chapter 25

Chapter 25

Alissa stepped through the great stone gates of the Citadel, the weight of her journey settling on her shoulders. The halls of learning loomed before her, an imposing structure of gray towers and arched corridors where the most esteemed scholars of the realm gathered.

Outside the examination hall, a crowd of young women waited, their hushed conversations blending into a soft murmur. Some clutched parchment, others whispered last-minute revisions.

Alissa spotted two girls standing apart from the rest. One was tall, dark-haired, with an air of quiet confidence. The other, smaller, with light brown curls, glanced around nervously. They looked close in age, though the older one carried herself with more certainty.

"You're here for the exams?" the taller one asked as Alissa approached.

She nodded. "Yes."

"I'm Rhiannon," the girl said, offering her hand. "And this is Mara."

Mara gave a timid smile.

"Alissa," she introduced herself.

They spoke for a while, sharing stories of their travels, their studies, and what brought them here. Mara, hesitant at first, warmed quickly, while Rhiannon filled silences with sharp-witted remarks about the Citadel's traditions.

When the time came, an official stepped forward and called for the applicants to proceed. Alissa turned toward her designated hall, but before she could take more than a few steps, Mara called out,

"Alissa! You're going the wrong way." She pointed to another corridor. "The midwives' examination is held there."

Alissa turned back, meeting both their puzzled stares. "I know," she said with a small smile. "I'm not here for the midwives' examination. I'm here for the Maesters'."

Rhiannon and Mara looked at each other in shock.

"For the Maesters?" Rhiannon repeated, her tone unreadable. Without another word, she grabbed Mara's arm and pulled her away, whispering something under her breath.

Alissa exhaled slowly, ignoring the sting of their reaction. It doesn't matter. She had expected this.

She turned and entered the hall.

---

The Examination

Inside, rows of young men filled the chamber, all seated behind wooden desks. As soon as she stepped in, the air shifted-whispers rippled through the room like wind through tall grass. Some merely glanced at her, others openly stared.

One of the invigilators, a Maester with graying hair and sharp eyes, frowned and stepped forward.

"You are in the wrong hall," he said, his voice clipped.

Alissa lifted her chin and handed him a set of parchments. "My name is Alissa Valois. I am here for the Maesters' examination. These should confirm my eligibility."

The Maester took the documents, scanning them in silence. Around them, the murmuring grew.

At last, he nodded. "Very well. Take your seat."

Alissa moved to an empty desk, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes on her. The whispers continued, but she forced herself to ignore them.

The examination began.

The questions spanned the depths of history, sciences, philosophy, and medicine. Alissa moved through them with precision, though one question made her pause longer than the rest:

"A kingdom is plagued by an illness that affects only the noble-born, sparing the common folk. A group of healers suspect the cause lies within their lineage. If tasked with uncovering the truth, what approach would you take, and what challenges might arise?"

It was a test of logic, knowledge, and diplomacy all at once.

She carefully structured her response, outlining the methods of investigation-studying records of noble bloodlines, seeking commonalities, analyzing the difference in daily lives between the afflicted and the spared. Yet, she also acknowledged the difficulty of persuading nobles to submit to scrutiny, especially if the truth threatened their standing.

By the time she finished, her fingers were stained with ink, but she felt certain of her answers.

The first trial was over.

---

As she stepped back into the courtyard, the sun was beginning to lower, casting a golden hue over the Citadel's spires. Groups of examinees gathered in clusters, discussing the test in hurried whispers.

She searched for Mara and Rhiannon, spotting them near a fountain. As she approached, she noticed how people turned to watch her-some in curiosity, others in amusement or disbelief.

The moment Mara saw her, she ran forward. "How was it?" she asked breathlessly.

Alissa smiled. "Challenging, but I managed."

Rhiannon, who had remained still, finally joined them, though her gaze was wary.

"You really meant it," she said after a moment. "You truly want to become a Maester."

Alissa tilted her head. "Was there ever a doubt?"

Rhiannon studied her, then shook her head with a small, almost reluctant smirk. "No. I suppose not."

But Alissa noticed the way her stance had changed, the way she was regarding her differently now.

She let it go. The hardest part was still ahead-the second trial.

Tomorrow, she would face the council for the questioning.