The receptionist looked at Maddy, who was clearly lost in thought. Impatient, the woman gave her a quick set of instructions.
"It's simple," she said. "Clear your mind. Find the heat in your chest and push it through your hands. Hurry up—we have thousands waiting behind you."
She rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath,
"Ugh… why are there so many today?"
Her gaze swept over Maddy from head to toe, lingering on her worn clothes with thinly veiled disdain.
"So many peasants…"
Maddy felt the weight of a thousand eyes pressing into her back. The hecklers in the rear continued to snicker. The young man behind her did the opposite. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted:
"You got this, Mystery Girl! Show them what a poor villager girl spark looks like! Go on! Light it up!"
Maddy's face burned a deep red. She pulled her hood lower, wishing the stone floor would swallow her.
"Please be quiet…"
Her heart hammered as she lowered her hands.
