people know exist. Some are currently in use, while others have been maintained for generations despite having little purpose beyond preserving them."
Veska leaned forward.
"What kind of specialized chambers?"
"The kind that can survive a mistake."
"How large a mistake?"
"That depends on the chamber."
Veska's mechanical eye brightened.
"Interesting."
Garran cleared his throat.
"Preferably, we would like to avoid testing their limits."
"Then why have them?"
"Because some people insist on asking questions like that."
Sair laughed quietly.
Veska looked toward Garran.
"I haven't broken anything."
"You've been here less than a day."
"Exactly."
Elowen waited for the exchange to end before continuing.
"The Concord was not constructed with an academy in mind. However, it has served as a religious center, fortress, archive, diplomatic meeting ground, and training institution for centuries. Its facilities have expanded with each generation, and many of those facilities currently operate independently of one another."
She glanced around the Council.
"Our proposal is to bring them together under a single educational institution, one capable of providing the Blessed with everything they require without forcing them to travel between seven different Dominions."
Tanila rested her staff against the side of her chair.
"And you believe that can be accomplished within two years?"
"Considerably sooner," Torren answered.
Tanila turned toward him.
"The buildings already exist. Most of the necessary equipment is here, and the Concord has sufficient personnel to begin organizing the facilities immediately. What we lack is a unified curriculum, additional instructors, and accommodations for a larger student population."
"How much larger?"
"That depends on the number of students admitted."
Vorga frowned.
"Students?"
Elowen nodded.
"Yes."
"More than the Blessed?"
"Considerably more."
Vorga looked toward the other Guardians.
Sair appeared entertained.
Tanila did not.
"You intend to bring ordinary students into an institution created to prepare the Blessed?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because we do not believe separating the Blessed from everyone their age will benefit them."
Tanila's eyes narrowed.
"That isn't an answer."
"Then allow me to explain."
Elowen folded her hands over the desk.
"The Blessed are sixteen years old. They have been given extraordinary responsibilities, powers they are only beginning to understand, and expectations that would overwhelm many adults. Since the Descent, nearly every person they have encountered has treated them differently because of what they have become."
Korin lowered his gaze slightly.
"They are surrounded by priests, officials, soldiers, and people who believe they have been chosen for greatness. Some worship them. Others fear them. Many expect them to behave like the Blessed described in our histories, despite the fact that they have barely begun their lives."
Sair's smile faded a little.
"And you think putting them around other children will fix that?"
"No. But it may prevent the problem from becoming worse."
Vorga leaned back.
"Rokhan doesn't care what people think of him."
"Perhaps not," Elowen said. "But that does not mean he has nothing to learn from them."
Vorga considered the answer without responding.
"The academy would admit exceptional young people from every Dominion," Elowen continued. "Warriors, scholars, inventors, healers, mages, strategists, and others who have demonstrated remarkable ability or potential. They would study alongside the Blessed, participate in the same foundational courses, and receive instruction from some of the most accomplished individuals the Dominions can provide."
Korin looked toward her.
"So the Blessed would not receive separate instruction?"
"They would. Their education would simply not be limited to it."
Garran leaned forward.
"Each Blessed will require specialized training to develop their individual abilities. That responsibility will remain with their Guardian and the instructors best suited to the task. However, we also intend to establish a common foundation in combat, survival, strategy, mana control, and cooperation."
"Not all of them are fighters," Tanila said.
"They will not all be trained as fighters."
"Then why combat?"
"Because an enemy will not care whether a Blessed considers themselves a healer or a scholar."
Tanila regarded him for a moment.
"That much is true."
Oria spoke.
"Their blessings will also require different methods of development."
"Agreed," Garran answered. "We have no intention of forcing seven fundamentally different abilities through identical training."
Elowen looked toward Oria.
"The academy will accommodate those differences. A Blessed who excels in one discipline may study alongside students who surpass them in another. We believe that experience will be valuable."
Veska rested her chin against one hand.
"So Tova could attend a class with an ordinary artificer who knows more than she does?"
"Certainly."
Veska smiled.
"I like that."
Vorga looked toward her.
"Why?"
"Because she'll hate it."
Sair's ears lifted.
"Your Blessed doesn't enjoy being corrected?"
"She enjoys being right."
"Don't we all?"
"Not as much as Tova."
A few of the Guardians appeared amused, but Elowen's expression remained thoughtful.
"That is precisely the kind of experience we believe they need. A blessing does not make someone knowledgeable about every subject, nor does it mean they have nothing left to learn from those without one."
Korin remained quiet.
He had spent years preparing for a selection that had passed him by. Even after becoming Cael's Guardian, he had continued training, studying, and refining the abilities that had made him Valmyr's leading candidate.
Cael, meanwhile, had received Elyndra's blessing without possessing any of those qualifications.
The distinction had never seemed particularly important to the people celebrating the new Arbiter.
Elowen turned toward Malrec.
"There is another reason the Concord is uniquely suited to this task."
The elderly Keeper of Records closed the smaller volume he had been examining and placed both hands upon the larger book before him.
"History."
Vorga gave him a flat look.
"We have history in Gravann."
"Of course you do," Malrec answered. "But you have Gravann's history."
"And?"
"And Thalenwood has Thalenwood's. Valmyr preserves its own records, as does every other Dominion. Each possesses accounts of the Descent, the Blessed, and the Trials that followed, but those accounts are inevitably shaped by the people who preserved them."
Tanila nodded slowly.
"The Concord has all seven."
"We have records from all seven," Malrec corrected. "Not every record, unfortunately. Some were lost, others destroyed, and many remain in the possession of their respective Dominions. However, we have spent centuries collecting, comparing, and preserving accounts that would otherwise exist separately."
Oria's visor brightened.
"How complete are your records of previous Trials?"
"That depends on the cycle."
"Do they include the conditions of the Trials?"
"Where those conditions were recorded, yes. Participants, outcomes, and, most importantly, the methods used to complete them."
He rested one hand against the enormous volume.
"Most Dominions preserve the accomplishments of their own Blessed in considerable detail. What they do not always preserve is the contribution of everyone else."
Sair smiled.
"How surprising."
"A victory attributed entirely to one Blessed in Valmyr's records may be described quite differently in Gravann. A battle remembered as a glorious triumph by one Dominion might appear in another's history as a desperate retreat that happened to end favorably."
Vorga grunted.
"Sounds familiar."
"By comparing these accounts, we can often reconstruct a more complete understanding of what actually occurred."
Korin leaned forward.
"And the Blessed would study these records?"
"Extensively."
"Even those concerning their own Gods?"
"Especially those."
Malrec looked around the chamber.
"The Seven have issued challenges for longer than any living person can remember. Some were tests of strength, others of endurance, judgment, knowledge, or cooperation. Certain Trials lasted days, while others continued for years. The methods used to complete them were often as varied as the Blessed themselves."
He rested one hand against the enormous volume.
"We cannot tell these children what their Gods intend this time. We can, however, show them what their predecessors faced, how they responded, and what consequences followed their decisions."
Tanila considered that.
"History won't teach Serenya how to survive a battlefield."
"No," Malrec agreed. "But it may teach her why someone who could heal a thousand wounds still failed to save the people they were protecting."
That answer made Tanila quiet.
"Nor can history teach Rokhan how to wield his blessing," Malrec continued, "but it may show him how previous Blessed of Draveth were defeated despite possessing overwhelming strength. The same principle applies to all seven."
Oria inclined her head.
"Understanding failure may be more valuable than studying victory."
"Precisely."
Elowen took over.
"And beyond the Trials themselves, the Blessed will study the histories, cultures, and religions of every Dominion."
Vorga frowned.
"Why?"
"Because they may be required to protect people who do not share their homeland, their customs, or their beliefs."
She gestured toward the stained glass windows surrounding the chamber.
"Each Dominion has its own traditions and its own understanding of the God it worships. The Concord is different. We honor all Seven equally, and our institutions preserve their histories without placing one above another."
Sair looked toward the windows.
"An ambitious claim."
"It is," Elowen admitted. "And one we must continually work to uphold."
"Not everyone here succeeds."
"No."
Sair's ears shifted.
The admission seemed to interest him more than a denial would have.
"A Blessed raised in Valmyr may know Elyndra's teachings intimately," Elowen continued, "but that does not mean they understand the customs of Gravann or the beliefs of Eldranveil. If these children are expected to act together, they must first learn to understand one another."
Korin looked toward the Council.
"Would that include studying interpretations of our own Gods that differ from those taught in our Dominions?"
"Yes."
"Even if those interpretations contradict our teachings?"
"Yes."
Korin became quiet.
Elowen regarded him for a moment.
"The purpose of education is not to ensure that every student leaves believing exactly what they believed when they arrived."
Sair smiled.
"I suspect that statement will cause some trouble in Valmyr."
Korin glanced toward him.
"Not only Valmyr."
Sair's smile widened.
"Fair."
Garran rested his forearms against the desk.
"Education alone will not be enough. We intend to establish a rigorous physical and practical training program alongside the academic curriculum. Every student will undergo an assessment to determine their existing abilities, weaknesses, and potential. From there, they will receive instruction appropriate to their development."
Vorga leaned forward.
"Who teaches them?"
"We intend to recruit instructors from every Dominion."
"Anyone specific?"
"Several candidates have already been approached."
Vorga's expression changed.
"You started before asking us?"
Elowen answered.
"We began preparations when the Concord received confirmation of the three Trials."
"And the Dominions?"
"Have not yet been formally presented with the proposal."
Vorga stared at her.
"So you started recruiting instructors, preparing buildings, and making plans to bring the Blessed here before asking whether anyone would agree?"
"We prepared what we could without committing the Blessed or their Dominions to anything."
"That wasn't what I asked."
The room became quieter.
Vorga leaned forward, his enormous arms resting against the desk.
"You've already decided this is happening."
Garran met his gaze.
"We've decided that waiting until every Dominion agrees on every detail would waste time we do not have."
"And you expect us to come here, listen to your plan, and tell everyone back home that it's a good idea?"
"No," Elowen answered. "We expect you to tell us whether it is."
Vorga looked toward her.
"Then why have you already started?"
"Because the buildings will need preparation regardless of whether all seven Blessed attend. Because instructors will need time to arrange their affairs. Because the students will need accommodations, and because every week spent waiting is another week these children do not have."
"That doesn't give you the right to decide for them," Tanila said.
Elowen turned toward her.
"I agree."
Garran's eyes shifted toward the First Keeper.
"With respect, First Keeper, there is a difference between making preparations and making decisions. We cannot allow every precaution to become a matter of prolonged negotiation."
"And there is a difference," Tanila replied, "between preparing a school and assuming the Blessed will attend it."
Garran looked toward her.
"I have not made that assumption."
"Then what happens if Serenya refuses?"
"She will be given the opportunity to reconsider."
"And if she doesn't?"
Garran's expression hardened.
"Then we will have to determine how best to prepare her elsewhere."
Tanila leaned forward.
"Not detain her?"
"No."
"Not threaten her Dominion?"
"No."
"Not make her believe she's failing Aenvara because she doesn't want to live here?"
Garran's jaw tightened.
"Certainly not."
"Good."
Maera intervened before the exchange could continue.
"The Concord cannot compel the Blessed to attend. Nor can it require their Dominions to surrender authority over them. The academy's preparations are ours to make, but participation must be agreed upon."
Vorga looked toward her.
"Then say that from the beginning."
Maera inclined her head.
"A fair criticism."
Elowen rested her hands upon the desk.
"I understand why this appears presumptuous. Perhaps it is. But consider what would happen if we waited until every Guardian, every temple, and every government had given its approval before making even the simplest arrangements."
She glanced toward the seven Guardians.
"We would spend the coming year discussing whether we should begin."
Sair smiled faintly.
"She has a point."
Vorga turned toward him.
"Didn't ask you."
"No, but I was beginning to miss your attention."
Vorga grunted and leaned back.
The tension eased slightly, though it did not disappear.
Korin looked toward Elowen.
"So what exactly has been decided?"
"The Concord will establish an academy," she answered. "That much is within our authority. We will prepare the facilities, recruit instructors, and develop a curriculum. What has not been decided is whether the Blessed will attend, what conditions their Guardians may require, or what agreements their Dominions will accept."
"And you're asking us to help settle those questions."
"Yes."
Korin nodded slowly.
"That is clearer."
Elowen inclined her head.
"Then I apologize for not making it clear sooner."
Garran remained silent, though his expression suggested that he still considered some of the objections unnecessarily cautious.
Maera noticed.
"High Commander, I believe we have discussed this before."
"We have."
"And we agreed that the academy could not operate as a military institution."
"I agreed that it should not be governed as one."
"That is not quite the same thing."
"It is close enough for our present purposes."
Elowen looked between them.
"Garran."
The High Commander exhaled through his nose.
"The students will be protected. They will not be imprisoned."
"Thank you."
Veska leaned toward Sair.
"Do they do this often?"
Sair smiled.
"I hope so."
Maera heard them.
"More often than either of us would prefer."
That earned a quiet laugh from several people around the chamber.
Elowen allowed the conversation to settle before continuing.
"There is also the matter of the academy's duration."
Malrec opened another section of his book.
"We propose a four year educational program."
Korin frowned.
"Four years?"
"Yes."
"The First Trial is expected in two."
"Correct."
"Then why four?"
"Because there are three Trials," Elowen answered. "And we have no reason to believe the first will conclude the Blessed's need for preparation."
She paused.
"However, there is an important distinction. The four year program is intended for the academy's general student population. The Blessed will follow a separate, flexible course of instruction determined by their development and the requirements of the Trials."
Tanila nodded.
"That makes more sense."
"The first two years will emphasize foundational training," Garran continued. "Combat, physical conditioning, mana control, survival, strategy, cooperation, and the study of divine abilities. Once the First Trial is revealed next year, their instruction will be adjusted accordingly."
"And after it begins?" Oria asked.
"That will depend on the Trial."
Elowen continued.
"The Blessed may be absent for extended periods. They may need to travel, recover, or undergo specialized preparation for the remaining Trials. Their education will accommodate those circumstances rather than require them to complete a conventional academic schedule."
"And the other students?" Korin asked.
"They will continue their education."
"So the academy isn't intended to close when the Trials end."
"No."
Elowen looked around the chamber.
"We hope it will become a permanent institution."
That drew a different kind of silence.
Sair tilted his head.
"Permanent?"
"Yes."
"Even after the Blessed are gone?"
"Especially then."
Maera Sol, who had remained quiet throughout much of the discussion, finally spoke.
"The Concord has spent centuries maintaining peace and cooperation between the Dominions, but much of that cooperation exists only at the highest levels of government. Treaties are signed by rulers, negotiations are conducted by diplomats, and military agreements are made by commanders."
She looked toward the Guardians.
"Ordinary people rarely experience that cooperation themselves."
Veska folded her arms.
"So you want the students to make friends."
Maera smiled faintly.
"That would be a welcome outcome."
"That's a rather expensive way to encourage friendship."
"It is considerably less expensive than war."
Veska considered that.
Maera continued.
"Imagine a generation of future commanders, scholars, inventors, healers, and leaders who spent their formative years studying beside people from other Dominions. They would return home with relationships, knowledge, and experiences that extend beyond the borders of their own lands."
Sair leaned back.
"And loyalties."
Maera met his gaze.
"Perhaps."
"Some governments won't like that."
"No."
"Especially if those loyalties conflict with their own interests."
"Then they will have to decide whether cooperation is worth the inconvenience."
Sair smiled.
"I think I like you."
"I've been warned."
That earned a quiet laugh from several people around the chamber.
Korin looked toward Elowen.
"Would the academy be governed entirely by the Concord?"
"Yes."
"Without Dominion oversight?"
"Not without oversight. Each Dominion will be invited to appoint representatives who may raise concerns and review matters affecting their students. However, the academy itself must remain under Concord authority."
"Why?"
"Because allowing seven separate governments to dictate seven separate sets of rules would defeat the purpose of bringing their students together."
Korin nodded slowly.
"And if a Dominion disagrees with a decision?"
"There will be procedures for appeal."
"And if it refuses to accept the result?"
Maera answered.
"Then we will have a diplomatic problem."
Sair smiled.
"Those are always fun."
"Not for the people responsible for resolving them."
"Which is why I prefer watching."
Maera gave him a patient look.
Elowen continued.
"Each Dominion will receive a limited number of student positions, distributed equally. No Dominion will be granted additional places because of its wealth, military strength, or political influence."
Vorga frowned.
"How many?"
"The exact number has not yet been finalized."
"Then how are they supposed to choose?"
"Each Dominion will nominate candidates. Those candidates will undergo an evaluation conducted by the Concord."
Korin leaned forward.
"Based on what?"
"Ability, knowledge, potential, and the recommendations provided by their respective institutions."
"Family standing?"
"Not as a qualification."
Sair laughed quietly.
"That will disappoint quite a few people."
Elowen nodded.
"I expect it will."
Veska looked toward Maera.
"And if a Dominion sends only nobles?"
"They will still be required to pass the evaluations."
"And if a commoner is better?"
"Then the commoner should be admitted."
Veska considered the answer.
"Should?"
Maera met her gaze.
"We intend to make the process as fair as possible. I would be lying if I claimed politics could never influence it."
Sair's smile returned.
"Now that's an answer I believe."
Elowen looked toward him.
"Your confidence is appreciated."
"Happy to help."
Vorga rested one arm against the desk.
"And the Blessed don't need to pass?"
"No," Elowen said. "Their places are guaranteed."
"Obviously."
"Their Guardians will also be granted accommodations and access to the facilities necessary for their duties."
Tanila nodded.
"And the instructors?"
"They will be selected by the Concord, though the Dominions may recommend candidates."
Oria spoke.
"Will the academy accommodate the physical requirements of different races?"
Torren answered.
"The Concord has accommodated visitors from every Dominion for centuries. We already possess facilities suited to Eidoryn, Dragonkin, Beastkin, Orcs, and the other recognized races. Some adjustments will be necessary, particularly for long term residence, but nothing beyond our capabilities."
Oria inclined her head.
"Understood."
Veska had been looking over the seven seats of the Council while the discussion continued.
Something appeared to be bothering her.
She waited until Elowen finished explaining the admission process before speaking.
"You keep saying seven Dominions."
Elowen turned toward her.
"Yes."
"What about the Archipelago?"
The question produced a brief silence.
It was not the confused silence that had followed the revelation of the three Trials. Several Council members appeared to understand exactly where the question was going, and none seemed particularly surprised by it.
Elowen's expression remained composed.
"The Archipelago will not be included."
Veska's mechanical eye narrowed.
"Why?"
Garran answered.
"Because they are not eligible."
"That wasn't what I asked."
Garran looked toward her.
"The Archipelago is tainted."
Veska stared at him.
"All of it?"
"Yes."
"Every island?"
"Yes."
"Every person living there?"
Garran's expression remained unchanged.
"The Concord does not recognize the Archipelago as an eligible participant in institutions of this nature."
Veska leaned back slightly.
"So even if someone from there meets every requirement, they can't attend."
"No."
"Because they're tainted."
"Yes."
The word hung between them.
Korin glanced toward Veska, but she kept her attention on the Council.
"What exactly makes them tainted?"
Orren answered this time.
"The Archipelago's history is not a matter we intend to debate during this meeting."
Veska looked toward him.
"I'm not asking for a debate."
"Then I have answered your question."
"Not really."
Orren regarded her quietly.
Veska did not look away.
Elowen finally spoke.
"The Concord's position regarding the Archipelago has remained unchanged for generations. Its inhabitants will not be considered for admission."
"And that's final?"
"For this proposal, yes."
Veska's mechanical eye shifted briefly toward the seven stained glass windows surrounding the chamber.
Then she looked back at Elowen.
"Understood."
She said nothing more.
Across the Council's circle, Serah Venn had stopped arranging the documents before her. Her fingers rested against the edge of a page for a moment longer than necessary before she quietly returned it to its place.
Nobody commented.
The discussion moved on, though the answer seemed to have settled differently among the Guardians.
Sair had watched the exchange with unusual interest. Tanila remained still, while Oria's visor had shifted from Veska to Orren and back again.
Vorga appeared more concerned with the academy itself.
"So you're bringing the Blessed, their Guardians, and a bunch of talented children from every Dominion into one place."
"Yes," Elowen answered.
"Sounds crowded."
"We have room."
"Sounds dangerous."
That time, Garran answered.
"It will be."
Vorga looked toward him.
"At least you admit it."
Garran leaned forward.
"Bringing all seven Blessed into one location creates an obvious risk. If the Concord were attacked, every Blessed could be threatened simultaneously."
Sair's ears lifted.
"There it is."
Garran looked toward him.
"You were waiting to ask?"
"I was wondering whether anyone intended to acknowledge it."
"We've considered it extensively."
"Then convince me."
The High Commander nodded.
"The Concord possesses defensive systems that no individual Dominion can easily reproduce. Its fortifications have been expanded, repaired, and reinforced over centuries, often incorporating structures and mechanisms older than the buildings above them."
Veska's eye shifted toward the floor.
Garran continued.
"You have already witnessed a small example of that infrastructure."
Sair glanced around the chamber.
"The moving walls?"
"Among other things."
Torren took over.
"The Concord's internal arrays allow us to isolate sections of the complex, seal passages, redirect movement, and reinforce vulnerable areas. Certain chambers can be separated from the surrounding structure entirely, while others possess defenses specifically designed to contain dangerous magical disturbances."
Veska leaned forward again.
"Mana disruption?"
"Yes."
"Suppression?"
"In designated areas."
"Reinforcement?"
"Throughout much of the complex."
Her eye brightened.
"And the older systems?"
Torren regarded her for a moment.
"Some of those are best left undisturbed."
Veska looked disappointed.
Garran continued.
"Our Templars are already responsible for defending the Concord, its sacred sites, and the people who reside within its territory. The academy would receive additional protection, but it would not require us to create an entirely new military force."
Sair rested his chin against one hand.
"And if an enemy gets inside?"
"We contain them."
"And if they bypass the arrays?"
"We respond."
"And if they overpower your Templars?"
Garran looked directly at him.
"Then I would expect seven Guardians to remember why they're here."
Sair's smile widened.
"Now that's a better answer."
Tanila leaned forward.
"Security isn't only about stopping an attack. You're proposing to house students from seven Dominions with different political interests, rivalries, and religious beliefs."
"We are aware."
"Some will arrive already hating one another."
"Possibly."
"Some may be sent here specifically to gather information."
"Almost certainly," Maera said.
Several Guardians looked toward her.
The Speaker of the Conclave continued.
"We would be foolish to assume every government sees the academy as a purely educational opportunity. Some will attempt to influence its administration. Others will seek information about the Blessed, their abilities, and the Concord's defenses."
Sair smiled.
"I was beginning to wonder whether anyone had considered that."
Maera looked toward him.
"We have."
"And your solution?"
"Restrictions, supervision, and consequences."
"That sounds less interesting."
"It is intended to."
Garran continued.
"Students will not receive unrestricted access to the Concord. Certain facilities, archives, and defensive systems will remain prohibited without authorization. The academy will have its own residential and educational areas, and those areas will be protected accordingly."
Elowen looked toward him.
"Protected, Garran. Not isolated."
The High Commander turned toward her.
"We've discussed this."
"And we are discussing it again because the Guardians deserve to understand the distinction."
Garran's expression tightened.
"The Blessed cannot be permitted to wander through the Concord without supervision."
"No one is suggesting that they should."
"Then we agree."
"On supervision, yes. Not on treating every movement outside their residence as a security operation."
Tanila looked between them.
"So there is disagreement."
Maera sighed quietly.
"There has been considerable disagreement."
Garran folded his arms.
"I would rather be accused of excessive caution than explain to seven Dominions how their Blessed disappeared from a supposedly secure institution."
"And I would rather not explain," Elowen replied, "why we brought seven children here to give them an education and then denied them the opportunity to experience it."
The two regarded one another.
Finally, Garran inclined his head.
"The restrictions will be reviewed."
"Thank you."
Sair looked delighted.
"I really should attend more Council meetings."
"No," Garran said.
The answer came quickly enough to make Veska laugh.
Tanila leaned forward.
"Then let me ask something else. What happens if a Blessed simply decides to leave?"
Elowen turned toward her.
"We would ask why."
"And if they don't wish to explain?"
"Then their Guardian would be consulted."
"And if their Guardian supports them?"
Maera answered.
"The Concord would not prevent their departure unless there were an immediate danger requiring temporary protective measures."
Tanila's eyes narrowed.
"Define immediate danger."
Garran looked toward her.
"An active threat to their life. An attack, a credible attempt at abduction, or circumstances in which allowing them to leave would place them in direct danger."
"Not because they disagree with an instructor?"
"No."
"Not because they refuse an assignment?"
"No."
Tanila considered that.
"Then I want those conditions written down."
"They will be," Maera said.
"And I want the Blessed to know them."
Elowen nodded.
"So do I."
The discussion continued for some time after that.
The Guardians questioned the Council about training injuries, disciplinary procedures, communication with their Dominions, and the authority instructors would possess over the Blessed. Garran and Maera answered most of the practical concerns, though neither pretended that every problem had already been resolved.
By the time the conversation returned to the Blessed themselves, several documents had been moved across the Council's desks, and Serah had begun compiling a list of conditions that would need to be addressed before the academy opened.
Vorga eventually leaned forward.
"How soon?"
Elowen looked toward him.
"Until what?"
"Until you want them here."
"As soon as the necessary arrangements can be completed."
"Which means?"
"Within the coming weeks."
Vorga grunted.
"That's fast."
"It needs to be."
Tanila looked toward the Council.
"And the Dominions?"
Maera answered.
"Formal proposals will be delivered immediately following this meeting. We will request their cooperation in selecting students, providing instructors, and approving the necessary arrangements for their Blessed."
Sair tilted his head.
"Request?"
Maera met his gaze.
"Yes."
"And if they refuse?"
"Then we negotiate."
"And if negotiations fail?"
"Then we will have to reconsider our options."
Sair smiled.
"I almost hope someone refuses."
Maera looked unimpressed.
"I don't."
Garran turned toward the Guardians.
"We are not asking you to make a final decision today. We are asking whether you believe this proposal offers the Blessed a better chance of surviving the Trials than remaining separated."
Tanila looked toward him.
"That's a rather convenient way of phrasing it."
"It is also the question that matters."
She did not disagree.
Veska leaned back in her chair.
"I want to see the facilities."
Torren nodded.
"That can be arranged."
"All of them?"
"No."
"Most of them?"
"We'll discuss it."
She smiled.
"Good enough."
Oria inclined her head.
"I would like access to the proposed curriculum and historical records before making a recommendation."
Malrec nodded.
"I will prepare them."
Vaelor looked toward Garran.
"I want to know who will be teaching combat."
"You'll receive the list."
"Before Silas does."
"Yes."
Vorga folded his arms.
"Rokhan needs food."
Several people turned toward him.
He looked back at them.
"What?"
Elowen blinked.
"Food?"
"He eats a lot."
Sair laughed.
Vorga ignored him.
"If you're going to train him every day, make sure he's eating enough."
Serah Venn, who had remained quiet for most of the meeting, finally spoke.
"The Concord's kitchens are capable of accommodating the dietary requirements of every recognized race."
Vorga looked toward her.
"Good."
She glanced down at one of her documents.
"Though I suspect we may need to revise our estimates."
Sair laughed harder.
Tanila sighed.
Korin looked toward Elowen.
"I'll need to discuss this with Cael."
"Of course."
"And Valmyr."
"Yes."
He nodded.
"Then I have nothing further for now."
Elowen turned toward Sair.
"Guardian Vex?"
Sair smiled.
"Oh, I have plenty of questions."
Garran closed his eyes briefly.
"Of course you do."
"But most of them can wait."
Elowen looked almost relieved.
"I'm grateful."
"You shouldn't be."
"I suspected as much."
Sair leaned back.
"For now, I think this could be interesting."
"Interesting?" Tanila repeated.
"Seven Blessed, students from every Dominion, the Concord's finest instructors, and enough political tension to keep the Conclave busy for years."
He looked toward Maera.
"No offense."
"Some taken."
Sair smiled.
"And all of it happening inside the most heavily defended institution in Vaelora."
His gaze traveled toward the enormous pillars surrounding them.
"I'd be disappointed if nothing went wrong."
Garran looked at him.
"Then I hope to disappoint you."
Sair's ears lifted.
"We'll see."
Elowen allowed the conversation to settle before standing.
The other Council members remained seated.
"Then we have reached an understanding."
Tanila looked toward her.
"An understanding. Not an agreement."
Elowen nodded.
"An understanding."
She looked around the circle.
"The Concord will provide each of you with the proposed curriculum, security arrangements, admission procedures, and a list of facilities available to the academy. You will have the opportunity to review them before making your recommendations to your respective Dominions."
"And the Blessed?" Korin asked.
Elowen glanced toward Orren.
The Senior Keeper rose slowly from his chair, resting one hand upon his cane.
"They are waiting."
Several Guardians looked toward him.
Vorga frowned.
"Waiting for what?"
"For us."
Sair's ears lifted.
"You brought them here without telling them why?"
Orren regarded him calmly.
"They were informed that matters concerning their future would be discussed."
"That's a rather broad explanation."
"Yes."
Sair smiled.
"You really do enjoy that."
Orren did not answer.
Elowen stepped away from her desk.
"We believe the Blessed deserve to hear the proposal directly, just as you have."
Tanila nodded.
"Good."
"However," Elowen continued, "before we bring them here, I would ask one thing of you."
The Guardians waited.
"Remember that they are sixteen."
Vorga's expression changed slightly.
Elowen looked around the circle.
"We have spent the better part of this meeting discussing their abilities, their weaknesses, their responsibilities, and the dangers they will eventually face. We have spoken about them as Blessed, as representatives of their Gods, and as people upon whom the future may depend."
She paused.
"But when they enter this chamber, I would ask that you remember they are also children who have had very little say in what has happened to them."
Nobody interrupted.
"They may be excited. They may be frightened. Some may refuse to show either. Whatever their reactions, allow them to speak before deciding what is best for them."
Korin lowered his gaze.
Tanila's expression softened almost imperceptibly.
Vorga grunted.
Sair's smile disappeared for a moment.
Orren looked toward the enormous doors at the far end of the chamber.
The Council had spent hours discussing the future of seven people who had not been present to hear a single word of it. They had debated where those children would live, what they would study, how they would train, and what freedoms they would be allowed to keep. They had spoken of their strengths and weaknesses, their safety and responsibilities, and the extraordinary expectations placed upon them by the Gods.
Yet not one of those seven had been there to offer an opinion.
Elowen turned toward Orren.
"Would you bring them?"
Orren inclined his head.
"Of course."
He stepped away from the Council's circle and began walking toward the long aisle leading out of the chamber.
The Guardians watched him go.
Korin found himself thinking of Cael.
He imagined the boy standing before the Council, trying to appear composed while being told that the next several years of his life might be spent in a place he had never seen, surrounded by people he had never met. He would probably straighten his posture, choose his words carefully, and attempt to respond as the Arbiter of Elyndra was expected to respond.
Korin wondered whether anyone would notice if the answer Cael gave was not the answer he truly wanted to give.
Across the chamber, Vorga shifted in his seat. Tanila rested both hands upon her staff, while Oria remained motionless, her blue visor fixed upon the distant doors. Vaelor leaned back with his arms folded, and Veska's mechanical eye followed Orren until he disappeared into the passage beyond.
For once, Sair had nothing to say.
The enormous doors remained open behind the elderly Keeper.
Beyond them, somewhere in the Concord's halls, seven sixteen year old's were waiting to learn what the adults responsible for their futures had spent hours discussing.
They had been chosen by Gods, celebrated by nations, and entrusted with responsibilities that might determine the fate of Vaelora.
Now they were about to be asked what they wanted.
And for the first time that day, nobody in the chamber seemed entirely certain what the answer would be.