Before Papa drove her to the river station, Mina promised her parents she wouldn’t get in trouble, she wouldn’t get expelled, and she wouldn’t insult the prime minister to her face ever again. Given that she had no intention of getting caught, these were easy promises to make.

“Alorria needs its storm guardians,” Mother said. “If you don’t cause any more trouble, I’m sure they’ll let this slide. Focus on your training.”

“I will,” Mina said.

She then kissed everyone, and everyone fussed over her and Pixit. Mother sent her with a sack of “your favorites, sweetie, to eat on the journey—​don’t eat that fish stew.” On the cart ride to the station, Mina peeked inside: honey cake and jelly.

Even though she’d upset everyone, they still loved her.

Mina smiled and tucked the sack into her bag for later. She rode in pleasant silence with Papa through the farms, and when they said goodbye, she promised to try her best at Mytris. And then she and Pixit were on the river ship again, ready to ride northwest, toward the barren lands.

The ship left late in the day and sailed through the night. She slept in the hammock, with Pixit on the rubber beside her, and arrived at Mytris shortly after breakfast. They found the other students outside on the practice field, and for an instant Mina felt as if she’d never left. Dropping her bag by the textbook shelves, she and Pixit slipped quietly onto the field with the others, certain that no one had noticed—​

“Mina!” Jyx squealed. “You’re back!” She barreled across the practice field, grabbing Zek’s arm with one hand and Ferro’s arm with the other and propelling them toward Mina. Their beasts all bounded after them. “Mina!”

They crowded around her, talking so fast that they overlapped.

“Lost three relays this week!” Zek complained. “Vira’s scheduled a ton of extra practice to get us ready for the festival. We need you!”

“Yeah,” Ferro agreed. “You’ve got the best ideas. Even if you never catch anything.”

Jyx jabbed him in the stomach. “Be nice.”

“I am being nice!”

They began talking simultaneously about how nice Ferro was (or wasn’t), who had scored how in their last match, and how they’d begun to practice for their role in the festival.

Mina slowly began to smile at them.

«They missed you,» Pixit told her.

I guess they did.

“Mina, you’re just in time!” Jyx announced, bouncing again. “Lightning-collecting test today!”

Mina felt as if her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t had a chance to see if the sparks at her family’s farmhouse had been a fluke.

«We can do this.»

Yes, we can. She believed that. Didn’t she?

“Mount up!” Vira ordered.