by Jessa Ford
Juniper sat down across from Cora whose eyes widened. Juniper Sniels was the headmaster of the School of Knowledge. Cora knew the headmasters of all schools helped conduct Readings, but Juniper Sniels was known by almost everyone in Telgria. She was famously intelligent, and though young compared to the other headmasters, had worked her way to headmaster just ten years after finishing her own schooling. Cora wasn’t sure if she should be intimidated or in awe of the woman in front of her. Truth be told, she was a little of both. In an almost robotic manner, Juniper began explaining the Reading to Cora.
“The test will be comprised of three parts. First, we’ll take a blood sample to ensure you are indeed the correct student. For those with magical blood it will help to document and determine the type of magic you possess. Then, you will have 30 minutes to take the written exam. At the end we will proceed with your interview. Once you've completed your Reading, you will wait with the other students in the auditorium. After all students have completed their Readings we will provide you with your results. Results are recorded and automatically added to the Telgrian Register, so they cannot be disputed. Second Readings may be done at the student's request a minimum of six months after the original Reading. Do you consent?” Cora nodded anxiously as her heart pounded.
“Please extend your right hand,” Juniper lay a square of white cloth on the table. Cora set her hand upon it and watched as Juniper worked. She felt uneasy being this close to the woman. The headmaster had icy blue eyes that shone behind the lens of her black rimmed glasses. Her nose, like the rest of her face, almost came to a point. She kept her dark hair short, just above her shoulders, and not a single hair lay out of place. Her delicate hands moved quickly. She turned Cora’s hand palm-up and placed what looked like a small silver cylinder on the tip of Cora’s pointer finger. It clicked and Cora felt a prick.
A single drop of blood came out and Juniper collected it in the other end of the device. “You may wipe your finger off with the cloth,” she handed the piece of fabric to Cora. Juniper Sniels pointed toward another desk in the room which faced the opposite wall. On the desk was a small stack of papers and a pen. “Your exam will begin as soon as you are seated. I cannot answer any questions, nor can I allow you to pause your exam. Please remember, there are no wrong answers, but it is imperative you attempt to answer every question to ensure the accuracy of your Reading. Do you have any questions?” Juniper looked at Cora and her eyes made Cora shudder. Though some would call Juniper Sniels beautiful, Cora saw something calculating behind the exterior and it put her on edge. Cora shook her head and made her way to desk, her heavy steps the only sound in the uncomfortable silence of the room.
Upon glancing at the exam, Cora immediately exhaled. While the number of words on the page would cause concern for many, Cora merely smiled. She always excelled in reading and she could get through even the most difficult books with ease. She had a nearly photographic memory when it came to recalling things she read. Cora aced her way through the written portion, which consisted of logic puzzles and short responses to hypothetical situations. There were some calculations involved, but Cora was relieved to find it was nothing she couldn’t figure out after a little concentration. Finally, Cora answered the last question. Unsure of how much time had passed, she turned around to get Juniper’s attention, but the woman was already in action. “Please return to the seat across from me and we will begin your interview.” Again, the almost-clinical way in which the older woman communicated did not sit well with Cora. Perhaps that’s what you need to climb the ranks of success, she thought silently to herself.
The interview turned out to be a series of questions. Some were philosophical. In what scenario could you risk your own happiness at the expense of others without experiencing a crisis of morals? Others were more practical. Do you find you are quick to act in an emergency? Overall, Cora was not entirely sure how the questions would help determine the results of her Reading, but she answered each question thoroughly. When she finished, Juniper simply stated, “This concludes your Reading, Cora Vaunderly. Please join the other students in the auditorium on the first floor beneath the staircases.” She did not look up or smile as Cora left, and Cora wasn’t sure if the chill in the air was from the old building or the cold woman seated across from her.
Cora descended the grand staircase and walked further back into the building where the auditorium was located. She assumed after her Reading her nerves would calm, but found she was almost more restless than she was before. Just as Juniper described, doors to the auditorium appeared in front of Cora and she walked inside. She sat down in an empty row and took in the view. The room was full of rows of mustard yellow seats, which matched the curtains on the stage in the front of the room. Students from all schools were congregating in the room. Each student wore their school uniform, so it was easy to determine who had attended which school.
There were four lower schools in Telgria, and students attended from ages six through eighteen. Each school placement was simply determined based on residence. All of Cora’s schoolmates lived in or around the vicinity of her own home. During time in the lower schools, students learned a foundation of academic skills meant to prepare them for their Reading and subsequent careers, along with history of the Caslyan Empire. Telgrian history, too, was the focus of many years of schools' history lessons. The Reading was as somber a day as it was exciting for most, as they’d soon go their separate ways from friends they’d made over the past twelve years. It didn’t evade Cora that she was one of the few students seated alone in the large auditorium.
Cora pulled out her book and began to read, a habit she’d learned to pick up when it became obvious she was not gifted with an overly social demeanor. Within minutes her silence was interrupted by a group of students who took up the opposite side of the row behind her. “Do you think your Reading went well?” A girl spoke up, “I hope I’m a Knowledge Seeker like my parents. I can’t imagine being able to come to a grand school like this.” Another girl answered, “The School of Healing is just as grand, if not more impressive.” Cora cringed. Of course, Tiegly and her friends would end up sitting near her. Cora slunk down in her seat, hoping her uniform wasn’t distinguishable from any other student. “Do you see many students from our school?” one of Tiegly’s friends asked. “There weren’t many students in their 18th year,” someone answered. Cora continued reading and tried to ignore the group behind her while more students filled the auditorium.
As the time passed, the rows continued to fill with students. Cora wondered if Willem had finished his exam, when she looked up and saw his smiling face at the end of her row. “Oh, Willem, how wonderful you’ve finished.” Cora glanced behind her and saw Tiegly motion for her friends to move and make room for Willem. Instead, Willem smiled politely at the wretched girl and made his way down to Cora. “So?” she turned to face him as he sat down, “it was weird, wasn’t it?” He looked at Cora and nodded in agreement. “It’s strange,” she mused, “after all that it seems impractical that the rest of your life is determined after three short tests.” Willem settled in and rested his shoulders against Cora’s. The pair sat in silence as they looked at the room around them. The tension in the room only grew as time dragged on.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a hush fell over the auditorium. The stage began to fill with, Cora assumed, test administers. Headmasters were identified by their black robes. She saw Juniper Sniels bring up the rear and approach the podium. Even amongst her peers, Juniper seemed elevated, as if she was doing them a favor by working as a headmaster. While Cora watched the woman, she started to think being a Knowledge Seeker would not be a happy consolation prize, given the proximity to their current headmaster. “If I may have your attention, please,” Juniper’s voice was commanding and filled the empty space of the auditorium.
“We will begin calling you up alphabetically by last name to receive your results. Though I know it will be difficult, I expect you all to wait until the last stu
dent has returned to their seat to read your results. In your envelope you will find not only your Reading results, but also important information about your vocational path after today. Please pay close attention to the requests each school has included for their students. All schools will begin exactly four weeks from today.” She began reading names and Cora waited anxiously until she was called. It felt as if time had completely paused while she watched her fellow students climb the steps to the stage. Each passing moment felt longer than the last, and it became nearly impossible for Cora to sit still. When Willem was called she squeezed his hand as he stood to receive his placement.
Cora oscillated between anxiety and confidence the longer she stayed in her seat. She couldn’t help but replay each part of the Reading in her mind. She knew she’d done well. There was not a single question she couldn't thoroughly answer. When Juniper finally got to the end of the alphabet, Cora quickly made her way down the aisle to collect her results. A large man with a square jaw handed Cora her envelope and grunted a gruff congratulations. If Cora had to guess she would have placed him as the headmaster of the School of Building. She returned to her seat just as quickly as she left it. Luckily, only a handful of students followed her. When the last student was seated, Juniper merely gave a pert nod to the room. They were finally permitted to open their results and Cora breathed in a deep breath.
She slid the thick gold envelope open and peered at the text that appeared at the top of the gold card within. Cora Vaunderly Reading Results. The ink almost shimmered. With how quickly they had procured the results, Cora expected the ink to still be wet. Below her name was fine print that repeated the regulations Juniper Sniels shared with Cora during her Reading. She slid the card from the envelope and gasped. In bold print in the middle of the page the following words appeared:
Cora Vaunderly, 18
Mother: Healer, Father: Healer
Results: Unreadable
Educational Placement: Starbury Academy
“This can’t be,” she murmured under her breath. Her vision became hazy, but from all around she heard people celebrating. It was as if Cora saw things in slow motion. Her fingers almost tingled as she tried to quell the roar of emotions building inside her. If anyone else was Unreadable they were keeping quiet. “Well,” Willem whispered eagerly, breaking the spell in an instant, “looks like I’m going to be a Builder. What about you?” She didn’t answer him. She couldn’t even look him in the eye. Instead, Cora fled the auditorium as fast as her legs would carry her. She needed to catch Juniper Sniels before the headmaster left the building.
Juniper Sniels had just begun to climb the stairs to her office when someone almost shrieked her name. Cora breathlessly stopped in front of the headmaster. “Headmaster Sniels!” The desperation in her voice was painfully obvious. The tall woman in front of Cora merely raised her eyebrows as she’d done when they first met. “There must be some mistake,” Cora held out her card, “my parents are Healers, and I’ve been studying healing gifts for years—” “Let me assure you, Miss...” Juniper looked at the card, as if Cora were a stranger to her. “Miss Vaunderly. The test is completely accurate. You simply did not show an aptitude for any of the upper schools. If you wish to have a second Reading you may request one in six months’ time. In the event your faculty at Starbury Academy find your gifts emerging before said time they will contact my office regarding an earlier Reading. Good day.” And with that the woman turned and left, leaving a dazed Cora alone on the stairway.
✽✽✽
In the auditorium, Willem watched his friend flee from her seat. There could only be one reason Cora would be displeased with her reading. Perhaps her gifts were more aligned to Knowledge Seekers. She had always been a top student, after all. Though knowledge seeking was a worthy occupation, Cora always wanted to be a Healer. “Willem!” Tiegly wasted no time taking Cora’s empty seat to his left. “Will you be joining me at the School of Healing?” “Sorry, no,” he stood up to find Cora. “Oh?” Tiegly flashed a smile toward him. “Where are you off to in such a hurry? Surely your results were good.” Willem left without saying another word. Tiegly turned to her friends and pouted. She could never understand his interest in a plain girl like Cora Vaunderly.
✽✽✽
Cora sat on the steps with her back against a column on the side of the school. She turned the envelope between her fingers and watched as people hurried by on the busy streets below. Cora wondered if anyone she saw was once in her position. Truth be told, she knew very little about Starbury Academy. Families with children attending the school didn’t talk about it. Though no one really had control over their Reading, it was still seen as a failure to attend Starbury. Cora heard of people whose gifts emerged later, sometimes after studying at Starbury. Second Readings were rare, but she would have to request one. She closed her eyes and listened to the groups of students leaving to celebrate their results and futures.
Cora wanted to reach out and cloak herself in her disappointment. Eventually the sun started to set, leaving Cora partly in a shadow. As she heard the last students pouring out of the school behind her, she dreaded the thought of going home to share the news with her parents. She had always been such a good student, and they took such pride in her achievements. Worse, everyone would know their daughter was Unreadable. Her parents both held an esteemed position in their small part of Telgria. Cora’s Reading could affect everyone.
Cora held her knees against her chest and rested her head on them, letting her self-pity envelope her completely. She was interrupted when she heard footsteps approaching. “Cor?” Willem sat down next to her slowly. She didn’t lift her head as he joined her. “What happened?” Cora was still for a few moments and then passed her envelope to Willem. He would find out soon enough, so she didn’t see the point in delaying the inevitable. Willem opened the envelope carefully, read the words, and put an arm around Cora. “I’m so sorry,” he breathed. He was shocked. Out of everyone he knew, Cora was the least likely to be unreadable.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, “my parents and grandparents are Healers. I don’t think there are even mixed gifts in my family. I just…I don’t know what I’m going to do…” Her words trailed off and her eyes filled with tears. The reality that she would not follow in the tradition of so many of her family members broke her. She began to cry quietly and Willem held her in his arms. “It’s going to be okay. You can do a second Reading. Maybe it just takes time?” But his words didn’t reach her.
Cora was lost in her mind, replaying every question on the exam. She could remember every word spoken in the interview, even the inflection in her tone when she spoke. She was certain she answered each question thoroughly. In the end it made no difference. After some time, she rested her head on Willem’s shoulder and they stayed until the sky was completely dark. “We should go,” she said, remembering they were alone, hidden away from sight. She didn’t want to give any more reason for people to talk about her. They stood to leave, but Willem pulled her close to him and hugged her once more, allowing the column to block them from the view of anyone lingering at the school. Cora could hear his heart beating and his body was warm and comforting. It should have been the ending to a wonderful day, not a consolation for what she could only describe as the worst day of her life. “It really will be okay,” he whispered, stepping back slowly.
On the trolley ride back, Cora didn’t speak. She leaned her head against the window and watched as the city lights slowly faded and the businesses turned into homes. After she and Willem departed, the short walk up to her house felt like an eternity. The envelope weighed heavy in her bag, and she felt her despair growing with every step. To Cora’s surprise, the door opened before she reached it. “Cora,” her mother beamed, “we’ve been on pins and needles. Were you out celebrating?” Cora couldn’t bring herself to look at her mother. “Cora, what happened?” Her father stepped forward with concern in his eyes. He was always quick to catch onto her facial expressions.
Numb, Cora handed the envelope to her parents and walked past them to her room. She shut the door and closed her eyes. To their credit, her parents did not request her presence for the rest of the night.
The next morning when Cora awoke she felt as if she was in a dream. Her old school uniform lay in a heap on the floor. She had no idea what her new school would require. Immediately she began to consider her options, were she to deny her acceptance to Starbury Academy altogether. She knew in reality she would need to attend. Another grimmer reality was also setting in, which was the conversation she would ultimately need to have with her parents. Cora put on a pair of blue pants and found a cream shirt to go with it. She tied her hair back in a blue bow and looked in the mirror.
Her eyes were red and puffy from crying the night before. The books on the shelf above her mirror caught her attention. All the titles included some mention of healing. How much time had she wasted pouring over the pages, imagining the work she might embark on one day? She sighed and turned toward the door. There was no use in putting off the necessary task that lay ahead.
Cora silently walked into the kitchen, which she was both surprised and relieved to find empty. Her mother had left pastries in a box next to the sink and Cora poured some juice from a pitcher on the counter. The newspaper lay on top of the table, her father's glasses gently placed next to it. As she opened the paper she heard her parents enter the kitchen. Before they could speak, she stood and exclaimed, “I understand if you want to take my pictures down and forbid me from taking unnecessary trips outside the house until I begin my next school term.” She sat and turned back to her breakfast, thankful she had made her peace.