Anders went to his bag and pulled out his book and device. The tightly wound wires were built up thick and it didn't move from it's ring shape. He presented it to the woman with the staff, who seemed to be somewhat in charge.

"And what have you here?" She asked, pulling out a pair of lenses like Harlow had. A few of the other assessors did the same.

"This is a creation of my own design, intended to hold and store lightning magic." He said quietly. "You are free to look through that book, you will find many of the other materials I have found that did not work well enough to use. I also have documented older designs that lead to this final one, and the process of replicating one of these."

"Have a seat Anders, we will look over it and if we have questions we will talk to you." Harlow smiled.

Anders took a seat. He shifted uncomfortably, imagining all the eyes now on him. The assessors passed around the book and device, whispering and studying it through their strange lenses. Harlow turned to him after a while and waved him back to the table.

"Can you put a bit of power into it? So my colleagues may see it in action?" Harlow asked.

"I can, but I was unable to create a safe case in time for the tests." Anders admitted. "I will put the power in, but please do not touch it. Let me know when you would have me drain it back out and it will be safe again."

"Yes, I had seen your plans for a glass case." The bearded man said. "I suppose you were rather busy of late, the theory of your case seems sound."

"Who would need to touch it other than a lightning mage anyway?" The lolathian woman shrugged and adjusted her lenses.

Anders released some power into the first lump of hematite. He could feel it move through the wire, stopping at each stone. When it reached the beginning again completing the circuit, he stopped adding energy and stepped back.

"Clever." The bearded man peered through his lenses. "I don't see it dissipating like you would expect from most crystals. This is quite extraordinary for a lightning mage. This could change large spells for those with your element of power."

"Is it the movement that keeps it in?" Asked an older man.

"That's the theory." Anders said. "Lightning by nature doesn't want to hold still."

"These are the devices that were used by the necromancer, were they not?" The lolathian woman asked the other assessors.

Anders was taken aback to hear Ghilda called a necromancer, but he couldn't argue it either. Harlow shot him a sympathetic look and turned to his peers.

"It is, but she had stolen these plans from his rooms, and many other things that were later found to be used in the production of her own replicas." Harlow said.

"One can say that, but this book was clearly made recently." The lolathian said. "Can you ensure it was a device of your own making, how do we know you did not take the idea from the necromancer, and not the other way around?"

"I," Anders was at a loss. "Of course I made it, this consumed my days for years. Reece the town blacksmith can attest to me working for him to buy materials. The coin I spent on everything, the wire. The council approved me to pursue this project in the first place."

"Calm down young man, we are simply doing our jobs." The bearded assessor said. "Harlow's word goes far for you, but we need to be sure.

"I think it is time for some deliberation." The older man said. "You are free to sit back in the chair for now."

Anders knew when he was dismissed. He went back to the chair. It was near the table, but just far enough away he couldn't hear them talking. And they talked for a long time. At one point it looked like things were getting heated between the bearded assessor and the woman with the staff. One of the two silent assessors, a monk from the temple it looked like, seemed to mediate the tense situation. Eventually they all bowed their heads for a moment, and he was waved back over.

"Anders, we have made a decision." The woman in the middle tapped her staff on the stage floor. "You may challenge the Journeyman Godscrystal."

           His heart fluttered, his tensions melted. The temple monk put the crystal box on the table and up close Anders could see how ornately it was carved. Beautiful mother of pearl inlays depicted what must be the mountain temple and the surrounding forests. Strange creatures Anders had never seen before danced around the bottom of the carved wood in black onyx.

The monk removed the middle crystal with one gloved hand and placed it on the table in front of the box. It shone with cool colors of the sky and grass, mingling and moving under the surface. The power suffocated the air. Anders could feel the energy radiating off of it, and a small tremor of fear ran down his spine for a moment. He squared his shoulders and took a steadying breath. Harlow nodded to him and the other assessors looked on silently.

He placed his palm on the jagged surface. Light filled his vision; it was so bright it engulfed the table right in front of his eyes. From what he saw previously he knew he must be glowing as the others had. It was nearly painful, the pressure that came down on him. Something warm and purple pushing on his shoulders. He found he couldn't move to look up, but he could feel it with his own power. He pushed back, the purple bearing down on him. He pushed up with his power until the purple was well away from him.

He got a second's reprieve, and then the blue fell down. The pressure was thick and heavy, worse than the purple. But again he pushed and pushed until it lifted away. He took in a single breath then the green pushed down on him. It was heavy. It felt as though he carried all of Whitethorn on his back, bearing down on him. He felt pinned for a moment, his power frozen in place, then he slowly pushed it upwards. With every small amount he could push away the green pressure, he was steadier. After another good shove of his lightning he threw it off of his shoulders as well. The brightness faded, his vision returned to him as he blinked away floating sparks of light.

He looked up. The assessors stared at him. Harlow's eyebrows threatened to float right off his bald head. The monk looked at him blankly. Silently, he withdrew the Godscrystal back into the box with his gloved hand, and placed a small grey crystal on the table in front of Anders.

"Buchal we have to discuss,..." The lolathian woman trailed off, still staring at Anders.

"No. Vura has spoken clear as the skies over the Mire Mountains." The monk withdrew his hand, leaving the small crystal in front of Anders. Grey swirled and smoldered under the hard surface, threatening and inviting at the same time. Somewhere behind him he registered the muttering of the people in the stands.

"It is your choice Anders." Harlow said quietly. "If you touch it you risk everything. The chance of death is very real."

Anders looked Harlow in the eyes. There was worry, but there was also wonder and awe. He looked back to the crystal. For all the pressure felt insurmountable, it didn't defeat him and he had no worry that it could. It was about the strength to push back.  What he felt from this crystal might actually crush him.

He placed his palm on the crystal. His vision went white again, blinding him and giving him no moment of reprieve before an immense presence bore down on him. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't move. He tried to push up on the white power over him, it seemed to whisper to him yield... yield. He inhaled, and with the air shoved upwards. Slowly, small bits of pressure eased up. His back knotted, trying to arch under the weight, but he kept pushing.  He was able to take a deeper breath, and with it another push upwards. The pressure continued to ease as he forced the white power off of him. Finally he raised it enough to dissipate, and in an instant the blackness took him.

His vision darkened. There was no more blinding white light, but a void of nothingness. A mountain bore down on him. He could feel the hopelessness rattle his bones....YIELD...it commanded. Anders gasped for air. His whole being crackled under the blackness. A loud crack told him what he felt, a rib had cracked. He fought to take in a full belly of air. Slowly, when he had inhaled fully, he began the push. He struggled for every hair of relief he got from the blackness. He could not stop pushing even for a moment or the blackness bore back down on him. He inhaled, gritting his teeth and shoved everything he had upward. He couldn't hold the struggle for much longer, he had to give it everything at once.

His power cried to him, surging forward on its own. He threw everything he was upwards, past what would make him black out, past what would put him in another coma. He would either defeat the blackness and leave this fight victoriously, or he would be consumed. He sputtered for one last breath, and rose. This was the first movement he had been able to make since the Godscrystal had taken hold of him. He felt his body rise, and with it his power. With one last shove, he threw off the blackness, and fell to the stage with no strength.

"Anders!" Harlow hopped off his chair and rushed over. The monk followed, and the lolathian woman with her staff.

"Rib." Anders wheezed. Harlow gently lifted his grey tunic, lightly pressing cold fingers to his ribcage.

"Can you sit up?" The woman with the staff asked.

"I think so." Anders was helped to sit in the chair by several hands. His breathing evened out and he was brought a flask of sweet cider. He drank deeply from it while the assessors examined him.

"Anders my boy, I feel you must know how you did, but it is our job to confirm it for you, since you cannot see your own neck." Harlow beamed. Anders smiled and nodded.

"Anders, I am glad to announce you are a color we have not seen in several years. From today onward, you are Anders the Black." The temple monk bowed his head and made a gesture with his hands. "Stand and show the world what you are."

Anders stood with a little help. He turned his neck and the crowd erupted. He caught Jak out of the corner of his eye, looking dumbstruck and wide-eyed. Anders would have laughed if it didn't hurt. He saw Cerdic in the crowd proudly sporting his new purple crest, his face red with rage as he looked up at the stage. Reece and his boys were near the front, laughing and cheering. He was lead down the steps of the stage by one of the Watch, and seated near the back.

People stared. Anders reddened and averted his eyes. Now that it was over and he had nothing to force his attention away from the staring people, he felt his stomach turn. The watchman stayed, looming over Anders where he sat. A clerk and a medic came over quickly to see to his rib and the lolathian woman blinded the audience with her staff and trying to restore order. There were after all, still eight more mages to be tried.

"Cracked rib." The medic said. He touched icy fingers to Anders's side and he felt the soothing magic shift under his skin. "I can patch it up, but no lifting heavy things and no horses for a week at least."

"No argument there." Anders grunted. "Thank you so much."

"You must be overwhelmed." The clerk said, brushing blond locks out of her eyes. "I am here to record your new surname."

"My name? Oh." Anders hadn't thought much of it, it certainly wasn't the main reason he wanted a new rank. "Black will do just fine."

"Anders Black?" She raised an eyebrow. "Very well."

"And here I was sure you'd pick something flashy." Jak walked over like a cat who cornered a mouse, flipping a bright gold coin in the air and catching it.

"It's just a name. More importantly I'm free." He beamed.

"Aye, free enough I suppose. None have come calling for you yet, but it will happen." Jak sat down as the Medic left with the clerk. People still stared, but none seemed ready to approach him but Jak. "But I thank you, you won me dinner. A fair number of dinners."

"I see." Anders grinned as Jak pocketed his new coin. "So what is next for Jak Skinner?"

"I have business in Unays." He said darkly. "But if you're still looking to get out of Selstad I'm happy to recommend some places far from my destination."

"How hospitable of you." Anders chuckled. "I'm not fond of many, but I'd not turn away a pint with you if we run into each other sometime."

"I suppose I'd do that much. You should have some good stories by then at least." Jak laid back and watched a nervous girl get up on the stage. "Apart from this one."

"We'll see. I'm not the sort to go looking for trouble." Anders said.

"Yet here we are, only days after quite the commotion." Jak added.

"I suppose." Anders answered.

They watched the remaining mages pass or fail their tests. The sun dipped low, and the mages were all beckoned back to the keep. Jak claped his hand on Anders's shoulder in a silent farewell, and strolled off into town.

The watch gathered up the newly free mages that had taken seats in the crowd and lead them back to the courtyard. Family members of some of the freed mages waited outside the gates for their loved ones to collect their things and return.

"Go on in, the dining hall is still open." The Guardmaster ushered all the mages through the gate who would be returning to normal life at Whitethorn. Anders and the other free mages were held outside until the others were safely within.

"This has been quite a day for some of you." He looked at Anders before scanning the faces before him. "You may have won your purples and your blues and so forth, but you are still citizens of Selstad. Remember who it was watching over you as you learned. Remember we who fed you and kept you under a safe roof."

Anders snorted and quickly turned it into a cough as the nearest Watchman gripped his hilt.

"You are free to leave or stay in this keep at any time." He continued. "I urge each of you to continue contributing to our nation. There are of course officials who may approach you if your element of power is of particular use to them. Perhaps your area of knowledge is just what Selstad needs. I hope you all consider your new roll in life. Your obligation as the powerful to help make our world better for all. Your knowledge, your sweat, and tears are all appreciated and always welcome in Raastad. That being said, you are now free to return to your rooms, and if you wish, collect your things. Do not forget that though you are free to roam, you are still to abide by the laws of the land. That is all."

The mages eagerly clamored inside. Anders wasn't in a rush to see family, so he was content to stay at the back and not be trampled. Strangely no one shoved him, and he was given ample breathing room. He walked up the stairs, his rib aching dully with each step. Once he was back in his rooms, he sat on the bed. It was getting dark, and he didn't want to spend coin on an inn room, nor did he want to stay outside. He could feel a small storm coming on, but he shouldn't be disturbed to go to the roof until later tomorrow, and he hoped to be long gone by then.

He had little to pack. His device was in his bag, to that he added his coin purse, his spare set of clothes, his tools, and the four books he owned. There was no need to take his trunk, he couldn't carry it with his rib anyway. At least his pack would hold all he owned for the time being. Once he was all packed, he laid on his bed. His head swam with ideas. His freedom was still setting in. Other than travel cost, he had no more worries. He was free to travel to the far off places he had always heard stories of. The far northern mountains, the lands that never melt, the rivers of the midlands. He fell asleep dreaming of the road.