“The Order of Inkweavers”

The ink sinks into the page. Black fades to white as the paper accepts the spell.

My breath catches in my throat.

It has to work this time. It has to. Heid made it very clear that there would be no more chances.

I wait. Nothing happens.

One minute. Two minutes.

My heart sinks.

No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

Five minutes. Heid clears his throat.

“Please,” I whisper to the paper. “Please.“

The white page just stares at me. Mocks me for having tricked me into feeding it ink while offering nothing in return.

“That was your last chance,” Heid says. He closes the book with a final thump that matches the drop of my heart. “Your application to the Order of Inkweavers has been denied.”