Being a toddler is far preferable to being a babe-in-arms. Being able to walk and talk is truly a gift. Granted, I have yet to master either skill. Still, I have much better control of my body at my current age of two. I can walk around with relative ease, feed myself and use the toilet alone. I took to potty training quickly and eagerly, much to my parents' relief. My brothers had been much more resistant towards using the toilet. I'm just glad this world has indoor plumbing, along with electricity, both of which are lowered by magic. 

Also, I can now clearly express my needs. If I want something, I can actually ask for it instead of just screaming or babbling. Do you have any idea how wonderful it is to be able to say "I'm hungry, can I have a snack?" Communication is the best. And so is food! I've been completely done with baby food for several months now. Teething completely sucked, but it was worth it! The majority of our food comes from the market, directly from the farmers, hunters, and fishermen. So everything is fresh and delicious. Plus, my mama is a fantastic cook. Although, they are still keeping me away from anything too spicy or too bitter. As Annabelle, I loved these sorts of strong flavors. I drank my coffee black and covered my meals in hot sauce. I didn't care much for desserts, and rarely ate breakfast. Now, as Pyra, I can't get enough sweet food, and I always eat a lot for breakfast. 

Although I'm walking, talking, and eating real food, I have yet to do any magic, which is normal. I'm eager to gain powers one day, whatever they may be. Children typically manifest magic for the first time between the ages of 6-10. I couldn't imagine the insanity that would ensue if a typical 2 year old unleashed magic. At 5 and 6 my brothers were a little on the early side. That was chaotic enough. The boys have been slowly mastering their magic, but have still caused a decent amount of destruction and chaos. Callan has drenched everyone several times, killed some plants by over-watering them, and destroyed paper and books. Wrecking the books had caused me greater upset than getting wet. Thankfully, Callan has been much more careful around paper products since then. Deren and Marden have both given our parents mild electric shocks, causing them to ban using magic around me. Deren also scorched our chairs, and Marden fried a tree. Tutor Kyte has been amazing with them, and all three quickly gained control over their powers. The boys love using magic, and enjoy their magic lessons. 

However, my brothers have mixed feelings about regular school. Marden was enjoying it the most, being both curious and sociable. He likes to learn and he's made a couple of friends. Thought he'd prefer all outdoor lessons. Callan has made some friends too, but he has trouble sitting still and paying attention. He's very energetic and loves playing at being a knight. Deren has mostly enjoyed his lessons, but is too shy to raise his hand in class. He's interested in his classmates, but has trouble talking to new people. Callan and Marden watch out for him, as Deren also has trouble standing up for himself. Despite his powerful lighting magic, Deren didn't have a fiery personality. Currently, he was drawing inside with me while our other brothers roughhoused outside. 

"Look, Pie!" Deren held up his crayon drawing. "It's us!" He had created a simple, but endearing doodle of two figures, one considerably smaller than the other. I clapped. "So good!" I cheered. "Look at mine!" I held up my own drawing. I had attempted to draw a field of flowers, but had ended up with a colorful mess. Deren still praised my creation. Our art session was interrupted by a call from our mom. "Children, come into the kitchen! Your papa and I have a very special announcement!"