The journey back from the Council stronghold was quiet. Too quiet.
Rose sat at the bow of the skyship, watching the clouds roll by beneath them. Her fingers crackled with faint, lazy sparks, but she didn't bother to rein them in. The magic felt calmer now—less like a caged animal, more like a companion that had finally learned to breathe beside her.
Belladoma stood nearby, arms crossed, her silhouette sharp against the wind.
"You did well," she said eventually.
"You mean I didn't get vaporized," Rose replied dryly.
Belladoma allowed a smile. "You were never in danger of that."
"Sure," Rose muttered. "Because the flaming doppelgänger trying to roast me alive was just a formality."
Nimbus dropped onto the railing beside them, beak full of stolen Council mints. "Pretty sure the Council just wanted to see if you'd explode. Morbid curiosity."
Rose sighed, tossing her hair back. "So now what? They give me a fancy title, clap politely, and send me back to class like I didn't almost set reality on fire?"
Belladoma leaned in, her voice low. "They didn't summon you to test you, Rose. They summoned you because they're afraid you might change everything."
That made Rose pause.
Belladoma continued, "The last person to hold Brimstone magic was your mother. And she frightened them. Not because she was unstable—but because she couldn't be controlled."
Rose looked down at her hands. "And now I'm her legacy."
"You're more than that," Belladoma said, and for a moment, her voice softened in a way that made Rose's chest ache. "You're your own storm."
The skyship descended slowly into the Academy's central spire, gears grinding and air thrumming with returned energy. Students gathered below like moths to a flame, whispers rising in waves.
She could already hear it:
"That's her."
"The girl who survived the Council."
"They say she burned herself."
Rose squared her shoulders. "Let them talk."
She walked down the ramp, each step echoing with calm defiance. If they were going to stare, she'd give them something to stare at.
Inside, the headmasters had prepared a chamber with shields, enchanted scrolls, and enough magical artifacts to arm a small war. Belladoma rolled her eyes.
"Subtle, aren't they?" Rose quipped.
One of the senior professors, a gaunt man named Albrecht, cleared his throat. "We... would like you to teach a demonstration."
Rose blinked. "You want me to teach?"
"To show students what Brimstone magic can be. Controlled. Useful." His voice shook slightly. "Inspiring."
Rose exchanged a look with Belladoma, then smiled.
"Fine," she said. "Let's show them what happens when the storm listens."
And for the first time in weeks, it wasn't dread that filled her.
It was anticipation.