We walked back to Zoe's house, already thinking about the next step.
Zoe spent the evening preparing. She explained the examination while folding clothes and checking things in a small bag. Two parts, she said. First they test for innate talents, some kind of detection process. Then the arena, where you fight duels against other participants.
"There's a rule." She set a folded shirt aside. "You can't enter through normal enrollment if you're already above level five. So everyone in the arena will be around that range."
Lia had come back from the sheep fields with dried mud on her boots and the particular tired but determined expression she seemed to wear as a default. She sat across the table and listened to Zoe recap the details.
"Are you two sure you can handle the arena?" I asked. "Can you girls fight?"
