Jacqy stepped forward first, her movements graceful and practiced. The crystal ball seemed to recognize her touch, pulsing with a soft silver glow the moment her fingers made contact.

  "Watch carefully," she said, holding the orb at eye level. "This is what real power looks like." The silver light intensified, forming intricate patterns that swirled around her hands. "Sixty-five. Archangel class." She smirked at Yaw. "Not bad for a morning reading. It's usually higher after lunch."

  "Amateur hour," Suzie said, plucking the crystal from her sister's hands. "Let me show you how it's done." Her essence flared gold, brighter than Jacqy's, causing the crystal to vibrate with visible energy. "Eighty-two. Principality rank." She tossed her hair back. "And that's with a head cold."

  "Impressive," Mr. Akrobeto nodded. "Both of you." He turned to Yaw. "Your turn, young man."

  The crystal felt unnaturally heavy in Yaw's hands. The device in his pocket grew warmer, almost burning against his thigh.

  "Just relax," Mr. Akrobeto advised. "Let your essence flow naturally."

  "What if..." Yaw swallowed hard. "What if nothing happens?"

  "Something always happens," Suzie said. "Even the weakest Celestial registers at least in the twenties."

  Yaw closed his eyes and concentrated. The crystal remained cool and dark for several long seconds before producing a weak flicker, like a dying flashlight. A soft chime echoed through the hall.

  "Two?" Jacqy's laughter bounced off the marble walls. "TWO? I didn't even know it could register that low!"

  "Check it again," Suzie demanded, her previous arrogance replaced by genuine concern. "That can't be right. The Chosen Vessel can't have an essence of two."

  Yaw's head snapped up. "What did you just say?"

  "Oh, wonderful," Jacqy drawled. "He doesn't even know what he is. Or what he's supposed to be."

  "Enough," Mr. Akrobeto's voice cut through the tension. He moved to stand before Yaw, his expression grave. "The High Seer of the Sanctum of Luminance had visions about you. Very specific visions."

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  "What kind of visions?" Yaw asked, his voice barely a whisper.

  "They saw you wielding the Shadow of the Almighty," Suzie explained, suddenly serious. "It's... well, it's kind of a big deal."

  "The artifact you received at school wasn't a coincidence," Mr. Akrobeto continued. "That man works for the Sanctum. Everything has been carefully orchestrated."

  The device in Yaw's pocket felt like it was pulsing now, matching the rapid beating of his heart. "Miss Fiona... does she know about this?"

  "Your foster mother?" Jacqy laughed again, but this time without humor. "She's been a Sanctum operative since before you could walk. Why do you think they placed you with her?"

  "Placed me?" The room seemed to spin. "You mean my whole life... even my foster care placement... it was all planned?"

  "The Sanctum doesn't leave things to chance," Mr. Akrobeto said softly. "Not when it comes to prophecies of this magnitude."

  "But I'm nobody," Yaw protested. "You saw the reading. I can barely manage an essence of two!"

  "Perhaps that's exactly why you were chosen," Suzie mused, studying him with new intensity. "The Shadow works in mysterious ways."

  "Or perhaps," Jacqy interjected, "the High Seer is losing their touch. It wouldn't be the first false prophecy we've seen."

  The device in Yaw's pocket suddenly grew cold, sending a shiver up his spine. He backed away from them all, his mind reeling with revelations.

  "Tomorrow's Awakening will reveal the truth," Mr. Akrobeto said. "The crystal ball could be wrong. Ancient artifacts can be... unpredictable."

  "And if it's not wrong?" Yaw asked, his voice cracking. "What happens to the Chosen Vessel who can't even manage a decent essence reading?"

  "That's not something you want to find out," Jacqy said darkly. "The Sanctum isn't known for its forgiveness."

  "They're also not known for making mistakes of this magnitude," Suzie added. "There must be more to this than we can see."

  Yaw turned and hurried toward the door, needing air, needing space, needing time to process everything he'd learned. The weight of destiny – or perhaps its cruel joke – pressed down on him with each step.

  "Don't go too far," Mr. Akrobeto called after him. "Tomorrow's ceremony waits for no one."

  "And Yaw?" Jacqy's voice floated after him as he reached the veranda. "Better pray that ball was wrong, Chosen One. The Sanctum doesn't take kindly to disappointments. Just ask the last person they chose incorrectly."

  The morning sun had fully risen now, casting long shadows across the estate's grounds. As Yaw descended the steps, the device in his pocket alternated between hot and cold, like it was trying to tell him something. Tomorrow would bring his Awakening – but would it reveal him as a true Chosen Vessel, or expose him as the greatest mistake in the Sanctum's history?

  Behind him, he could hear Suzie and Jacqy's voices fade into worried whispers, and for once, they weren't laughing at him. Perhaps that was the most frightening thing of all.