Celeste turned to Caitlin. "Catie, have you decided which university you're going to yet?"

"Not yet," Caitlin said, shaking her head.

"Well, we can pick our schools together then!" Celeste said cheerfully. "I'll try to choose one close to yours."

"Sounds good."

The reporter stood there, utterly dumbfounded. He couldn't believe it. Caitlin hadn't been lying at all. Not only did she have her pick of universities, but she was the top Math Olympiad champion in all of Asia.

My God. She wasn't just a top student. She was a legend.

Just then, the Hayeses arrived.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, hello," Caitlin greeted them politely.

"Catie, you're here!" Celeste's mother took Caitlin's hand warmly. "It's been too long, dear. You've gotten even more beautiful!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Hayes. You're looking younger than ever."

Celeste linked her arm through Caitlin's and turned to her parents. "Mom, Dad, Catie and I are going to have lunch together. You don't need to wait for us." She hadn't seen Caitlin in ages and wanted some time alone with her friend.

"Alright, alright." Celeste's father took out his phone and sent some money to her PayPal. "Make sure Catie doesn't pay for anything."

"I know."

The afternoon exam didn't start until three. The Hayeses had booked a room at a hotel near the testing center, so after lunch, Celeste took Caitlin there to rest. The afternoon exam was math, and Celeste had Caitlin run through a dozen practice problems she'd been struggling with.

After a grueling flight of over twenty hours, Celia arrived in Silverhaven the day after the exams ended. She found Caitlin and Celeste at a street vendor, eating kebabs.

"Freya!"

Caitlin looked up at the familiar voice and saw Celia standing there.

"Celia! It's been so long!" she exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.

"It has, Freya." Celia gave Caitlin a quick hug before turning to Celeste.

"Celia, this is my best friend, Celeste. You can call her March."

Celia smiled and extended a hand. "It's nice to meet you, March. I'm Celia Palmer. Please, call me Celia."

"Nice to meet you too."

Celia was completely at ease with Caitlin, and by extension, with her friends. Celeste, in turn, was warm and friendly. The three of them hit it off immediately.

"Freya," Celia said between bites of a kebab, "I came all the way to Eldermere to ask for your help with something."

"What is it?" Caitlin asked.

Celia sighed. "My older brother, Brock, has fallen terribly ill. The doctors say he only has a few months left. I was hoping you would come back to Valerium with me."

"Of course," Caitlin said without

hesitation. She was a doctor, Celia was her friend, and a life was on the line. She couldn't refuse. "But

to be clear about one thing have

I don't know anything about Brock's condition yet, so you can't get your hopes up too high."

It was important to set realistic expectations.

"Freya, Brock's illness is strange. Even if you can't cure him, it's okay. I'm just so happy you're willing to come with me. When can you leave for Valerium?"

Caitlin thought for a moment. "The day after tomorrow." She needed to make a quick trip back to the Capital first.

"Perfect!"

*Valerium, Vance Castle*

Flavia was in the chapel, copying scripture as a prayer for the

Dowager Vance's health and

longevity. Besides Flavia, two maids, Mabel and Waller, were cleaning nearby. Both were from Eldermere and they chatted and laughed. they worked, completely ignoring Flavia's presence.

In name, Flavia was the lady of the castle. In reality, she was little more than a personal attendant to the Dowager. Since neither the Dowager nor Rosemary treated her with any respect, the staff followed their lead. After all, Flavia had no real

power she wasn't even allowed to leave the castle grounds. She was

more pitiable than a bird in a gilded cage.

"Mabel, are you heading back home next month?" Waller asked suddenly.

"I am," Mabel confirmed.

"If you do, could you bring back a jar of Jade Glow Balm for me? My daughter scalded her face with boiling water a while back, and it left a nasty scar." A scar on a young girl's face was a terrible thing.

"Sure," Mabel said. "But I hear it's really hard to get. I'll see what I can do. If I can find it, I'll definitely bring one back for you."

"Thank you so much, Mabel," Waller said, then continued, "You know, that Miss Gonzales is really something else. Only twenty years old and she's already accomplished so much! I saw someone online say it's because she has a lucky name. Do you think that's true?"

"Of course not. What does a name have to do with anything? My son's name is Leo, like the lion, but I haven't seen him show any great strength."

Freya?

The moment Flavia heard the name, the pen slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.