My first day… my first major class. And I had already awakened my ability after trying for so long.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the nights I stayed up doing my father’s exercises. He wanted me to build up to my ability gradually because I would not have control of my power. But I completely believed I would be able to maintain it and learn to function with it well.

I walked in a daze toward the Healer’s office. Lion was leaning against a wall, talking with a group of other students.

I folded my arms, tucking my hands in as I walked past. I could hear some of them saying my name, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I picked up my pace and went straight into the Healer’s office.

It looked more like a real doctor’s office than a school clinic. Large, with a waiting room and a front desk.

I walked up to the counter.

“Hi, I’m Euphoria. I’m here to see the Healer.”

The representative looked up and smiled. She had purple eyes.

“Good afternoon, Miss Euphoria. Healer Roy is expecting you. Please go on back. He’ll be in the first door on your right.”

“Thank you,” I said with a small smile before heading back.

When I stepped inside, I saw a man floating slightly as he gathered all kinds of plants. He handed each one to an assistant who followed behind him, crushing and mixing them at incredible speed.

“Hello… are you Healer Roy?” I asked, breaking their focus.

They both turned toward my voice.

The man stepped forward with a smile.

“Yes, I’m Healer Roy. You must be Euphoria. Please let me see your hands.”

He extended his hand.

I hesitated, my arms still tucked under mine. When I finally dropped them, I noticed burnt fabric in my hands.

“What…?”

I lifted my arms and saw holes burned into both sides of my shirt. The edges were still smoking as a faint flame faded out.

I quickly dropped my hands again, embarrassed.

“I… I didn’t even realize. I didn’t feel anything.”

Healer Roy laughed. “That’s good, I guess. You wouldn’t want to feel this kind of ability.”

I slowly extended my hands for him to examine.

He motioned to his assistant. She dropped a liquid into a mixture and mashed it at high speed before handing it to him.

He dipped his hands in and compressed the herbs until they glowed a soft blue. Then he reached out and took my hands.

I could faintly see my skin beginning to heal before it slowed to a stop.

“Your burns are very severe…” he said.

He began applying an ointment carefully as he continued.

“I can only heal so much at a time. To fully repair this in one day, I’d need an Rx specialist. But a slow heal is best anyway. Your ability is still regulating. Closing wounds too quickly could trap heat inside your body. You wouldn’t feel it, but it could destroy the nerves that generate your ability… or worse. So we’ll do this day by day.”

I looked down at my hands. Small flickers of flame kept appearing and disappearing across my skin.

“How long before I’m fully healed?” I asked.

“Three to four days.”

He stood and walked to a drawer.

“Will they stop igniting on their own once I’m healed?”

He returned holding metal gloves.

“Nope. That’s why you’ll need these in the meantime. Ondrea had them sent over this morning.”

“This morning…? I didn’t even get my ability until this afternoon.”

Healer Roy laughed. “I guess she had a feeling you’d do well.”

Then his expression turned serious.

“Make sure you keep those gloves on. Until you’re trained and have control, you’re a walking hazard. Be careful.”

——————————————————

I left Healer Roy’s office deep in thought, staring at the metal gloves. They fit like they were made for me.

I wasn’t sure how to feel. I finally had my ability… but I couldn’t even use it yet. I wanted to start training immediately.

I was so lost in thought I didn’t notice Lion in the waiting room until he burst out laughing.

I looked up.

Lion was walking toward me.

“Did you seriously lose use of your hands on your first class… shit, your first day?”

“Did you follow me in here just to say that?” I frowned.

“Yes, actually,” he said. “I also wanted to tell you your shirt was on fire, but I see you figured that out.”

He laughed again, pointing at the replacement shirt Healer Roy gave me.

I gave him a flat look and walked past.

“Wait,” he said quickly. “I was curious what happened during training.”

“That’s supposed to be confidential, right?”

Lion just smiled.

“Just keep those gloves on until you get control… then come see me on the roof again.”

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway.

“Sure.”

My confidential training lasted only a few hours.

———————————————————

Once I got home, I immediately went looking for my father in our tower home.

“Father!” I shouted, dropping my bag and taking the teleporter to the top floor, his favorite room. It was where he worked and relaxed.

He designed and built the entire tower before I was born. It was the tallest building in the city. The top level felt like its own home, with a lab on the opposite side. There was also a lab beneath the house for chemical work tied to environmental systems that helped the city thrive.

“Dad!” I called again, walking into the massive living space.

As I approached, I saw my mother and father deep in conversation, music playing softly in the background.

“Father, Mother, I’m home,” I said, trying to contain my excitement.

They both stood immediately.

“How was your first day, hon—” my mom said before stopping abruptly.

Her eyes dropped to my hands.

My father followed her gaze.

“You forced out the energy,” my father said sharply. “Did they force you?”

“What, wait no, Dad. I chose to. I was tired of waiting…”

I tried to explain myself. “I just wanted to prove to myself I could do it. I didn’t feel like I was making any real progress. I—”

“You were never behind,” he interrupted. “Forcing your energy is a chaotic way of awakening your ability, but gradual buildup gives you control. You would have had an upper hand to your peers. Being first doesn’t mean being best. I’ve told you this. Not to mention I’ve warned you that your ability may be explosive because of the amount of heat you’ve been storing.”

“Dad, I understand,” I said. “But today wasn’t about being influenced. For the first time, it felt like I could make my own decision. I was always safe, but I’ve felt so confined my whole life, and my mind was so crowded with how you wanted me to proceed. And I know why you do it, but I just want to figure things out on my own. I was so tired of waiting, Dad. It felt like a race I was losing before it even started.”

I hesitated.

“I know I should’ve been patient… but I will get control. I will handle it. You know that, right?”

My mother looked at my father sharply, silently warning him not to push too far.

He sighed.

“Well, was I right…is it flames?”

“Yes!” I said trying to contain my excitement but not really.

“How bad are your hands?”

“Not as bad as before. Healer Roy treated them. I go back tomorrow.”

“Are they still igniting?”

“Yes. But I’ll get control.”

“Don’t use your ability before they heal. You’ll damage your nerves.”

“I know.”

He studied me for a long moment.

“I really do understand,” I added quietly. “I won’t push it.”

His expression softened, and he exhaled.

“Congratulations, my daughter. On your first ability. I’m really proud of you. And you’re right, this is your life and your decisions. I just want to make sure you’re able to handle what’s coming.”

“I know, Dad. And you know this isn’t my only ability. There’s always the next one,” I smiled brightly.

He pulled me into a tight hug.

Mother smiled gently at us before I pulled her in to join us.

Training couldn’t come soon enough