Master Liu has me practice a hand configuration called “shiin,” which is ideal for conducting Ha’i. Shiin is made by squeezing the middle, ring, and pinkie fingers together, with the pointer and thumb stretched wide, so that the hand forms the shape of a lopsided W. When I make shiin, I feel Ha’i course through me and warm the skin connecting my thumb and pointer fingers in the same spot as my crescent scar. But while I can feel its warmth, I can’t seem to manipulate the Ha’i the way the other apprentices can.

I watch the young apprentices around me ignite candle flames, create glowing balls of light, and sprout plants from the earthy floor. It’s amazing, and I’m not convinced I’ll ever be able to do any of it. I’m still not sure Michael didn’t make a mistake about me being a Sire and that my quirks are not a symptom of something else entirely. My feelings of incompetence spike as I repeatedly make a silly hand gesture with no visible result.

“Do not rush learning the language of your Ha’i,” Master Liu reassures me. “Focus on finding the well within yourself.”

But I have to rush. My time here is limited, and my grandfather is sick. I close my eyes, pretending to focus on this stupid well within, but really I’m just holding back tears of frustration.

After Ha’i class, one of my classmates approaches me. She’s maybe thirteen or fourteen and definitely going through her awkward phase, with white-blond hair in a crooked braid and large hazel eyes that seem too big for her slim, pale face.

“Hi. I’m Hypatia, and I’m new here too,” she says. “Is it true that you’re from New York?”

When I nod, she looks positively gleeful. “I’ve never met someone from the provincial world before! I have so many questions.” As she talks fast, her words slur with a slight lisp, which I find adorable. “Are there really whole islands made of garbage?”

“Uh, I think I’ve heard about something like that forming by accident in the ocean.”

But by the time I have the words out, Hypatia has already moved on. “The other apprentices have lots of questions too, but they’re too intimidated to ask.”

I am quite sure that I’m more intimidated by them. I ask, “They don’t think it’s weird that I’m so much older than everyone else?”

“I doubt that. At Genesis they’re much more used to recruits than at Avant. That’s where I’m from.”

“That’s a relief. I feel pretty incompetent.”

“Well, I’d be happy to help you. I’m highly competent,” Hypatia says as she lifts her hand, and without even making shiin, lets loose a string of sparks.