Ember Academy
"Your trial is the flame gauntlet. Six torches, unlit. You have one minute to light all six using only will, no direct contact, and hold each flame steady for a count of ten before moving to the next."
Sera stepped into the gauntlet, six iron torch stands arranged in a wide arc before her, and behind her she could hear the low murmur of the gallery, waiting, watching, half of them, she suspected, hoping to see her fail.
"Begin," Renna said.
Sera reached, and the first flame came fast, easy, obedient, curling to life atop the nearest torch without any of the wildness that had marked her Sorting. She held it steady, counted silently, moved to the second. It came just as clean.