It was Pandora who had led us to this cavern minutes ago, saying that it was one of the Remnants’ lesser-used training spaces. Once, it had been used as a dining room, until the number of inhabitants grew too large for them all to fit at mealtimes. Now it was just one of the many empty areas linked to the underground labyrinth, rarely used, mostly forgotten.

“I come here when I want some peace and quiet,” Pandora had said as she’d moved toward the corner, shoved her hand into the side of her jeans, and, with a whispered word and a flash of light, pulled the massive physics textbook out of her small—too small—pocket.

“The torches are at a really good height for reading,” she’d added, ignoring my gobsmacked look at the casual use of her infusion ability and her Mary Poppins-like expanded storage space.

Even now, minutes later, I’m still dwelling on what I witnessed. It’s the everyday acts of Speaking like this that I’m struggling to get used to. Despite all the training I did with Ward back at Lengard, Speaking isn’t yet second nature to me. I spent years trying to stifle my power, whereas people like Pandora have spent years cultivating theirs. I need to find a way to catch up, or I’ll never be able to face Vanik, let alone defeat him.

“Are we doing this, Lyss?” Keeda says, interrupting my thoughts. “Or do you want to whinge some more about your abandonment issues?”

I shoot her a warning look, but she only grins and blows another bubble. Unable to help myself, I envision what I want and whisper, “Pop.”

Light flares and Keeda’s eyes widen as her gum expands to the size of a balloon before it bursts, sticky pink residue exploding onto her face.

Swearing at me, she swipes at her skin, drawing the mess away in stretchy threads.

I hear Pandora’s guffaw and Cami’s light laugh, the latter raising my spirits and making me certain Keeda’s retaliation will be worth it.

“Is that all you’ve got, Creator girl?” she taunts, folding the wad of gum into its empty wrapper before lobbing it at the still-snickering Pandora, where it hits the back of her book and falls harmlessly to the dusty cavern floor.

“Tell me what you want from me and I’ll do it,” I challenge in return.

Keeda shakes her head, her braid swinging behind her. “Nope, that’s not how this works. You want to train? Then here’s your chance to show us what you can do.”

Something tells me she won’t be impressed if I start summoning farm animals, or if I launch into a paintball skirmish. Those I can do with barely a thought. But being put on the spot and knowing there’s no limit to what I can do … It’s like being given a plane ticket and told I can go anywhere in the world, I just have to decide where. It’s an impossible ask—there are too many options, too many factors to consider.