Jasper woke before the bell. For several seconds he did not remember why. Room Fourteen looked grey in early light. Harper's mattress had shifted half off its frame during the night as though she had attempted to escape furniture in her sleep. Ava's blanket was folded around her with geometric precision. Bag Bed was empty. Then Jasper heard water moving below the western windows. Choosing Tide. His stomach immediately became unhelpful. Not sickness. Nerves concentrated into one hard knot. He dressed quietly in the plain first-year ceremonial uniform and folded the grey scarf over one shoulder. No Order edging. Not yet. Ava opened one eye. "Time?"

"Six twelve."

"Unacceptable."

Harper spoke into her pillow. "Tell time to stop." Nobody went back to sleep. By six-thirty, all three were dressed with forty-five minutes before breakfast. This was dangerous. Ava reorganised a trunk that was already organised. Harper invented a floor-tile game with rules that changed whenever she lost. Jasper attempted a letter to his parents even though he would see them in less than two hours. Dear Mum and Dad, I am awake too early. Harper read over his shoulder. "Compelling."

"Go away."

"Add: possibly being assigned to a cult by water."

Ava looked up. "Orders are not cults."

"Exactly what an Order would say."

Breakfast saved them. The Great Hall had been rearranged. First-years sat at central tables while families filled the outer sections. Older students remained with their Orders but had apparently been warned not to chant, wave banners or behave like sporting crowds during placement. Brannor had received the warning specifically. Jasper saw his parents immediately. His mum stood and waved as though fifteen metres of distance made recognition difficult. He smiled despite the nerves. Harper's family sat nearby. Ava's parents had brought a camera and what looked suspiciously like printed notes. For one meal, everybody became ordinary again. Then the basin bell rang. The first-years stood.

Jasper's mother squeezed his shoulder. "Whatever happens, you are still you." His father added, "Unless the water turns you into a duck. Then we reassess."

"Dad."

"Important contingency."

Jasper laughed, which helped. The basin cavern filled slowly with families, staff and older students. First-years lined up beside the entry platform in grey. Water moved through the carved channels below. Jasper felt no Titan pressure. That should have reassured him. It did not. The first name was called. Not his.

Jasper woke before the bell. For several seconds he did not remember why. Room Fourteen looked grey in early light. Harper's mattress lay half off its frame because she had apparently moved in her sleep with enough determination to escape furniture. Ava's blanket was folded around her like geometry. The Bag Bed was empty. Then Jasper heard the water. Choosing Tide. He sat up. His stomach immediately became unhelpful. Not sickness. Nerves concentrated into one small hard knot. He looked toward the western window. The Sea beyond was pale silver. No pressure. No awareness. Nothing unusual. Good. Maybe. He got dressed quietly. First-year grey ceremonial uniform. Plain shirt. Dark trousers. The grey scarf folded over one shoulder rather than worn for warmth. No Order trim yet. He checked the clock.

The breakfast bell saved them. The dining hall had been rearranged. First-years sat at three central tables. Families occupied the outer ones. Older students ate in their Orders but had been warned not to chant, wave banners or otherwise behave like sporting clubs during placement morning. Brannor had apparently received this warning specifically. Jasper saw his parents immediately. His mother stood and waved as though he could miss her from fifteen metres away. He smiled despite the nerves. Harper's family sat nearby. Ava's too. The first-years were allowed to eat with their families before the ceremony. Jasper carried a plate he barely wanted over to his parents. His mother looked him up and down.

He ate. Around them, the room buzzed with restrained anxiety. One child was crying quietly into a parent's shoulder. Another talked so fast nobody else could answer. Theo was making predictions again until Elowen walked past and said his name without stopping. He immediately changed the subject to jam. Jasper's mother looked toward the Choosing Basin doors.

They walked in single file through the lower passage. The sound of water grew louder. Jasper had visited the basin before. Today it felt different because every seat in the stone gallery was full. Parents. Staff. Older student representatives. Four platforms waited across the chamber. Brannor on the left of centre. Velmor farther left. Calyx right. Nocten far right. The exact arrangement mattered less than the channels cut into the floor. Seawater entered through a central gate in slow silver movement. No magic glow. No roaring. Just water moving through old stone. Jasper felt his mother find him in the line. He looked up. She smiled. His father gave a tiny thumbs-up. Harper's mother had one hand over her mouth. No enormous speech.

"First-years," he said, "you arrived at Tidefall as individuals who had barely met. You leave first year with friendships, mistakes, questions and skills none of you carried through the gate. Today does not decide who you are. It decides where part of your Tidefall life will be rooted next."

Ava visibly approved. Harper whispered, "Less dramatic than expected." Jasper whispered back, "Better." Thorne stepped aside. The first name was called. Not Jasper. Thank every possible force in the world. He needed to watch first. Jasper breathed out. He needed to watch first.