Itossed and turned all night. Between the temperature drop in the air in the middle of the night and the strange dream I had afterward, I barely slept. My eyes peeled open before the sun had risen, and somehow I have found myself now standing outside the Malachite gate.
My eyes fix on the green swirls lazily moving about within the stone. A cluster in the centre shine brighter as I hover my hand a few inches from its hard surface. As if they sense me watching.
I contemplate what to do next, aware that a student could walk through at any moment and slam right into me. Finally, after peering out of the alcove to ensure no one is about to come from behind me either, I settle on trying this one last time. If it fails, at least there’s not an entire audience to watch my face heat with shame. With a nervous swallow, I raise my right palm again. My eyes close and Lukas’s voice infiltrates my mind as a memory comes forth.
‘Just breathe.’ He laughed. ‘Stars, why are you so stiff? Relax your shoulders.’ He shook them, making me smile.
‘Stop. You’re distracting me!’ I whined, stomping my foot because we’d been at this for almost twenty minutes and I was getting tired of my constant failure.
‘Okay, I’m sorry. Look, just close your eyes and listen to me.’
I did. I always did.
‘Everyone’s element feels different, all right? You remember that?’
I nodded. ‘Yours reminds you of a small flame sitting in the pit of your stomach,’ I said, remembering him telling me this when I’d asked.
‘That’s right!’ he praised me. ‘Each time I reach for it, I picture myself blowing air below it, helping it rise and grow. The more air I blow beneath it, the larger it becomes, until it’s right in my hands.’
My eyes snapped open as heat licked across my face. Lukas stood across from me in his bedroom, his hands fully engulfed by orange flames. ‘See?’ He beamed. Shadows and light danced across his face. With a clench of his fists, the flames went out. ‘Now you try. Close your eyes and try to find it inside of you. See if you can picture what it might look like. You can do this, Aria.’
You can do this, Aria, I tell myself, standing as still as possible and digging for where I know my elementshouldbe. I replay Lukas’s voice in my head again, using it to help me coax the magic out.
‘Come on,’ I hiss. ‘You’ve got to be in there.’
I search for a flame. A flicker. A drop of water. A tendril of air – anything that would indicate what my element is supposed to be. But seconds turn to minutes. Just like every other time, all I find is an empty pit of darkness. Ofnothing. It’s as if my hands are reaching blindly through a dark room and finding nothing solid to grab onto.
With a resigned sigh, I open my eyes and drop my hand from the stone.
What is wrong with me? Why am I so defective? It’d be easier if I could find my gift but not harness it, than to be left like this, with nothing at all. At least then I’d know it’sthere. That thereissomething worthy inside of me. Without my element I’m useless. I have nothing to offer. Without my element I’m going to get kicked out of Valmora Academy and sent home. And that is not an option.
I turn my back on the gate, wondering if I should try to brave the dining hall while it’s still quiet, before first classes start. But right as I step out of the alcove I spot a familiar head of curly hair approaching from the same direction I’m headed.
Tilly’s pixie-like face is both a relief and a surprise in one. Our eyes connect and she leaps toward me with a little pep in her step.
‘Good morning! I was just about to wait outside for you,’ she says, holding out a delicious -smelling muffin that practically makes my mouth water just looking at it, and a paper cup of … tea? I examine the drink as I accept her offerings. ‘That’s my special concoction.’ She points at the cup as it warms my hand. ‘Try it.’
I blow at the steam billowing from the open lid then take a sip. A warm, earthy taste flows over my tongue, with a hint of lemon at the end.
‘Holy tea gods,’ I moan, taking another sip and humming as the warm liquid pools in my stomach. ‘Can I request this every morning?’
Tilly beams. ‘I knew you’d like it.’
‘So, why were you going to wait for me?’ I ask, walking toward the exit now that I have my food sorted. My first Sympathetic Magic class is this morning – well, the first I’m able to attend, seeing as the last one I was unconscious on the floor for. To be totally honest, I feel a flicker of excitement. When I was younger, attending this class was one of the things I looked forward to the most, becausethismagic doesn’t rely on my element. It can’t fail me and, if I work hard, I can’t fail it.
‘Because I thought we could walk together considering we share the same class.’
My brows rise. ‘We do? Since when?’
‘Since I requested a change of schedule, so you don’t have to sit alone. It’ll be so much fun; we can even study together!’
‘You did that? How?’
‘Perks of having an aunt on the council.’ She winks. ‘I told you; I have your back.’
She changed her schedule so I don’t have to sit alone. My throat constricts. I take another sip from my tea to cover up the emotion I feel swelling within. I think Tilly notices because her smile grows.
‘Now hurry up and eat before we get to class because I heard Professor Kroff is not someone you want to get on the bad side of.’
