What? Kill me? Why? My brain can't process this. It's in a whirl.

Kill me?

Head Frost doesn't react, he just contemplates it. "You're right," he says. "Unless there's a way around it. . ."

"Probably not," says Head Pyra forcefully.

"But whatever her fate is," Head Frost concludes, "we'd better put her into training first."

Training. I hate training. All training does is make you humiliated when you fail. Is this what being the sign entails? That I have to be the example of perfection in all areas?

"What kind of training?" I ask.

"Physical training, emotional training, mental training, you name it."

Candice nudges me. "Come on Elara, you can't admit that you're the most amazing physical specimen Alium's ever seen. I mean, look at you!"

It's true. I've hardly had to do any physical work in Ether. Now that I compare myself to Candice, my limbs look almost scrawny next to her more brawny ones.

"Alright," I sigh. "What first?"

"Finish your pyronetics," says Head Pyra impatiently.

"Fine," says Jinx on my behalf.

Head Pyra scowls at him. "Enough with you, Jinx Lix!" she shouts.

Jinx rolls his eyes. "Sure. Fine. Whatever." He winks at me and I feel a flutter somewhere and I blush. "See you later."

Head Frost raises his eyebrows at this but doesn't comment.

I continue with pyronetics. Channel my energy into the glowing ball of flame, sending rays of light through the air. After a few minutes, I'm sweating profusely but have created a fire ball as bright as the sun, as big as two of Head Frost's heads.

Now this merits something from Head Frost. "I have to say that's the most impressive display of pyronetics I've ever seen in a newbie."

I glow with pride like my fireball.

"Quite good," says Head Pyra impassively, "but the really tricky part is sucking it back in."

"Really?"

"Try. Just feel like you're pulling something in with your mind."

I try. Create a sucking sensation with my brain and slowly, the fireball diminishes and goes out.

Finally, Head Pyra's impressed.