Book 1: Chapter 6 – Did She Pass?

Following the invigilator's gaze, Jabari spotted a woman of deep chocolate complexion with sleek, shoulder-length dark brown hair. Her dress – a tight-fitting black garment adorned with intricate gold embroidery – clung to her figure and barely extended past her thighs. She was dripping in expensive jewellery, her face layered with thick makeup, a stark contrast to the ethereal beauty standing on stage.

Clutching the woman's hand was a little girl, no older than ten, her resemblance to her mother unmistakable.

"Thank you, Lady Hadiza; you have no idea how much we appreciate this," Abeba spoke with the same arrogance her expression conveyed. She cast a disdainful glance at the slum residents, her lips curling in open disgust.

"Eww, Mommy, they smell bad!" the little girl squealed, scrunching her nose as they walked past Jabari and the others toward the stage.

"I know, honey. Just ignore it for now. Mommy will take you to wash their germs off once we're done."

For many of the slum children, this was their first face-to-face encounter with the nobles of the main settlement. They had always known their place – had always been reminded of their insignificance – but seeing the sheer contempt in Abeba's eyes made it painfully real.

Frustration. Anger. Humiliation. Longing.

All of them felt it, a deep, gnawing desire to change how they were seen, to rise above the filth they were condemned to. Jabari was no different, except he had long since learned to control his emotions. He remained impassive, unbothered by the venom in their words. This moment wasn't about him.

It was about Inayah.

"Yah-Yah, wake up," he murmured, gently nudging his shoulder against her chin.

A sleepy murmur came from her as she stirred. "Hmm? Where are we?"

Jabari watched as her eyes fluttered open, widening in awe as she took in the immaculate beauty of the Umeme Tribe's main settlement.

"We're at the aptitude test," he whispered, his voice soft but firm. "Watch carefully. You're up next."

Even though she already knew what to expect from Jabari's past experience, Inayah nodded and focused on the stage. She didn't want to make any mistakes and embarrass herself or, worse, jeopardise the safety of her brother in any way.

Abeba led her daughter onto the stage, all eyes following their every move. At the centre stood a small wooden podium, atop which rested a large transparent crystal, its surface gleaming atop a luxurious purple cushion.

"Okay, sweetie, all you have to do is place your hand on the pretty crystal for a few seconds," Abeba cooed, her voice dripping with encouragement. "Then we can leave, alright?"

"Okay, Mommy," the spoiled child responded, obediently pressing her small hand against the crystal.

A hush fell over the gathered crowd as the crystal quivered ever so slightly – but no light, no change in colour.

Hadiza sighed, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, your daughter lacks the aptitude to become a Mage."

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then, Abeba's expression stiffened, and without another word, she grabbed her daughter's hand and hurried off the stage, her face a mask of embarrassment. Failing in front of the nobles was one thing, but failing in front of slum rats?

Unthinkable.

Hadiza turned back to the crowd, her voice cool and impassive.

"Next."

Hearing her call, Jabari instinctively stepped forward with Inayah on his back, but before he could reach the stage, the invigilator's sharp, apathetic voice cut through the air once more.

"One at a time."

Jabari hesitated, unwilling to let his sister climb the stairs on her own.

"It's okay, Jari. I'll be fine," Inayah whispered against his ear, her small hands squeezing his shoulder reassuringly. She straightened her legs and slowly slid off his back, flashing him a soft, reassuring smile before turning to face the towering stage.

Jabari's chest tightened as he watched her wrap her frail fingers around the wooden railing, each step a painstaking effort. The harsh sun illuminated the sharp ridges of her malnourished arms as she struggled to haul herself up.

"We don't have all day! Hurry the hell up or get lost and stop wasting my time, rat!" Hadiza's voice rang out, sharp and merciless.

The entire crowd fell silent, watching as Inayah's small frame trembled under the weight of so many eyes. Humiliation burned in her cheeks, but she clenched her jaw, forcing herself forward. She couldn't let her brother down – not after everything he had sacrificed for her.

But no matter how much she willed herself onward, her body betrayed her. Her foot slipped. A gasp rang through the crowd as she tumbled backward-

Only to be caught by two strong, familiar arms.

She didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"You shouldn't ha-"

"Quiet," Jabari commanded, his voice low and firm as he lifted her into his arms with ease.

"Did you not hear me, boy?" Hadiza's voice turned venomous. "One at a time means one at a time!"

Jabari met her glare with unwavering calm. "My sister is ill, plea-"

"I don't give a damn! Even if she were dying and the only cure in the world was on this stage, she'd still follow my rules!" Hadiza spat, her lips curling with disgust. "Either obey or crawl back to whatever gutter you came from!"

The guard at Jabari's side shifted, his hand hovering over his scimitar, waiting for the signal to strike.

Jabari knew what the smart choice was. He could step back, let Inayah struggle alone, or walk away entirely.

But neither of those options was acceptable.

Each day, his sister's condition worsened. He didn't know if she'd survive another year, let alone another five. If they left now, there might not be a next time.

He took a deep breath, his mind whirring, then suddenly stilled.

"That woman from before escorted her daughter up. I only want to do the same for my sister."

His words were calm, precise. He didn't flinch under Hadiza's glare, nor did he acknowledge the guard's fingers twitching over his weapon.

Hadiza blinked, caught off guard by the audacity in his voice – the quiet confidence of someone who refused to be cowed.

She sneered. "The rules for Umeme Tribe citizens don't apply to rats like you."

Jabari nodded slowly. "I see. But I distinctly remember the invigilator from the test five years ago saying, and I quote: 'Don't be nervous. The Chief's decree states that during the assessment, those from the slums are afforded the same rights as the citizens of the tribe.'"

Hadiza's mouth opened, then closed. For the first time, she looked unsure of herself, like she had swallowed something foul.

Jabari pressed on. "Unless, of course, you're saying you don't have to follow the laws set by the Chief?"

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.

Jabari adjusted his grip on Inayah, his steps unhurried as he carried her up the stairs, completely ignoring the fuming invigilator. His expression remained neutral, his posture steady.

He had won.

Hadiza had been backed into a corner. Everyone knew that, despite the decree, invigilators were free to humiliate slum children without consequence. But for her to openly defy said law after the Chief's name was brought up…

If word ever got back to the Chief, it would almost certainly be seen as treason.

No matter how much she hated it, there were some lines even she couldn't cross.

The guard who had led them to the stage glowered at Jabari's back, his jaw clenched so tightly it seemed to strain against his very bones. The fury in his gaze was barely contained, as if every fibre of his being was screaming to cut the boy down where he stood.

'This filthy rat! How dare he?!'

On the other hand, the slum children, who had moments ago felt the sting of injustice, now stared at Jabari with wide-eyed admiration, while the adults, who had long been hardened by reality, watched with grim expressions. They knew that while Jabari had won this battle, he had also painted a target on his back. There was no escaping the consequences of defying those in power.

'What an interesting child,' thought the mysterious beauty standing silently between her two hooded guardians, her expression unreadable as she studied Jabari's defiant stance.

Jabari, however, remained oblivious to the gazes around him. His only concern was Inayah. He climbed onto the stage, his heart pounding as he silently willed her to pass the test. If she failed… If she failed, then there was no choice – he would take her and flee into the wilderness, away from the suffocating grip of this place.

"Place your hand on the crystal," Jabari said softly, ignoring the seething look of Hadiza, who still burned with humiliation.

"Jari, we-"

"Have I ever let you down before?" he asked, his voice steady, his smile filled with gentle warmth.

"Never," Inayah whispered, and a sliver of his resolve bled into her own. She slowly extended her hand, hesitating only for a breath before pressing it against the cool, smooth surface of the crystal.

The reaction was immediate. The crystal trembled violently, its core igniting in a dazzling glow.

"She did it! She really did it!" Jabari's voice rang out, raw with emotion, his restraint crumbling under the weight of his joy.

Excitement rippled through the crowd. The slum children were electric with hope, their faces alight with wonder, while the adults mirrored a complex blend of amazement and envy. For them, this was both a miracle and a cruel reminder of what they themselves had been denied.

Hadiza, however, was frozen in horror. Her fingers trembled at her sides, and a sheen of sweat broke across her back as she grasped the implications. This girl – this sickly, frail child – would one day possess a status far beyond her own. The thought sent a chill down her spine.

But as swiftly as it had come, the light within the crystal flickered and died. The trembling ceased. The glow vanished into nothing.

Silence crashed over the arena.

Jabari's exhilaration shattered. His body went rigid, his breath caught somewhere between hope and dread.

"What happened? Did she pass?!" he demanded, turning to the invigilator, all pretence of civility gone. He didn't care that he had humiliated her moments ago – all that mattered was the answer.

Hadiza took a moment to compose herself, deepening her breath as the panic drained from her expression. Slowly, her lips curled into a sneer, the power shifting back into her grasp.

"There was no change in colour," she said, her voice dripping with cruel amusement. "She failed!"