Eventually, Mother and Papa would realize they had no choice. The law was clear: storm guardians and their beasts served Alorria in whatever way they were needed until their power faded. It was the deal you made when you accepted an egg. And it was an honor to serve. Without the storm guardians and their beasts performing their duty, Alorria would be like the world beyond the mountains, wild and dangerous.

The storm guardians and their beasts were what made Alorria great. Over the last century, with the weather under perfect control, Alorria had become the most peaceful, prosperous, safest, happiest country in the world. Everyone knew that, and everyone knew that the guardians had to serve to maintain that greatness.

But even if Mina did have a choice, she knew what she’d choose. She loved her home, her family, and their farm, but there was a whisper inside her, and if she listened hard enough, she could hear it. This is it! it said. Looking at her packed bag, she told herself she could do this. She could make all her dreams happen.

The shell had cracked.

A new adventure had begun.

Chapter
Four

Mina perched next to Papa on the cart. He held the horses’ reins in his hands, though the horses didn’t need any direction beyond “trot straight.” All the roads in Alorria ran in straight lines, even in the hills. She wasn’t sure about in the mountains. Maybe I’ll see the mountains from Mytris Lightning School!

Pixit popped his head up between Mina and Papa. «I can see mountains right now. Are your eyes okay?» He was riding in the back of the cart with the carrots and the onions. The feel of his concern tasted like a puff of too-sweet cotton candy.

The country of Alorria was nestled between mountains to the north, south, and west and an ocean to the east. You could see at least a few mountains from anywhere, protecting Alorria from the world beyond. The peaks looked like white-and-gray shadows against the blue sky. Mina had sketched them plenty of times, but only as distant smudges. You know I meant close-up.

He giggled in her head.

And then: «Um, Mina, would it be bad if I ate all the onions?»

It wouldn’t be good. I have to travel with your breath.

He was silent, and she twisted around in her seat. Looking innocent, Pixit kicked the empty onion bag behind him with a clawed foot, and then he sat on it. Mina smothered a laugh.

Beside her, Papa said, “You know if you don’t like being a lightning guardian, you can always come home.”

“Papa . . .” She wasn’t going to quit—​she was meant for this!

“If you get there and decide you don’t belong . . . Just know that we love you, no matter what. We want you to be happy, Mina.”