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simple light spell. I'm sure you can manage that, being a fireblood. If the light produced from one hand is brighter than the other, that hand is your power hand."

Saure did as told, even though she'd never used a wand before. She cast her natal fire spell with first left hand, then right. Both plumes of light were quite bright, but they were of the same brightness.

"By me! She's ambidextrous!" exclaimed the judge to Jordik's right.
"Oh, for Alchem's sake, you're accepted." Jordik grumbled, and finished jotting on a scroll. He then produced the bell again, and the courier returned. He capped the inkwell with cork and plucked the wand from Saure's hand. Jordik stood and began stuffing his parchments into a satchel, and the other Parapheums followed suit.

"You'll be expected in the Master Library in an hour. There you will be assigned books for courses in second-year floramancy, herbology, alchemy, and herbiculture. You're all dismissed." And with this, he pushed his way past two of his fellows and tromped down the stairs.

Saure quickly went to collect her things. Fred had managed to stuff the Manifesto back into her gunna, but the wrapping was only loosely folded over it. She decided to allow this at the current moment, picked up her things (and Fred himself), and hurried back the way she had come in.

"I'm a student, Fred! Finally! And we're going to an ACTUAL library! Can you imagine?"
"Frankly," he replied, "I'm still in shock."

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Chapter XIV

Warmth.
Life-giving light. A plant's central deity, the sun.
A light breeze refreshes the green pores of its leaves. It sighs to itself.
An eclipse of the light, reaching shade for a moment. Then… a great comfort. Health emanates from the close proximity. The plant reaches toward that sensation, tingling wildly with life. The soil tastes drab and plain on its roots compared to this lifepower radiating from above.

Saure smiled, stroking the leaves of the sapling as it sprouted new leaf buds from its shoot.

"I think you'll make a fine tree." she whispered, and stood, moving on to the next pot. The morning light had just breached the wall, and she was almost finished with her post-breakfast rounds in the project square. Other students were still about dressing or washing, chatting in the halls of their dormitories. Saure was ready to greet a new day of learning.

Fred strolled up behind her and gave her shoulder a rough nudge, pushing his great muzzle under her arm. She scratched him between the eyes.

"Ready, Freddy?"

He sighed. "Please don't call me that. It's bad enough you call me Fred. No, I don't suppose I'll ever be ready, but go ahead. Necessary evil and all…"

The woman placed her palm to his broad forehead, and summoned the old familiar spell.

"Saure? Saure!" a voice called from the door to this mini-juxt.

Sig Whitnam, a third-year earthen blood, opened the