It took a minute to connect with the electricity, but it blazed down my arms after I did. Thrill raced through me.

I could do this.

I really could.

Triton had told me to focus on what I wanted to happen, so I did. I focused on the water tube, and imagined it moving toward me. I pictured it wrapping around me and whisking me off my feet. Carrying me up and into Triton’s room in the castle.

Peeking an eye open, I checked on it.

The tube was moving.

It was actually moving!

I slammed my eye shut and focused harder, picturing it more emphatically.

The twist of my electric magic felt unnatural, but it was working, so I ignored the feeling.

Finally, the water whisked me up off the ground.

A whoop escaped me, excitement overtaking my focus as I neared the top of the pool.

The magic suddenly gave out, and I screamed as I plummeted back down—right into the pond below Triton’s room in the castle.

Surfacing, I stared at the tube.

My nemesis.

But… I had actually done it.

I had controlled the water.

I just stopped focusing too soon.

The pond was pulling me toward the waterfall, so I swam over to the side of it and pulled myself onto a large rock. After taking a minute to catch my breath, I focused on the tube again.

It took a little longer the second time, because my magic was a little weaker. But finally, the water scooped me up.

I didn’t let myself celebrate as it hauled me up to the small pool, or as it spit me out. I landed on my butt again a moment later, but I was on the tile.

In the castle.

I dropped my back to the floor, grinning up at the ceiling.

Triton was right.

I was really fucking powerful.

I could control the water just like he could.

Five minutes later, I finally had the willpower to climb to my feet again. My legs shook something fierce, and I was dripping wet, but nothing could shake my feeling of victory.

I slipped out of the bedroom and padded down the hallway, figuring I’d ask the first person I found for directions to the cafeteria. Or whatever they called it. There was probably a fancier word, but I didn’t have the energy to try to come up with it.

It didn’t take long to find another merrae, though I was pretty sure I was going the wrong direction.