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Description
She jerks awake as the Light Train slows sharply before careering around a corner. Panicking, she scans the outside for anything to give their location away. Suddenly the Light Train stops before a dilapidated castle. She hesitates, but jumps off. It's not as if she can go back.
She takes a jittery breath as she walks past two huge doors, covered in blood and dents as they hang from their hinges, the rest of the castle in a similar state. She continues until she reaches a large hall, a slim robed figure sitting in the middle of the floor with their back to her.
You have arrived.
She flinches. She doesn't hear a voice. They have spoken straight to her brain.
You know nothing? How amusing. The person continues, sitting deathly still. And Human? Even more entertaining.
Suddenly they are gone. With a light tug her scalp feels lighter, almost prickly. She spins around to see the robed figure standing with about seven inches of her hair in hand.
Your payment is received.
The hair disappears in a flash of fire.
I am the First Jude. If you do not regress to insanity, then you pass. If you fail, then Zephyr is forfeit and your battle is over. Prepare yourself.
She tries to assemble her thoughts, but they seem to flee from her the more she tries. She tenses physically, closing her eyes and waiting for the inevitable.
After a few minutes, nothing has happened. She squints through mostly closed eyelids to see the first judge knelt on the floor with his hood off. She opens her eyes, wondering what is going on.
"You pass." He says, handing her an ivory card. "I, Ryan, the First Judge, give you my fealty."
She takes it. "Cairo." She mutters as they leave.

Description
She jerks awake as the Light Train slows sharply before careering around a corner. Panicking, she scans the outside for anything to give their location away. Suddenly the Light Train stops before a dilapidated castle. She hesitates, but jumps off. It's not as if she can go back.
She takes a jittery breath as she walks past two huge doors, covered in blood and dents as they hang from their hinges, the rest of the castle in a similar state. She continues until she reaches a large hall, a slim robed figure sitting in the middle of the floor with their back to her.
You have arrived.
She flinches. She doesn't hear a voice. They have spoken straight to her brain.
You know nothing? How amusing. The person continues, sitting deathly still. And Human? Even more entertaining.
Suddenly they are gone. With a light tug her scalp feels lighter, almost prickly. She spins around to see the robed figure standing with about seven inches of her hair in hand.
Your payment is received.
The hair disappears in a flash of fire.
I am the First Jude. If you do not regress to insanity, then you pass. If you fail, then Zephyr is forfeit and your battle is over. Prepare yourself.
She tries to assemble her thoughts, but they seem to flee from her the more she tries. She tenses physically, closing her eyes and waiting for the inevitable.
After a few minutes, nothing has happened. She squints through mostly closed eyelids to see the first judge knelt on the floor with his hood off. She opens her eyes, wondering what is going on.
"You pass." He says, handing her an ivory card. "I, Ryan, the First Judge, give you my fealty."
She takes it. "Cairo." She mutters as they leave.