ShadowBound: The Need For Power

The projection displayed each category as Thion spoke.

"Your instructors will review it after the assessment. If you make a poor decision but explain the information available to you at the time, that will matter. If you make a reasonable decision and fail to record the reason, that failure will also matter. Command that cannot account for its choices is not command. It is impulse with witnesses."

Maxwell, muttered quietly, "That is definitely going to become Edith’s nightmare."

Dylan whispered back, "Edith looks like she was born holding a command log."

"She does, actually."

Thion did not appear to hear them, though with the Headmaster it was difficult to be sure.

"Objectives will come in phases," he continued, "but not always cleanly. Some tasks will be urgent. Some will be distractions. Some may become dangerous if accepted at the wrong time. The academy is not only testing obedience. It is testing judgment."

The earlier note from Lucia returned, but now it carried more weight.

"A commander may reject or delay an objective if they can justify it properly," Thion said. "But ignoring objectives out of laziness, fear, poor communication, or internal conflict will be punished. Understand the difference. One is command judgment. The other is failure dressed as caution."

Several students looked more uncomfortable with that than with the threats. It was easier to imagine fighting beasts than deciding whether an academy-issued objective should be delayed while peers argued and supplies dwindled.

The projection shifted to show a glowing image of the communication insignias they had been told they would receive.

"These insignias will assist with short-range communication," Thion said. "However, Eldervale’s Myst conditions may interfere with them. Signals may distort, weaken, or fail entirely in certain areas. You are expected to prepare backup methods. Runners. Signal stones. Prearranged meeting points. Marked routes. If your entire communication plan depends on one enchanted item working perfectly in a realm known for Myst irregularities, the failure will be yours."

Liam approved of that warning.

He also knew many students would still forget it once panic began.

Next, the projection changed to show the emergency extraction mark.

"Each of you will receive one emergency extraction mark before deployment," Thion said. "It is not a toy. It is not an easy escape button. It is not to be used because you are tired, frightened, embarrassed, separated from friends, or unhappy with your assigned role."

His voice grew slightly firmer. "Emergency extraction is for serious danger, severe injury, or approved withdrawal under conditions your command structure cannot safely address. It is also not instant. There will be a delay between activation and retrieval. During that delay, you may still be vulnerable. Unnecessary use will count against both the individual and the year."

The hall absorbed that with a colder silence.

Some students had likely imagined the marks as an invisible safety net. Thion had just reminded them that a net could have holes and still be called a net by the academy.

"You will be observed," he continued. "Academy observers will monitor what they can, directly and indirectly. But they are not there to save you from every bad decision. Intervention will occur only when danger crosses a certain threshold or when continued nonintervention would violate academy standards of acceptable risk."

He looked over them steadily. "Pain is not always an emergency. Consequences are not always an emergency. Failure is not always an emergency."

That line was perhaps the cruelest so far because every student knew he meant it.

The projection darkened.

The silhouette of the Warden appeared again.

Even without detail, the image drew the room tight.

"I will repeat the warning regarding the Warden," Thion said. "The Warden is not an objective. It is not a secret bonus. It is not a challenge. It is not a glory opportunity. If you encounter it, you will avoid, retreat, and report. Anyone who provokes it, lures it, follows it for curiosity, or attempts to test themselves against it will be judged severely."

His gaze moved across the hall, and this time it lingered just long enough on certain students known for reckless confidence.

"If your pride endangers your year," he said, "the academy will not praise your courage. It will record your stupidity."

Dylan leaned slightly toward Maxwell. "I feel like that was aimed at at least twelve people."

Maxwell whispered, "Thirteen if you count Asher twice."

Asher, who unfortunately heard them, turned his head slowly. "I will burn both of you after this."

"That would confirm the count," Dylan whispered.

Liam stared forward, deciding not to involve himself.

Thion changed the projection once more, this time to a simple comparison between Amthar and Eldervale marked with two time rings.

"There is also a time difference," he said. "Eldervale runs roughly four to five hours behind Amthar. When you arrive, the time of day will not match the academy’s time. Prepare for that difference. It may affect daylight, fatigue, first-day planning, travel pace, and when you reach Veyrhold."

That detail stirred another wave of unease.

Students began silently recalculating what deployment before dawn might mean if Eldervale lagged hours behind. Arrival could happen at a different light condition than expected. A march to Veyrhold might become easier or more dangerous depending on time of day. If the group scattered, the difference could matter even more.

Thion let them think for a moment.

Then he reached the final logistics.

"Deployment is in two days," he said.

Even though most already expected it, hearing it directly still changed the air.

"All second-year students will report to the Eastern Grand Hall before dawn. You will wear academy-issued field uniforms. You will bring approved personal weapons. Unauthorized artifacts, personal supplies, charms, tools, or storage items not cleared by the academy are forbidden. Any student found attempting to smuggle unauthorized materials into the deployment will be penalized before the assessment begins."

His eyes sharpened slightly. "Anyone late will also be penalized before the assessment begins."

No one looked ready to test that.

"Your approved weapons will be inspected. Your field uniforms will include protective reinforcement appropriate for the realm’s conditions. You will receive communication insignias, emergency extraction marks, and initial supply assignments before deployment. Details of supply distribution will be given in the Eastern Grand Hall on the morning of departure."

The projection faded behind him, leaving only the Headmaster at the pulpit.

His voice lowered slightly, not in volume, but in weight.

"You are not being sent to Eldervale to prove that you are strong," Thion said. "You are being sent there to prove that your strength can become structure. If it cannot, Veyrhold will not become your bastion. It will become your lesson."

No one spoke.

Not even Dylan.

The words remained in the air longer than the projection had.

Thion looked over the second-years one final time. "Make your final preparations wisely."

Then he stepped away from the pulpit and returned to his seat.

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