Cassian Moon stood before the Elder Council of House Moon. The Great Hall featured stained glass windows arranged in a giant circle that stretched all the way to a domed ceiling far, far above Cassian’s head. Below that vaunted ceiling but still above Cassian’s head was an array of a dozen old men and women in dark loose robes. Their features were old and withered by time, but still had the sharpness that reminded him of a bird of prey. They each sat in their own opulent cathedras on a raised platform curved around the walls, each poised to face the center where Cassian stood.

  “So the prodigal son returns,” sneered one of the elders.

  “So he does,” said another.

  Their voices were soft and withered, and yet, the great distance between Cassian and the elders did nothing to diminish the volume of their remarks. There wasn’t even so much as an echo in the vast, empty hall, Cassian noticed. Sound magic circles embedded in the walls? Prohibitively expensive, but certainly not beyond the budget of House Moon. He thought.

  “Elder Orencius, Elder Errol,” said Cassian as he entered a half bow. “I understand the Elder Council does not look upon me with favor after my leave of absence.”

  “Malarky! A leave of absence?! Is this what we call it now?” Elder Orencius exclaimed. No echo again, Cassian noticed with intrigue. “Let’s not mince words, YOU left the House!”

  “Elder Orencius, calm yourself!” said the Elder sitting in the center of the array. “We are in the presence of our ancestors in this Great Hall. I caution you to proceed with respect and dignity.”

  Elder Orencius, startled and embarrassed, lowered himself back into his cathedra. “Apologies Elder Sxall. But you must concede that Cassian Moon disrespects the Elder Council even more so by daring to return before us at all!”

  “On that I must agree. Explain yourself, Cassian Moon. Why have you come before the Elder Council again, when two years ago you yourself renounced, in this very hall, your noble lineage and thus your rightful position in the succession war? ” said Elder Sxall.

  Cassian glanced at Sxall Moon. It had been long since he last saw the old man, much longer than two years, but the elders would not know that.

  “Yes, Elder Sxall. I confess I did not expect to return from my travels so soon,” he snickered internally at that, “But my time outside the House has proved fruitful, and I believe I am ready to return to the fray and perform my duties as successor of House Moon.”

  “Do not test our limits, child!” Sxall warned. “When you left this Great Hall two years ago, you gave up any and all considerations owed to you as a member of our noble house. Your return is not yours to decide.”

  The elders nodded their approval of Sxall’s words.

  Cassian steeled his expression and rose from his half-bow. “I understand and accept the Elder Council’s judgement fully. My fate is yours to decide, but I believe wholeheartedly in the rise of House Moon, and still swear my loyalty to the Noble Creed.” Simultaneously holding his right palm to the left of his chest in the Salute of the Noble.

  Sxall stared down from his cathedra with an inscrutable expression. The others, although eager to speak, waited in silence, preferring to defer to Sxall. However, that didn’t stop some of the elders from shooting derisive stares at Cassian. Finally reaching a verdict, Sxall sat upright, both hands resting on the cathedra’s armrests.

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  “I warn you now. Even if your return to the House is permitted, it is far from reality that you would ever return to the succession war as a Starling. To even ask it of us would be a deep transgression against the House. So I ask you now: What do you seek, Cassian Moon?” asked Sxall, expression unchanging.

  “Reinstatement as a Starling and return to the succession war.”

  The council exploded in angry exclamations and chaos. Their robes fluttered as each elder began unleashing their mana, filling the vast hall with a dark, unpleasant aura. Glass windows shattered under the sudden influx of mana that filled the room, stone walls cracked and the world itself seemed to shake.

  Cassian’s confidence waned as the mana wave crashed into his body, filling every one of his orifices with pain and discomfort. As prepared for this day as he was, Cassian’s body was still that of a 15 year old, a mere Unbound at that. He was still no match for the Master rank Elders that filled the council, it wasn’t even moments before he fell to his knees.

  “SILENCE!” Sxall yelled.

  A sleek line of blood had dribbled out of Cassian’s nose before Sxall’s booming yell quieted the entire hall and suppressed the mana wave in an instant. Everyone turned to look at Sxall, who had finally stood from his cathedra in anger.

  “Enough of this nonsense! You represent House Moon as its leaders and dare to unleash a mana wave against a child?! Unseemly!” Sxall exclaimed.

  Defeated and embarrassed, the other elders retreated into their seats, with some muttering their apologies to Sxall directly.

  “And you, Cassian Moon! I warned you not to disrespect the Council, and yet you betray my goodwill and turn around to immediately do so! Give me a reason why I shouldn’t have you exiled!”

  Cassian was still struggling to return to his feet, the unexpected mana wave had sent him reeling and he struggled to form his thoughts. After a few wheezes and bloody coughs, Cassian stumbled to his feet while breathing heavily. A smug, defiant look on his face, one that the elders again took as a taunt. But thanks to Sxall’s reproval of their earlier outburst, all stayed their tongues, not daring to receive his wrath again.

  “Elder Sxall. I understand what I ask of the council may seem foolhardy. With my two year absence from the House, the elders must believe I am no longer the equal of my peers. But I will stake my life on it: I am worthy of the Starling title. Give me your trials, any at all, and I will prove my worth to the House.”

  Sxall seemed to consider Cassian for a moment, then turned away.

  “Elder Enya, I noticed your silence during the outburst. Allow me to commend you for that first,” Sxall said.

  One of the elders, an older woman with closed eyes and a calm demeanor, responded. “Thank you, Elder Sxall.”

  “You have always remained a beacon of sanity within the council. What do you make of Cassian Moon?”

  “I believe he is brash, but ultimately sincere,” she briefly opened her eyes to glance at Cassian. A cold chill passed over him. “His mana is pure, nothing to suggest a spy or mind manipulation magic. Just a fool, as the young often are. But his abilities remain to be seen, two years is a long time to be away from the House.”

  “Very well. Cassian Moon, the council will grant your return to the succession war as a Starling.” The elders stirred in murmuration. “But only if you pass a trial set by the council. All those in favor?” Sxall raised his hand.

  The elders stared at one another, shooting glances and murmuring. Eventually the murmuring died down as Enya’s hand rose into the air. One by one, reluctant hands rose until 7 elders had their hands in the air.

  “A majority decision. Let the House physician attend to you, Cassian Moon, then present yourself in the training arena tomorrow for your trial. Begone.”

  “Thank you, elders. I will not squander this opportunity.” With that, Cassian gave a final bow and left the hall.

  Cassian noticed how his words echoed around the hall now that the stained glass windows had shattered.

  The magic circles were in the glass? That’s even more impressive. Cassian thought to himself.