Kimialva Weatherbane, youngest daughter of the Weatherbane family, was magicless. Her family had been some of the most powerful storm-benders that had ever been known, and she couldn’t do anything.
The Weatherbanes ruled over the Ioski Isles. They made it rain over those who needed it and made it shine over those who wanted it. And Kimi Weatherbane couldn’t even slow the winds.
One morning she sat alone in her room, a silken nightgown draping over her body. She hopped off her bed and pulled a pair of slippers onto her feet. She stretched, pulling slender arms over her tanned face as she yawned.
She saw her door slide open, and Jemima, her personal maid stepped in.
“Ah, good morning Jem. How are you?”
“Wonderful, your Highness. How are you?”
“I’m okay, I suppose. Not looking forward to the training Father’s going to make me do. I swear, he’s really watering a rock expecting berries.”
“Oh, don’t say that about yourself. You’re no rock, he can just be a little stubborn sometimes.”
“It’s true though! I’m just about as useless as a pebble, maybe even more!”
“Princess. You’re not useless. You’re the king’s only daughter! Now, head downstairs and grab something to eat,” Jem smiled, adding on in a whisper, “And, I’m sure me and Karo can stall the king so you can walk in the garden. I know you hardly get to see the hibiscus at its peak!”
“Jem, thank you, but you mustn't make Father wait! He’ll be angry.”
“Ah, what does he know, he hardly raised you! I know you have magic, just, a different kind. Maybe it’s your mom’s.”
“Father said that nobody but us had magic.”
“Maybe she had a different kind of magic.”
“I’m going to be late to my lessons," Kimialva said, pulling her nightgown off and throwing on a rather plain dress. She darted out of the room and downstairs quickly. She hurried to the kitchen. The servants whispered amongst themselves, and Kimi grabbed a slice of fresh bread off the counter.
“Princess! Good morning, my dear girl!” the chef, a surly man with a heart of gold said, “How are you this fine morning!”
“Not great.”
“Is your dad gettin’ to ya again? Don’t worry about that ol’ man. I’ll be your dad.”
“I must decline, Karo. And I must be going now, or Father will be quite upset.”
“Alright, sweet buns, you just go do your thing. Talk to me anytime, and if he tries anything funny, you tell us, okay Princess?”
“Of course, I’ll be sure to inform you, but please, don’t get yourself in trouble!
“I’ll try for you, sweet buns!”
“Thank you, Karo,” she said with a smile, heading through the door into the garden, where her father sat, angry.
“Where have you been!? It’s like you don’t want to learn magic!”
“I-I’m sorry, Father. I will be better next time.”
“No. A storm must be punctual, mustn't wait for the children to play in it. Must move to where it is needed. Next time, you won’t fail. Even the sickly of our family had these powers, and you are no daughter of mine until they show up! Your brothers got their powers when they were ten, and you are nearing your thirteenth birthday! Do you understand?!”
“Y-Yes, Father.”
“You insolent brat! You are no daughter of mine until your magic comes out! You will refer to me like the servants do!” He yelled, grabbing the small girl by the collar and pulling her off the ground. He yelled, bashing her head into the wall between each syllable, “Do! You! Understand!?” before dropping her on the ground.
Her voice and her blood spilled from her weakly, “Yes… I-I… understand, your highness.”
And then everything went dark.
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