Vessa followed after the transit worker down the hall, taking a right instead of a left, and arriving at the Transportation Center instead of the Learning. Her fingers gripped the file as she tried not to think about who was in it. The Transportation center was just as noisy as the Learning, but instead of screaming, there was the loud murmur of a crowd. Portals on every wall but one. Train noises coming through each to add to the din, and on the blank wall stood other transit workers. Who would take you places the portals couldn’t reach.

  Vessa hadn’t needed to come here very often. Her assignment book teleported her where she needed to go, but multiple Number Assassins came or went through the portals. Castillo had told her as a child it was a matter of different tools for different people.

  The woman walked to an empty spot on the blank wall, a human portal taking its place. She held her hands out and Vessa paused. Something could have been left in her room. Douwell was likely still there, Douwell would complete the assignment and Vessa could claim she had; instead, she took one of the proffered hands, the file feeling heavy in the other, and the world changed into a blur. It felt like a blizzard of similar. Sights she’d almost seen. Smells almost known and textures Vessa swore she knew, but couldn’t place the name to.

  It was how most traveled. It was what held the Constellations together. Similar magics and all you had to do was trace the things that connected them. Not that Vessa had been taught. The Wishing Constellation used portals and trains instead. To keep the Casting Constellations from enveloping another Constellation.

  A bright blue sky that wasn’t a collage of many versions appeared, and after a minute Vessa’s dizziness dissipated. A star lit up the sky, proving this wasn’t a planet in the Wishing Constellation.

  “This is as far as I can take you.” The transit woman said and Vessa turned, stumbled, and finally faced the woman.

  “What? Why?” Vessa asked confused, she knew the assignment book couldn’t teleport her anywhere near the Empire. It was too much of a Wisher design, but that’s why most transit workers were Casters.

  The woman gave Vessa a weird look.

  “Have you been to the Empire before?” The woman asked and Vessa shook her head. She learned about it in class as a child and was taught more once she moved to the base, but never been.

  “How much do you know about the Divide?” The transit worker asked, her face scrunched in concern, as clouds in the sky blocked the star and the wind picked up.

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  “It hates Wishers,” Vessa said, though she wasn’t sure how it hated anything.

  “It does, but it also hates most Constellation magic, with only the magics near it sometimes being an exception.” The woman said as she tucked her hair away, only for the wind to blow it back into her face.

  “So how am I getting into the Empire?” Vessa asked, glad her hair was up and out of her way.

  “I teleported you as close as I could. A connection will teleport you to another world and then you’ll get into a spaceship that will fly you to your destination. Though they won’t be an associate of ours but the Umbaan’s, so be careful.” The transit worker said as she once again moved her hair out of her face.

  “Why the third? Can’t your connection teleport me all the way?” Vessa asked. The woman shook her head as she flicked her hand and muttered several words, and the wind was gone.

  “Normally, but this planet is too close to the Divide for teleporting.” The transit worker said, then paused, opened her mouth, and then paused again.

  “Should I have brought your friend as well? The one in your room, I mean.”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Well, I know the orders I was given, but if you’ve never been here … Well, it’s just that most times, in new locations, there’s two of you and …I just, the Empire is dangerous and different, and I can go get her. If you were trying to impress and… I just wouldn’t suggest it, not here. With the Umbaan and the IIA and several… other… groups.” The woman went completely red and bit her lip. How screwed was Vessa? Hopefully, the file gave her the needed information as this seemed off. Why send her here? Even if it was for punishment, surely there were other kids to kill.

  “I know I’m not supposed to ask. It’s just your questions. And …” The transit worker gestured all around them and then coughed and looked away. Vessa just stared. She was so tempted to say yes, instead, Vessa held up her file.

  “I have the briefing in here. I will be fine.” Vessa said and the transit worker nodded, still completely red.

  “Of course. Wait here for the associate.” The woman said and handed Vessa a piece of paper and ran a couple of paces away before disappearing. Vessa stared at where the transit worker had been for several moments. Before looking around herself, to see she was in a garden with trees and flowers. Seeing a path, she walked on it to an archway, file in hand. She’d find somewhere to sit before reading.