My eyes were tired from the night before. It had been nice getting to know Rath better, but his fear of what might happen today still stuck with me.

  The morning light poured over the towering walls of Sunken City. Despite feeling exhausted, I was ready for whatever lay ahead. The three of us—Vera, Rath, and I—parted quietly, unsure of what to say, but we pressed on.

  The temple grounds were already alive with movement. Priests hurried to prepare for the ceremony, parents gathered to watch, and merchants had wasted no time setting up stalls, eager to profit from the occasion.

  Back at the barracks, I found a note on my cot:

  Son, we missed you, but we’re rooting for you to do the right thing and make us proud. You hold the name Wolfe.—Dom and Sara Wolfe

  It was a nice sentiment, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the right thing meant more than just doing well today. I pushed the thought aside and changed into the uniform for the Catechism and trials.

  A fitted white padded vest. Loose sleeves. Gray pants that let me move freely. A belt for any weapons or relics we might use.

  I exhaled. Six months. Let’s make them count.

  The Gathering

  The courtyard was packed. Spectators, students, merchants—everywhere, people were talking, preparing, waiting.

  I scanned the crowd, hoping to spot my parents, but no luck. Instead, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

  “Where have you been?”

  Rinkle’s face was a mix of frustration and disapproval.

  “You know how embarrassing it is to have half your homeroom absent at morning call? This is the biggest day of your life, Wolfe. Don’t screw this up.”

  I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. I know what I need to do.

  I spotted Vera and waved. The girls’ uniforms looked elegant—long tunics over fitted pants, embroidered with subtle gold thread. Then I saw Rath.

  He stood apart from the rest, surrounded by a group of Nonkin—probably his family. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all.

  Whatever’s coming, he isn’t ready for it.

  I clenched my fists, hoping my parents were watching.

  Dom’s Perspective

  “Dom, if we don’t hurry, we won’t get good seats for the opening ceremonies,” Sara said, gently taking the note from my hand.

  I knew she was trying to calm my nerves. I had hoped to see Elias before the ceremony, to see if he was holding up under the pressure. I hated this ritual. I feared what it might be doing to him.

  I nodded, forcing a smile, and we walked together to find a good spot.

  As we entered the seating area, the whispers started immediately.

  "Look at the former noble…""The Lone Wolfe…""The Dog."

  Sara squeezed my arm. “I forgot how pigheaded these nobles can be,” she whispered, giving me a quick wink.

  I smiled, straightening my shoulders. Let them talk.

  Soon, we spotted Marcus and took seats beside him. He was a good friend, even if he couldn’t always show it openly. His ties to the High Court meant he had to keep up appearances.

  As the students filed in, I spotted Elias getting an earful from Randle M. Rinkle—an old rival of mine. Of all the rotten luck, my son had to end up with him as a teacher.

  I elbowed Marcus and nodded toward the scene.

  Marcus sighed, adjusting his glasses. “That’s not a good sign for Vera either,” he murmured. “Let’s hope Rinkle’s not still holding a grudge.”

  I chuckled quietly. Worrying about it wouldn’t help now.

  The Ceremony Begins

  The fanfare erupted, and the large holodeck behind the stage flickered to life. A glowing white figure materialized, twisting and shifting like liquid light.

  ALL’s voice rang through the courtyard, smooth and unsettling.

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  "Howdy once again, boys and girls."

  I clenched my jaw.

  "Today we celebrate the longstanding tradition of our Ranking Ceremonies and the Catechism of our mighty city. Remember, I know ALL, and see ALL."

  ALL’s head swiveled toward the students.

  "First up, any Nonkin who wish to join their families in serving me, please step to the side and await your procedure."

  The way ALL spoke about the Nonkin always made my skin crawl. The AI’s voice dripped with something close to affection—sultry, almost eager.

  I exhaled. Let’s get this over with.

  The Caiths were up first. Marcus had told me about them—his neighbors. They weren’t fond of me, likely because I’d put a few of their cousins in jail over the years.

  From where I sat, I spotted the youngest among them. Red hair. Tense posture.

  That must be Rath.

  The Transformation

  Surrounded by his family, Rath approached the stone table, stiff as a corpse.

  The priest stepped forward, needle gleaming in the torchlight. ALL’s blank face watched from the holodeck, a silent judge.

  “In the mighty tradition of our fair kingdom, where blood and bond rule us, we submit another servant to serve ALL,” the priest intoned.

  The needle plunged into Rath’s spine.

  His hands clamped onto the table, knuckles white. A choked gasp—then a scream, raw and piercing, split the silence.

  Fur exploded across his body—red streaked with black. Muscles bulged, twisting into something feral. His face contorted, bones cracking as feline features emerged.

  The crowd remained silent. It didn’t matter how many times they had seen this before—there was always a hush. A collective breath held.

  I clenched my jaw.

  We weren’t honoring tradition. We were playing god.

  Sara flinched beside me. She had seen too many children forced into this fate. She and her sister had barely escaped.

  We keep playing with fire. One day, it’s going to burn us all.

  Transition Back to Elias’s POV

  The silence lingered, stretching unbearably long.

  Rath looked different, and yet… the same. The red and black fur, the feline features, the raw power that seemed to radiate from him—it was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

  Part of me wanted to run up there, to make sure he was okay. But I couldn’t. I had to stand here and wait for my turn, even though my legs felt like they might give out beneath me.

  “Elias.”

  Vera’s voice was quiet but firm. Her hand wrapped around my wrist, steadying me. “You okay?”

  I swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah. Just… still processing.”

  She followed my gaze back to Rath, now standing, his newly-formed claws flexing involuntarily. “He looks fierce. But… does he feel like himself?”

  I wanted to say something reassuring, but all I could think about was the pain on his face. The scream. The way his body had changed, like he had been forced into a mold that didn’t quite fit.

  "Next group, step forward!"

  ALL’s voice cut through the hush, breaking the spell.

  I took a deep breath, clenching my fists.

  This is it. There’s no turning back now.

  The next group stepped forward—students from a different class. I didn’t know any of them, but watching their bodies twist and contort into something inhuman still left a pit in my stomach.

  This group was different from the Caiths. Reptilian.

  They didn’t grow fur like Rath had. Instead, thick scales erupted across their skin, their spines stretched, and long, sinuous tails unfurled behind them. Their noses flattened into slits, their faces losing all human expression.

  They were grunts. Guards. The lucky ones.

  Most of them would end up in the service of noble families, given roles with structure and status. But that didn’t make the process any less horrifying.

  I forced myself to look away after the second or third transformation. I couldn’t bear it.

  ALL’s Interruption

  A static hum crackled across the holodeck before ALL’s voice rang out, lighthearted and impatient.

  "That’s more than enough, priest. Let’s get to the trials already—that’s what the crowd is here for, anyway."

  The audience erupted in cheers, some even laughing at the AI’s jest. The priest, unfazed, gave a solemn nod.

  “The rest of the students—please step onto the platform. We will begin shortly.”

  Lining Up for the Trials

  We moved as instructed, stepping onto the stone platform. The acrid scent of sweat and whatever chemicals they used in the Nonkin transformation process still hung thick in the air. It clung to my nose, heavy and sterile.

  I found myself standing beside Vera, and just ahead of me—Rath.

  He was taller now. Much taller. His newly transformed form made him look years older, his posture heavier, as if the weight of his own body was something he was still adjusting to.

  He wasn’t in the mood to talk. That much was clear.

  Still, I mustered what little courage I had and patted him on the back.

  His muscles tensed under my touch, his fur rough beneath my fingers. But then—to my surprise—he turned.

  And smiled.

  His sharp feline fangs gleamed under the temple lights, and for the first time since this whole ordeal began, he looked at peace.