Kara’s eyes flashed a bright yellow as she held her hand over the elixir, a vibrant aura blooming around the bottle. The glow lit her dark features, catching the soft highlights in her curls. “Magic can be fickle, and not everyone can wield its turbulent nature. There are all different kinds of magic around us, but each one can boil down to the three main elemental types.” The color faded and her eyes returned to their normal shade of green. 

“And in order to wield magic you have to unlock that door within you that the Gods placed. Some magics are easier, while others are nearly impossible to master.” Her eyes met mine. She told with me before I even started her class that the chances I would ever unlock my magic was slim. I knew her heart was in the right place.

But there was a part of me that felt drawn to the kind of world she lived in. She was connected, chosen, and protected. A world I was promised…. But never got to know. “Based on your potential I have divided each of you into groups, I will post the list up here. Once you find your assigned group we will continue.”

There were roughly twenty of us. Magic wasn’t for everyone; the gift didn’t always manifest. I clasped my hands together nervously while I waited my turn to see the list, watching people already beginning to break off with excited or disappointed remarks among friends. I was the odd one out here, and I was worried who Kara would place me with. I didn’t know how helpful I could be after she told me how scarce my magic type had become.

I caught sight of Ezra breaking past the crowd, his eyes landed on me. “We were placed in our own group.” Just the two of us? My gaze flickered over the growing teams of four or more. Then I looked back at Ezra with a half-smile. He was a merman that I had seen use water magic before, so not quite someone who would know my magic. But he was friendly enough. Easy to spot in a crowd with his tall stature, blue hair and eyes. 

“At least I won’t embarrass myself in front of someone I barely know,” I tried to joke but he gave a knowing look.

“Now that you all know your groups, I want you to work with each other over the next week until the next class. There are things I cannot teach you as magic is unique to each person. However, there is a benefit to working with similar magical types, you can build each other up and see the patterns I cannot see. What I can give you are building blocks to discover your own potential.” Kara opened an old, withered journal. “Over the course of these next three classes I will give you the fundamentals and explain the basics of each magic foundation. This week we will cover fire magic and the God of Immortality.”

-

Ezra lounged back against the bleachers as we watched a group of fire magic users practice their fundamentals. I studied how they moved. Fire magic demanded constant movement, they almost looked like they were caught in an eternal blazing dance. A flash of fire shot into the sky from a young woman and everyone’s faces lit with joy over her finally conjuring her first flame.

“Can’t you already use magic, Ezra? Why did you take this class?”

He considered my question, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “There’s always room to develop your magic. Once that door opens, you can feel a piece of yourself wanting to keep growing. Magic is like a living being within us, you have to nurture it. I guess I just wanted to see what I could learn, Kara is a hell of a healer, but she didn’t get there overnight.” We sat in silence after he said that. I felt a pang of jealousy.

“I don’t want to get your hopes up, Wilder. The Children of the Yew are different. I have read stories on how you received your gifts. Directly from the God of Rebirth during a ceremony when you come of age. Your people lived directly with your God in harmony, and I am sure that was intentional. And without any other Yew elves out there I don’t know what kind of lock and key your abilities will be under... If we could even open that door for you.” Kara placed her hand on my shoulder hesitantly. “I value your friendship, which is why I will do everything I can to help you.”

I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh. “I just don’t even know where to start, let alone if it’s possible.”

Ezra shifted beside me. He pressed his elbows into his knees and leaned forward. “Kara’s smart. She paired us together for a reason.” He brushed a thumb over the back of his hand. “She could have easily placed me in the group with the other water or ice wielders, but she placed me with you. Kara understands magic on another level, there is something she sees within not only me and what I already have, but your potential.” His voice tapered low, so I sat forward with him. 

Then he continued. “I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you but a lot of us know a lot about Children of Yew. Clay and I found books detailing the lives of your people around the time you arrived in Darsienka. We wanted you to be comfortable, so we wanted to know more about how we could help you out.” He paused again, face turning somber. “A century is a long time, there’s so many people who have no idea what Earth magic is like anymore, let alone what it can do. Immortality and Perseverance’s magic make up the foundation of this world. Humans tried harnessing earth magic with their Goddess of Harvest, but they could only do so much, especially after she vanished. It was the Children of the Yew who flourished under the care of Rebirth.”

Fragmented images of my home flashed in my mind. I remembered very little after all this time. The memories I had were far more than just nostalgia, it was grief that had no remedy. An ache that hung behind me like a pair of broken wings. I couldn’t escape it, never free of the failure. 

“I went to one of the ceremonies a week before...” My voice trailed; all this time later and I still can’t say the words. “My neighbor, Artek. We grew up together, planned for years on getting our gift together from Rebirth. But he was older and ultimately, went on to get his gift before me. He told me that it was terrifying at first. But Rebirth was there. Gentle. Patient.” 

I stared down at my hands, remembering the feeling of Artek grabbing them after his ceremony and producing a small sapling between our palms. I was the first person he wanted to show his gift to. I had been even more excited to join him. “He said unlocking his magic felt like freedom. He could feel the thrum of the earth. Hear the song of the trees.”

I felt a soft warm breeze brush past my skin; I hunched my shoulders, my energy draining fast from the whirlwind of emotions taking me under.

“Thank you.” Ezra’s voice broke past my thoughts. His voice steady, quiet with understanding. 

I glanced at Ezra, a lump rising in my throat. I didn’t mean to unload all of that on him, but if I didn’t talk about it, then their memory died with me. They deserved more than that, they deserved to be remembered as they were.

“I think I understand a little more. Books can only get me so far when it was your life.” He nudged his shoulder against mine. “I should have come to the source first.”

I let myself breathe, “I know at the end of this I probably won’t achieve what I want,” I admitted. “But you never get anywhere unless you try. Or so I’m told.”

“You are right. One foot in front of the other. You’ll get there.”