Valentina took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders before knocking on the heavy oak door of the Decanate. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, and she felt her palms grow damp.


    "Easy, little Weaver," Vyxara whispered in her head. "You have nothing to fear."


    "Come in!" a deep, authoritative voice sounded from inside.


    Valentina opened the door with trembling hands and stepped inside. The Decan''s office was an impressive room, clearly displaying the power and influence of its occupant. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, filled with old tomes and rare artifacts. A huge dark wood desk dominated the room, its surface covered in parchments and intricate-looking Essence instruments.


    Decan Egwine Valemont sat behind the desk, an imposing figure with silver-grey hair and rich eyes. He looked up from his documents and scrutinized Valentina with an impenetrable gaze.


    "Ah, Valentina, that''s your name, isn''t it?" he said in his deep, resonant voice. "What brings you to my office at this late hour?"


    Valentina swallowed hard and stepped closer. "Good evening, Your Magnificence. I... I''m here to officially register for the Greystone Competition."


    One of Valemont''s bushy eyebrows raised slightly. "Really? Well, that''s a surprising turn of events. Sit down, please."


    Valentina carefully lowered herself onto one of the heavy wooden chairs in front of the desk. She could feel Vyxara vibrating in her consciousness, radiating both encouragement and caution.


    "The Greystone Competition is no easy feat, Valentina," the Decan began as he pulled a parchment from a stack. "It''s a competition that pushes even our best first-year students to their limits. Are you sure you''re ready for this?"


    Valentina nodded resolutely. "Yes, Your Magnificence. I know it will be a great challenge, but I am ready to face it."


    Valemont leaned back in his chair and looked at her thoughtfully. "Let''s take a look at your achievements so far, shall we?"


    He began to leaf through the parchment, occasionally making notes with his quill. "Your grades are quite respectable, especially in the last few weeks. Professor Emberfell has particularly emphasized your progress in practical Essence manipulation."


    Valentina felt her cheeks redden. She knew that part of this progress was due to Vyxara''s influence.


    "However," Valemont continued, "there are also reports of... unusual occurrences."


    Valentina''s heart tightened and she could hear her pulse beating in her ears. Did someone suspect something? Did they know about Vyxara?


    "Professor Horne mentioned a poem that caused an uproar in his class?" the Decan said with a stern look.


    At once ashamed and relieved, Valentina blushed even more. "That... that was a misunderstanding, Your Magnificence. It won''t happen again."


    Valemont nodded slowly. "I understand. Well, Valentina, let me be frank. I am surprised by your desire to participate in the Greystone Competition. It''s a competition usually entered by students from... well, let''s say, more privileged backgrounds."


    He leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers. "I know about your background, Valentina. I know about the sacrifices your family has made to enable you to study here."


    Valentina froze. How did he know all this?


    As if he had read her mind, Valemont smiled thinly. "It''s my job to know about all my students, especially those with... exceptional circumstances."


    He stood up and walked to the window, his hands clasped behind his back. "The Greystone Competition will take all your resources, Valentina. Time, energy and yes, financial resources too. Are you aware that this will stretch your already scarce resources even further?"


    Valentina nodded gravely. "Yes, Your Magnificence. I am aware of the challenges. But I also see this as an opportunity to prove myself and perhaps... maybe even help my family."


    Valemont turned to her, his face softer now. "I understand your ambition, Valentina, please believe me that. It is commendable. But don''t forget that ambition without caution can be dangerous."


    He returned to his desk and reached for a quill. "Very well. If you''re so sure of yourself, I''ll approve your application for the Greystone Competition."


    Valentina felt relief and excitement spreading through her. "Thank you very much, Your Magnificence!"


    Valemont raised a hand. "But I''m warning you, Valentina. This competition will push you to your limits. It will demand everything you have, and perhaps even more. Are you prepared for that?"


    Valentina hesitated for a moment, then nodded decisively. "Yes, Your Magnificence. I am ready."


    "Well done, little Weaver," Vyxara whispered appreciatively.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Valemont looked at her for a moment longer, then nodded and began to fill out a parchment. "Very good. I will submit your application. The first round of the competition begins in two weeks. I advise you to use this time wisely."


    He handed her the completed parchment. "Here, your official application. Keep it safe."


    Valentina took the parchment with trembling hands. It felt like a key to a new, exciting, but also dangerous future.


    "Thank you, Your Magnificence," she said quietly. "I won''t let you down."


    Valemont smiled thinly. "I hope so, Valentina. I really hope so. And now, go. It''s late, and you have a lot of work to do."


    Valentina stood up and bowed slightly before walking to the door. As she touched the handle, Valemont held her back once more.


    "One more thing, Valentina," he said, his voice now serious and a little worried. "Be careful. The road to success is often paved with... temptations. Never forget who you are and where you come from. Because the other people around you won''t either, you can be sure of that."


    Valentina nodded silently, unsure what to say in response. With one last glance at the Decan, she left the office, clutching the parchment tightly to her chest.


    "You''ve taken the first step, little Weaver," Vyxara whispered appreciatively in her head. "But don''t forget that it''s an endurance race, not a sprint. You will need all your strength and cunning to succeed in this competition."


    "I know," Valentina murmured quietly. "But I''m ready. I just have to make it."


    As she turned a corner, she almost collided with a group of students who had just come out of one of the study rooms. One of them was Faustus Boarfend, whose eyes narrowed when he recognized Valentina.


    "Well, well, well," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "If it isn''t our little farm girl. What are you doing here so late? Looking for some leftover food in the garbage?"


    Valentina felt a blush rise to her face, partly out of anger, partly out of shame. "Leave me alone, Faustus," she said as calmly as she could.


    Faustus took a step closer, his gaze wandering intrusively over her body. "Oh, I already know. You''re probably on your way to see Professor Horne, aren''t you? I hear he likes his female students to... Take special lessons with him. If you know what I mean."


    The other students around him giggled mischievously.


    Valentina clenched her fists. "You don''t know anything, Faustus. Get out of my way."


    Faustus grinned maliciously. "You know, Valentina, it''s really admirable how you''re trying to keep up here. But let me tell you something: Essence Weaving is not for little bumpkin girls. Why don''t you go back to your farm doing something useful? Milking cows or fornicating with pigs or whatever it is you people do?"


    Valentina felt anger rising inside her. She opened her mouth to say something back, but Vyxara''s voice held her back.


    "Careful, little Weaver. Don''t let him provoke you. Wait for a better opportunity."


    With great effort, Valentina forced herself to calm down. "You''re wrong, Faustus," she said firmly. "And one day, I will show you how wrong."


    With these words, she pushed past the group and hurried down the corridor, Faustus'' mocking laughter ringing in her ears.


    "Well done," praised Vyxara. "Save your strength for the real fight. His eyes will pop out of his head when he sees what you''re capable of. Maybe literally."


    Valentina nodded silently, her determination now stronger than ever. She would show everyone, whatever the cost.


    Valentina decided to let her anger cool down in the university gardens before going to her room. It was already dark and autumnally cool. She settled down on a stone bench, her gaze fixed on the distant Burning Tower.


    The day had passed her by like a whirlwind, so many things had happened. The news of the goblin attack on Farwinter had cast a dark shadow over the day. Valentina thought of the fear in Innogen''s eyes when she spoke of her family, and of the horrible story Crispin had told her.


    "It''s all so unreal," she murmured quietly.


    "The world is often crueler than we would like to admit, little Weaver," Vyxara replied gently. "But it is better to know the cruelty of reality than to live in an illusion. An illusion that can be destroyed should be destroyed. Therein lies an opportunity for those brave enough to seize it."


    Valentina nodded slowly. Vyxara was right. Her conversation with Crispin had given her a new perspective. She had seen his vulnerability, his strength despite all he had been through. It had reinforced her own goal of becoming a great Essence Weaver. To help others, to be able to protect them – to be able to protect herself.


    "I wonder if I''m doing the right thing," she said quietly as she turned the Greystone Competition entry form over in her hands.


    "Doubting your decision already, little Weaver?" asked Vyxara, a hint of amusement in her voice.


    Valentina shook her head. "No, I know I have to do it. For my family, for myself. But the path seems so difficult, so full of obstacles."


    She thought of Faustus'' cruel words, of the suspicious looks from some of the professors, of the seemingly insurmountable gulf between her and the wealthy students.


    "The road to success is never easy," said Vyxara. "But you have something that the others don''t have. You have me."


    A slight smile flitted across Valentina''s face. "Yes, I have you. Even if sometimes I don''t know whether that''s a blessing or a curse."


    Vyxara laughed softly. "I am both and neither. I am what you make of me. Your ambitions, your fears, your hopes – they all shape our bond."


    Valentina stood up and walked slowly through the garden. The gravel crunched under her feet, and here and there little night creatures scurried through the undergrowth. In the distance, she heard the muffled laughter of some students who were out late.


    "What do you think awaits me in the competition?" she asked quietly.


    "Challenges like you can''t imagine," Vyxara replied. "You will have to push yourself to your limits and beyond. You will have to make decisions that will challenge your understanding of right and wrong. But if you persevere, if you have the courage to give it your all, then... then you can change your life. And that of your family."


    Valentina stopped and looked up at the starry sky. She felt a strange calm inside her, a determination that pushed all her doubts into the background.


    "I''m ready," she said firmly. "Whatever may come, I will rise to the challenge."


    "That''s the right attitude, little Weaver," Vyxara purred contentedly. "Together we''ll make it."


    Valentina made her way back to her room. The cool night air brushed her face as she crept through the quiet corridors of the university.


    Once in her room, she hesitated for a moment. The memories of the last two nights made her heart beat faster.


    "Vyxara?" she asked softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Are we again... are we going to...?"


    She sensed Vyxara''s satisfaction. "Of course, little Weaver. If you want to. I promised you that I would help you get to know yourself better."


    Valentina nodded, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation filling her. She began to get ready for the night, her thoughts already on the experiences that awaited her.


    When she finally lay in bed, the darkness around her broken only by the faint moonlight, she whispered, "I''m ready, Vyxara. Show me more."