The hand continued watching the students from the doorway, clearly enjoying the discomfort caused by its appearance. Then it tilted the tiny hat as if greeting them and began walking back inside the building.
Each finger moved like an independent leg, producing small taps against the floor. When no one followed, the creature stopped, turned on its wrist, snapped two fingers impatiently, and pointed toward the hall behind it.
"I think it wants us to go inside," Octavia murmured.
"I'm more worried about finding out what it wants to do once we're in there," Gaelira replied.
The thirty-six students passed through the doors while trying to keep some distance from the creature. On the other side was the Hall of Three Crowns, an enormous circular hall beneath a vaulted ceiling.
Three mosaics covered the walls: Thornheart's heart surrounded by thorns, Moonveil's veiled moon, and Stormwing's wing crossed by lightning.
Beneath each symbol was a different door, while a stone platform surrounded by a magic circle stood in the center of the hall.
The hand climbed onto the platform using its fingers and positioned itself in the center of the circle. From there, it looked over the students again. The large eye in its palm blinked slowly and the mouth formed a smile that was far too wide.
Several students stepped back when the creature stuck out a pink tongue, ran it along one of its own fingers, and appeared to taste it.
"That definitely wasn't in the illustrations," Octavia insisted.
"Maybe they decided showing it would reduce applications."
Before Octavia could answer, a door near the upper section of the hall opened. A tall woman appeared on the balcony and descended a side staircase.
Her dark brown hair contained several gray strands, and her black uniform was decorated with golden lines around the collar and sleeves. She did not need to raise her voice to silence the conversations. Her presence alone made the students form rows in front of the platform.
"Welcome to Crownspire Academy," she announced when she reached the center of the hall. "I am Headmistress Meredith Marshall. Each of you has received an opportunity many applied for and few obtained. Do not confuse crossing our doors with having the right to remain here."
The headmistress looked across the rows with steel-blue eyes. "During the next four years, your houses will evaluate your performance, discipline, and contributions. Those who progress will gain access to better resources and may compete for scholarships. Those who refuse to fulfill their responsibilities will lose points, privileges, and, if necessary, the academy's support."
Gaelira felt as though that last warning had been spoken especially for her, even though Meredith was not even looking at her.
Losing Crownspire's support would mean returning to a family that had already made it clear they would not take her back. She could not afford to fail, at least not until she discovered whether the magic of that world could take her back to her mother.
Meredith extended one hand toward the creature standing on the platform. "Before beginning your studies, you must be assigned to one of our three houses. He is Palmwick, also known as the Choosing Hand. He has performed this task for longer than any of us can remember."
Palmwick raised two fingers in a proud gesture. The hat nearly slipped from his wrist, but he caught it with another finger before placing it back into position. This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.
"Palmwick can recognize your magical affinity, temperament, and potential," Meredith continued. "The house you receive will not determine your entire education, but it will decide where you live, some of your instructors, and the students you will compete alongside."
A young woman in the front row timidly raised her hand and pointed toward Palmwick. "How will he examine us?"
The creature's smile widened. Meredith remained silent for a few seconds, as if allowing him to enjoy the moment.
"He must taste you," she finally explained.
Confused expressions appeared among the students. Palmwick opened his mouth and extended a tongue so long that it reached the stone in front of the platform. The collective disgust was immediate. Gaelira watched Octavia tighten her grip on the book against her chest and take half a step back.
"Taste us how?" Gaelira asked, although she already suspected the answer.
"By licking your hand."
"Maybe there's still time to go back to the carriage," Octavia murmured.
The ceremony began with the first student in line. Palmwick gestured for him to extend his hand and then slowly dragged his tongue across the young man's palm. The student made an obvious effort not to pull away. The creature closed its eye, moved its mouth as if evaluating a meal, and finally pointed toward the Stormwing door.
"Electricity, ambition, and far too much garlic," he announced in a high-pitched voice. "Stormwing."
Laughter spread through the hall while the student pressed his hand against his uniform. Palmwick continued with the next person, commenting that she tasted like ink, nerves, and sleepless nights before sending her to Moonveil. He told another student that she tasted so stubborn she would probably break through a wall before admitting she had chosen the wrong door. She was sent to Thornheart.
The comments eased some of the tension, although no one seemed more willing to be licked. Gaelira watched as the students stepped forward one by one and passed through the door of their new house.
Some celebrated the choice, while others hid their disappointment. Each assignment made the line ahead of her shorter.
"Which house do you want?" Gaelira asked.
When her name was called, Octavia handed her book to Gaelira and walked toward the platform. She extended her hand without showing fear, although her fingers tensed when Palmwick's tongue passed across her palm.
The creature closed its eye and remained silent for so long that Octavia began to grow impatient.
"Discipline, loyalty, and a worrying need to solve other people's problems," Palmwick declared. "Definitely Thornheart."
The door beneath the heart surrounded by thorns lit up. Octavia took back her book and discreetly wiped her hand against her skirt. Before crossing through, she turned toward Gaelira.
"I'm not waiting for you if you end up in another house."
"Understood."
Octavia shook her head and walked through the Thornheart door. Gaelira continued moving forward as the students still ahead of her disappeared.
Without Octavia beside her, the murmurs became easier to hear. Some people recognized the Veyr surname and began commenting on her academic record, her abandoned training, and the way she had managed to get accepted through a favor.
Gaelira kept her eyes forward. She could not change what the body's previous owner had done, but she also would not allow her reputation to decide what happened from that point onward.
Finally, Meredith called her name.
Gaelira stepped onto the platform and stood in front of Palmwick. Up close, the creature's eye was even more uncomfortable. Its pupil contracted while studying her, and its mouth stopped smiling for the first time during the ceremony.
"Extend your hand," Palmwick ordered.
Gaelira obeyed. The wet tongue slowly passed across her palm and a shiver traveled up her entire arm. Palmwick closed his eye, but did not point toward any door. Instead, he grabbed Gaelira's wrist with two fingers and licked her again.
His single eye snapped open.
Meredith took a step toward the platform. "Palmwick, announce her house."
The creature pulled back its tongue, pointed at Gaelira, and showed an alarmed expression.
"I can't choose," he declared in front of everyone. "This girl doesn't taste the way she should."
'Damn it.'