Mina patted his neck. It’s all right. We’ll work on the landing. It was their first flight, after all. They’d get better with practice. And soon they’d be able to fly farther and for longer, too. She was already itching to fly again and hear the wind in her ears and feel the air on her face. She looked up to see Jyx jogging toward her.

Mina felt oddly calm. She’d said what she’d wanted to say, without having to say anything. It felt good.

“That was incredible! You’re amazing!” Jyx shouted. “Also, you’re in trouble!”

Pixit gave a little whimper, and Mina stroked his ear as she dismounted. She walked beside him to Professor Dano, who had been joined by Professor Werrin. Professor Dano was glaring at her with his arms crossed. His nostrils were flaring like those of an upset horse. Beside him, Professor Werrin was expressionless, regarding Mina and Pixit as if they were stones, or as if she were stone.

Now Mina felt less calm. Her palms started to sweat, and she wiped them on her shirt. She hadn’t thought about getting in trouble—​she’d just been trying to show Professor Dano what she wasn’t able to say.

“I never knew you were so brave,” Jyx said.

I wasn’t being brave. I was just . . . being practical. He wasn’t hearing us.

«You are brave. I know it, even if you don’t.»

When Mina and Pixit reached him, Professor Dano wagged his finger at them. “I did not give you permission to fly. Flying lessons will commence when and only when I say so. It is my responsibility to teach. It is your responsibility to obey.”

Softly Mina said, “It’s my responsibility to learn.”

Professor Dano sucked in a breath to continue; then he blinked and stared at her. “What did you say?”

Mina felt as if the air had gotten stuck in her throat. She wished she hadn’t said a word. I flew! Isn’t that enough? Dropping her head, she stared at her scuffed work shoes. She hadn’t owned any other footwear to pack. She noticed that Professor Werrin’s shoes were golden. Their points stuck out under the hem of her robe.

She risked a glance up and saw that Professor Dano was struggling not to smile.

“That may be,” Professor Werrin said sternly, “but disobedience is not tolerated in storm guardians. You didn’t even wait for instructions! You could have flown beyond the barren lands! Lightning students are not permitted to fly their beasts beyond the hills! Did you even know that before you went flapping off?”

She hadn’t known. Mina hung her head again.