Chapter 8
To understand how the training center works, one would have to possess cursory knowledge of the city of Terminus. One of the larger cities in Aleucidal, it is surrounded by towering defenses that even flying creatures have difficulty navigating above. Within the east wall—the thickest of all the city's defenses, forged impossibly inside a small mountain—lie two critical facilities connected by a network of defensive tunnels like a labyrinth within the mountain's core: the training center and the guard barracks. Access was strictly controlled; the only way in was through a cleverly hidden door set high upon the inner face of the massive wall. Once inside, a passage led into a central cavern deep within the wall's structure. From here, the path split: the passage to the left ascended steeply towards the training center, perched like a nest on a platform atop the formidable wall itself. The passage to the right, however, descended into the lower caverns housing the barracks. Both entrances branching from the central cavern were always guarded, ensuring that anyone who found their way inside would still need a pass to proceed further. Luckily for Fenrick, Elara's mark served as their pass up to the center.
Though Fenrick hadn't been told specifically where the door was located for this trip, he had been aware of its location for quite some time. Terminus is also home to the Hall of Mages, where anyone who seeks to earn their robe must train and pass the trials. Fenrick didn't think he would be back to Terminus this early, but there he was. His only hope was that none of the guards would recognize him.
"State your business." One of the guards barked as Fenrick opened the door. Elara had barely stepped inside before they approached.
"The Registration Office has instructed me to take my sparrow to the Training Center," Fenrick replied plainly—there was no point in lying.
The guard closest to Elara took hold of the back of her hair, pushing her head forward roughly, letting go once he had spotted the mark. Elara glared at the guard but clenched her jaw. "Aye, it has the mark." The guard nodded to the other and pointed towards the ascending passage leading left. The other guard stepped aside, allowing them to pass through.
