an even bigger hit to Ešvaal’s considerable ego than it had been to Nalyata’s. She had scored almost exactly average after weeks of bragging to Nalyata about how she was going to score the highest. Ešvaal’s father Tråvidices rüt-BagatrajÅ‚an moving up from Security Force minister to Second Commander had helped heal the blow to her ego, but Nalyata knew it still ate away at Ešvaal.

Probably disappointed her father, as well.

Nalyata took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn’t want to let on how nervous she was about the Sequencing Ceremony. So far in life she hadn’t seen any symptoms of genetic disorders. Some were late onset, but most started early on.

But her father had Üharüül syndrome. Which meant she was...

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