My name, my plain, boring name is Raila Astrin Felynis. Boring because enemies do not run at the sound of my name; because merchants don't offer me deals like they do when the royal family passes through our town; because people don't take a second look at me when they pass because I haven't done the Beckoning yet. Because I don't want to do the Beckoning.

Kalinier Kronixian, my best friend since childhood, hasn't done it either. We both fear the same outcome, if you have a rare power, then the palace will take you from your home and train you to become one of their blind, obedient soldiers, shipped out of the country and never to return after a battle with the feared Shadowstealth Wingers.

My mother discovered she was just an ordinary girl on the day of her twentieth birthday at her Beckoning, but my father has powers, he can control water and ice. Astonishing, but common, and especially useless when you work all day as the king's head servant. I guess I have him to thank for the food on the table every day. My mother isn't going to find a job anytime soon if she keeps occupying herself with chasing hopeless dreams. She is jealous of my father and does everything she can to try and gain a power before she is too old to use it, because power is everything in my country, Arien.

My Beckoning is coming in three days and I don't know what to do. Most people aren't gifted, but my father has powered genes; so did his mother, and his mother's mother. Yeah, you get the picture, there's a high chance that I am one of the rare powered people.

Kalinier, whether he admits it or not, already has a power; driving people insane by robbing anything that he can get his hands on that is supposed to go to the palace. I use my beauty as a distraction most of the time. I'm tall and slender with wavy brown hair, and bright ice-cold eyes. My father always says that I look like I'm glaring at people. It's my face, I can't change it!

Let me get this straight; no I am not a nice, innocent girl. I rob and I help my family survive, but mostly I just do it to ruin the royal family's gifts.

. . .

It's five o'clock in the morning and people are just starting to wake up, but I on the other hand, am taking the advantage and heading for the city market where Kalinier told me to meet him.

As I walk down the dusty cobblestone streets in tight leather boots and a messy braid, I look around sadly at the state of our town. Buildings are crumbling from age and the air is slightly fogged. A few lucky attacks from the Shadowstealth Wingers has left our small town in an even worse state than it was before. Many children now spend most of their days working at easy paying jobs instead of running around and bringing joy to anyone they pass just by simply laughing. I miss those days, and I know I'm not the only one. I'm just lucky my father still thinks I work at a small bakery, and I'm even more lucky he hasn't visited on the days I supposedly work there.

As I sharply turn the corner, a familiar yet annoying voice cuts through the quiet morning. "'Bout time, Rai. I've been standing here for hours!"

I walk up to his grinning, handsome face and slap him as hard as I can, even though my palm immediately stings. "It's Raila, you idiot, and I know you've only been standing here for a couple minutes, so quit lying to the only person who can handle your constant idiocy, Kalinier."

He snickers and rubs his cheek, his bright green eyes closing as he moves his other hand to comb his red hair. I look down my nose at him and shift my boot. "Well," he finally says cheerfully, reaching behind him and pulling out something. "Happy birthday, my gorgeous friend." I clamp my hands over my mouth in shock and snatch the necklace and matching bracelet from him. They're studded with tiny blue gems all around the chain with diamonds peaking out every now and then. This was the first present I had received in years.

"You didn't."

"No, Raila, of course not. Who would be dumb enough to risk getting caught over their best friends birthday? I mean, it's not like it's a big deal to me or anything, considering a bunch of palace minions ran after me, but--" I slapped him again and flung my arms around his neck.

"Thank you," I breathed into his chest.

"I would say 'no problem', but it kinda was a problem. So I'll just settle for you're welcome," He whispered.

I pulled back and dropped his gifts into my bag. I would wear them later, I didn't want the sun reflecting off them and drawing attention. He rubbed his hands together and grinned excitedly as if it never happened, "Now, who wants to go steal something? I hear the palace just ordered a new set of priceless artifacts and jewelry. I wonder why they still buy things when they know it's never going to come?"

I matched his grin and he immediately told me everything. The next thing I knew, we were sprinting for the docks.