Mina stood on the plank that led from the ship to the dock and wasn’t sure she wanted to step off. It was a lot easier to be confident and brave in daydreams, but now that she was really here . . . I could really fail. If she couldn’t master the necessary skills, she couldn’t become a lightning guardian.

That was a horrible thought.

She told herself firmly to quit being so dramatic. She didn’t even know what the training was going to be like, much less whether or not she’d be able to do it. Maybe she’d be a natural.

Around her, sailors swarmed, loading and unloading crates and shouting to one another. It was still dark. Beyond the lanterns that lit the station, the barren lands looked like swampy blackness. She couldn’t see any school.

She heard a whoop above her and looked up to see Jyx swinging down from the crossbeam on one of the ship’s ropes. Both Chauda and Pixit flew from the ship onto the station platform, landing at the same time as Jyx.

Pixit hopped from foot to foot. «Mina, Mina, Mina, we’re here!» He ran in a tight circle, like a dog chasing his tail. His excitement felt like bubbles inside her. «Here, here, here! Aren’t you excited?»

Of course I am, she told him.

She just happened to also be terrified.

She glanced at Jyx, wondering if she felt the same kind of doubts and fears. But Jyx was bouncing up and down like an overexuberant rabbit.

“This is going to be awesome,” Jyx cried. “Wait for it!”

“Wait for what?”

On tiptoes, Jyx was peering out into the darkness beyond the station. Mina stared too, wondering what she was supposed to be looking for—​

A streak of light shot through the blackness.

And then another.

Beside her, Jyx jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Yes!” She punched the air as another streak flew and then was met by what looked like a ball of electricity.

The streak began to zigzag through the sky, so bright that when Mina blinked, she still saw its light, lingering behind her eyelids. She heard shouts and cheers in the distance.

“What’s going on?” Mina asked.

“They’re playing lightning relay! Don’t you know anything about Mytris? It’s how they train us!” Jyx jogged forward toward the stairs. “Come on, I want a better view!” She jumped up onto the railing with Chauda, balancing with one hand on the station gutter and one on her lightning beast.

Pixit hopped up beside them, but Mina stayed on the ground. She thought about telling Jyx to be careful, but decided that that would be like telling a sun beast not to shine. Instead Mina just watched the sky, trying to see what had excited Jyx so much.