The sun rose over Oakhaven on the third day of the Trial of Purity. It was a pale and watery dawn that offered no warmth to the frozen valley. The silver grass was stiff with frost. The World Tree stood silent against the grey sky, its pulse slow and guarded.
Valeria stood in the kitchen of the manor. She stared at the cup of tea in her hands. She had not slept. Every creak of the floorboards, every gust of wind, every rustle of the leaves had sounded like an executioner's axe falling.
Today was the day of the blood test.
"He is awake," Ignis said as he entered the room. He was back in his disguise as Tutor Ignatio, shuffling along with his cane, but his eyes were sharp and alert. "He is in the courtyard. He is preparing the altar."
"The altar?" Valeria asked, her grip tightening on the mug.
