No Magic, No Problem (1)

Clara could hardly concentrate on what Holly was saying, for the prospect of the placement exam was starting to weigh on her. She imagined herself in the middle of unknown faces without anything—not even her powers—in case something went terribly wrong. The placement exam was supposed to be a measure of strength. It wouldn’t start in the next few hours, yet Clara feared she would flunk it.

Holly showed Clara to a bathroom. It had a large bathtub, kidney-shaped and made of the smoothest white porcelain. The high ceilings were covered by enormous frescoed portraits, depicting Hiestora’s beginning of time—how it was created by the Guardian Deity. Against each of the walls—which were papered in elaborate swirls of turquoise, pink, and gold—was an oversized, lavishly carved wooden armoire.

“I sleep in Chamber 5, Your Highness,” Holly said, leaning against the bathroom doorway. “That’s downstairs. In case you need me, there’s a communication system that’s set up in your bedroom. It’s directl