As we walked toward Foxfire, the Level Four towers glistening, I thought hard about the ability I'd like to gain. Maybe Froster? Nah, too boring. Mesmer? Cool, but rare.

An elemental ability?

Hmmm, that's something to consider.

Anyway, I got to the glittering tower with my friends, and as we started walking up the long spiral staircase, I couldn't help but think about which elemental ability I'd want.

Just as I was beginning to name all the options, I made it to Ability Manifesting class. Kolaki groaned out loud.

"I heard that today's ability was going to be Phaser. I kind of hope that I get it, but I've heard what they do with manifesting as a Phaser . . . " She shuddered. " . . . I hope they're false."

This is going to be my own imagination, so please don't chew me out for getting it wrong

We stepped into the Level Four Ability Manifesting room. As we looked around, Kolaki shuddered again. "My worst fears have come true."

Mine had too.

We were going to be yeeted (was that right? I had to look it up on that human computer) from a catapult (a human invention). Straight. At. A. Wall.

With no protection.

Oh great.

This was going to be fun.

"Alright, alright!" the teacher shouted. Everyone settled down immediately. "Now, I just learned about this human thing called 'attendance', so today, we're going to try it out. Now - " He looked at his paper. " - when I call your name, say something, ok? Brell Allister!"

"Here!"

Huh. I'd never heard of 'attendance'. Humans are weird with their ways of keeping track of people. Then again, there are, like, 7 billion humans on the earth, so why am I surprised?

"Kolaki Dizznee!"

"As present as a giraffe at a guacamole party!"

Everyone snickered. I groaned. Last month, I told Kolaki about guacamole, this human food, and she taught the entire Level Four about it. Now they just wouldn't shut up about the 'guacamole infestation'.

Speaking of Kolaki . . . 

I turned toward where she was sitting. There she was, head on Teno's shoulder, messing with his hair. I stifled another groan. Why couldn't I be in her spot? Why couldn't I be the one to date him?

Nonono. Keep it together, Ramila Song. You promised that you would never get jealous of Kolaki. She is your best friend, and that is never going to change. Nothing has to change just because she's dating your crush. Nothing.

"Teno Ruewen?"

He stood up.

"I'm here, I'm loud, I'm proud, GO COUGARS!!!!"

The teacher was shook. "Ok. Ramila Song?"

"Why are we doing this?"

"Good question. I'll answer that in a second."

*10 minutes later*

"Alright, who's going first?"

Kolaki jumped up. "Me." Then, when she thought no one could hear, "I need to prove that I'm not talentless like my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother's triplet brother."

I stood up, walked over to her, and grabbed her hand. I then whispered, "Don't worry. You won't be talentless. Not that I won't like you any less because of it."

She took a shaky breath. "Ok," she muttered. She then walked up to the catapult, where the teacher was waiting.

"Alright, Kolaki, you ready to do this?" he yelled.

Another shaky breath. Another "Yes. I'm ready to prove myself worthy."

She got into the cup thing of the catapult. A shaky breath, a thumbs up, and she was sent flying. Toward the wall, toward - 

Bonk!

Oh no.

The next few minutes happened in a blur. All I can remember is chaos, me screaming "KOLAKI!!!" at the top of my lungs, carrying her to the healing center, parting her fiery red hair to find - 

Blood.

I turned away, feeling ready to lurch.

"Hey, hey, it's ok," a voice said behind me. I turned around to find the bluish-gray eyes of Kebecikan Heslege.

"I'll have Kolaki healed up in no time," he reassured me, playfully tugging on one of my teal chunks of hair. "In the meantime, why don't you see if you're a Phaser? Though - " He winked at me. " - I'll have to be careful if you appear out of nowhere . . . "

"Dude!" I exclaimed, pulling away. "That's the Vanishing ability you're thinking of!"

"Still!" he flung back.

"Alright, you can keep watch over her, but if you don't heal her . . . " I finally responded.

"I will," he promised.

With that, I headed back to the glittering emerald tower, a smile on my face for the first time since class began.

*In class*

"What'd I miss?" I whispered to Teno, who was watching attentively as more and more people were able to stop themselves from hitting the wall (not necessarily manifesting).

"So far, only two people have manifested as Phasers," he whispered back, not moving his eyes. "Maybe you'll become one too, because after this person - " He ushered to the boy who was about to be yeeted. " - it's your turn."

I suddenly felt sick to my stomach again. Me? I don't want to go through the pain that my best friend went through. I don't want to go through any pain at all!

But alas, everyone was now looking at me, so I forced myself to stand up, walk toward the catapult and get in it, and give a thumbs up.

One second I was in the cup part of the catapult - the next I wasn't. I was flying toward the wall at high speed and I didn't know how to stop myself and I didn't know what to do and - 

Instinctively, I swung my arms from behind me to the front of me, praying that my hands would take the pain that I didn't want to.

But surprisingly, no pain occurred.

I found myself hearing the sound of wind pushing me backwards and - 

Splash!

I found myself in the pool, going down further and further . . . until I realized what I just told you. Then I flailed my arms and somehow managed to feel wind again, this time pushing me upward, out of the pool. Everyone went "Whoa!" and I just didn't know how to respond as I landed on a net of students arms, somehow unharmed.

Hah, maybe I should make that last phrase a poem!

Anyway, after I got down, everyone started looking at me as if I was crazy. I was like, "What? What'd I do??!" when the teacher silenced everyone.

"Due to the confusion that this wonderful girl - " He ushered toward me; I backed away. " - created, I'll explain what happened. Everyone congratulate Ramila Song, for she - " He stepped to the side this time, which caused even more embarrassment than I can handle. " - has just manifested as a Guster."

*At Home*

"What did you just say you manifested as?" my mother started - and in a short tone.

"A-a Guster!" I exclaimed. "Isn't it cool?"

"FOOL!" my father shouted. "The Song Legacy counted on you manifesting as a Hydrokinetic! Even a Shade would've worked. But you - " He stabbed his fork into his dinner. " - You are a disgrace to the family! Gusters are foolish, they don't even get good grades! They just mess around with their air tricks, never really doing anything! And now you are one of them?!"

"Dad!" I yelled, stunned that he didn't understand.

"NO! " my mother shouted. "You are a freak, a disgrace to the family, and an IDIOT!"

"We're done with you!" my father agreed. "Your new school is going to be Exillium, and there's nothing you can do about it!"

"Fine!" I screamed, then marched to my room.

*11 pm*

I double checked that I have everything I'd need for my journey, then took a deep breath and jumped out the window.

I ran out of the house, got to the fence, licked the sensor that opened the gate, then ran as soon as it was open enough for me to slip through.

As I put more distance between me and my old home - heck, was it even worthy enough to be called a home? - I looked back one last time. My family had fought hard for me to be born. But instead of tears, I gained a smirk.

Little did they know, their daughter was going to fight right back.