The soft hum of floating scrolls and the occasional turning of pages made the library feel like it existed outside of time. Luma was mid-laugh—Kira had just recounted a failed student's attempt to open a pressure-sealed vault with his elbow—when the warm silence was broken.
Footsteps echoed. Firm. Familiar.
"Luma."
She turned, startled, then beamed. "Elder Ion!"
The old physicist stood at the edge of the archway, staff in hand, his hood down for once. He gave a brief nod to Kira.
"Kira Alwyn. Still reshaping young minds with metaphors and mischief?"
Kira smirked. "Only the minds that matter."
Ion's attention turned to Luma. "I hope you've been learning."
"She's brilliant," Kira said before Luma could reply. "Thinks in vectors and feelings. Rare combination."
"I expected nothing less," Ion said, then gestured gently. "Walk with me, Luma."
Luma glanced at Kira, who gave a soft nod of encouragement. "We'll pick this up later."
As they left the reading chamber, Ion led her down a narrow spiral stairwell wrapped around a suspended brass pendulum.
"I came to tell you something important," he said. "In one month, the Spire Games will begin."
"Games?" Luma's eyes lit up. "Like… contests?"
"Trials. Tests. Experiments. Think of them as a festival of minds—and a tradition for those training within the Spire. You don't have to compete, but I believe you should."
Luma walked in silence for a moment. "Will I be ready?"
Ion stopped and faced her. "Do you know what Newton's Third Law is?"
"Uh… every action has an equal and opposite reaction?"
"Correct. Now apply it beyond apples and rockets."
She frowned. "Like… in life?"
Ion smiled. "Yes. For every choice you make, the world pushes back. For every punch, there's recoil. For every movement, a response. The Games are not just about skill—they're about understanding how you interact with the laws of nature… and how they respond to you."
He continued walking. "You've learned a great deal, Luma. But you won't know how much until the world reacts to you."
She looked thoughtful. "Then I want to try."
"Good," he said. "I've signed your name."
She blinked. "Wait—you already—?"
Ion smirked, not breaking stride. "I had a feeling you'd say yes."
As they approached the inner balcony overlooking the Obsidian Spire's central chamber, Luma saw banners being hung from the highest tiers—some glowing faintly, each marked with symbols she didn't yet understand.
"The Spire Games will test not only what you've learned, but how well you apply it under pressure," Ion said. "You'll meet others like you. Some will help you. Some… might not."
"And if I win?" she asked.
"If you win," Ion said quietly, "you earn a place in the higher circles of the Spire—access to deeper knowledge, ancient secrets… and training that might prepare you for what's coming."
She stared up at the floating banners. Somewhere above, the Bridge of Laws waited.
She clenched her fists. "I'm in."