I woke to a shattered window.

It was the same one I saw every day, but everything felt different to me now.

"The Children of Aster," I could still hear the king's voice in my ear.

"Extended member of the royal family."

I wanted that title. But how could I earn it?

I contemplated this as I got dressed and headed to the kitchen.

"Oh, Ara, is that you?" my big sister's voice carried over from the other side of the room.

"Yes, Lydia, it's me," I said, though I couldn't understand why she was asking; she should know my footsteps by now.

"Oh good, I've got an errand for you."

Gods, I didn't have time for this.

Lydia was always asking me to do things, and I swear she just bounced around without doing anything herself. But credit where it's due, she kept Damian and me in check after Mom died. I was still angry, though, and I could practically feel myself lighting on fire.

"So, what do you want?"

It turned out Lydia just wanted me to do some general shopping (with what money, I didn't know) and come straight home to help with cooking.

On the way out, I spotted Damian sitting in his room downstairs.

"What are you doing Damian?"

"Oh, hi Ara! I'm drawing a picture!"

"Can I see?"

"Sure!"

I waltzed into his room and peeked at the drawing. It depicted our family: Lydia with her hands on her hips, and me with a bow in my hair for some reason. Then there was Mom. I was surprised Damian remembered her so well, considering he was only two when she died. He captured her blonde hair and brown eyes perfectly, giving her an air of elegance, even in a drawing.

I took a deep breath and looked at the next figure: Dad. His hair was the same color as Lydia's-red-to-almost-purple- and he had stubble on his chin. Damian drew him as a tall, buff man, which made me wonder how he saw our father.

"Do you like it?"

I ruffled his hair and gave him a smile.

"I love it."

On my way to the shops, I thought about the Children of Aster.

"Special powers. Born on the same day."

Born...

Born...

For some reason, reality had arrived late and slapped me in the face. If I wasn't a Child of Aster, I wasn't a Child of Aster. Simple. I couldn't change that. I could only hope, but I'd come to learn that hope was unreliable.

I was in a foul mood now.

"Oh hey... it's the stuck-up princess!"

I heard a voice from behind me, a voice I didn't like.

"Oh yeah, it is!"

A group of boys my age advanced toward me, all wearing cheeky grins under their filthy eyes.

"Is there something you want with me?" I queried, raising an eyebrow.

"Ooh, such fancy talk. Think you're some big, rich noble, right?"

"I've heard her say she's better than all of us."

Well, that wasn't true.

I never said it out loud.

"If you don't mind, I would like to be on my way now."

I tightened my fists. My patience was wearing thin.

"Ooh, I think we may have made the little princess here mad, boys!"

"Um, boss?"

"What is it?"

"We made plans to meet with one of those smaller boys in a minute... you know, to help with the work."

"Can't it wait? I'm having fun here!"

Oh yes. Oh yes.

It was these boys. These boys who were known for paying little boys to do work their fathers expected them to do, just so they could beat them and laugh at them while they did it. They did it to innocent boys like Damian, who were just trying to make their family proud.

"Do you boys happen to know a little boy named Damian?"

"Hmm, maybe. Was he blond, with brown eyes, and yay tall?"

He held his hand to about Damian's height.

"Yes, that sounds right."

"Hmm, can't say I remember him. What are you, his mother or something?"

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"Don't play with me, you overgrown fetuses! I know what you barbarians do to sweet little boys like him!"

"I can't say I remember, but you know, I heard princesses are supposed to be super rich or something like that."

"Oh, shut it! I'm not rich, nor am I a princess!"

"Oh really?" He cocked his head.

"Run her pockets, boys."

Suddenly, two big boys walked up and grabbed my arms, hauling me into a nearby alleyway.

"What are you doing? Unhand me, you stupid vermin!"

"Oi, quiet down, little princess! We're gonna have some fun here!"

I wailed and screamed, kicked and thrashed as hard as I could, but ultimately, it was useless. No one could save me. No one could hear me. I was utterly alone.

Terror and despair started to reign over me. I couldn't even feel anything; I was completely numb. Tears blinded my eyes, and I went into a shutdown.

I felt multiple hands reach into my pockets, taking the little money Lydia had given me and my dignity in the process.

"Semstherincjesitrooriixxafterell"

I couldn't hear anything. It just sloshed together.

Soon, they started pulling my hair, ripping my clothes, punching my face.

How could this happen to me? Reduced to some poor girl getting beaten in an alleyway somewhere.

It's not fair.

It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair.

I'm more than this. I'm more than this. I'm more than this. I'm more than this.

You are more than this. You're a lot more than this, Ara. You know you're more than this.

So show them you're more than this.

Suddenly, it felt like my rage exploded, giving me static energy.

It was refreshing, rejuvenating, liberating.

It felt as if the stars had connected along my back. They were in my hands, my eyes, my nose; they ran through my entire body.

Then everything started burning.

I felt a warmth that felt strangely comforting. I also smelled burnt flesh wafting up into the air and space beyond.

I opened my eyes, and instead of everything being inaudible as before, I seemed to see everything in perfect quality.

And the boys were dead on the ground.

They looked like they'd been burnt to a crisp, their faces frozen in shock and fear.

Was this me? How the hell did I do it? Did my powers awaken? But this... this... I'd never heard of specific powers like this. I didn't even touch them. What did this mean? Could I...?

Suddenly, I heard voices coming from the main street, and I turned to see multiple enforcers.

"What... what the hell?"

"My gods, it looks like her eyes are on fire!"

"Why on earth is her hair floating!?"

"And... what the hell is floating behind her?!"

I knew what this was.

The sloshing feeling returned, and I dropped.

I woke up in a confinement cell.

I knew it was a confinement cell because of the stench, but I'd never been inside before.

I had to get out; I was sure of it. I...

Am a Child of Aster.

I still couldn't believe it, but it was the only explanation. I'd never heard of anyone else having powers like this... and I read a lot.

Now, the real question was...

I knew what I was, but did they?

I sat, twiddling my thumbs for a few minutes, waiting for something to happen.

I noticed multiple enforcers outside the door, seemingly just guarding my cell.

Weird. Did prisoners usually need so many guards outside the door?

As I questioned it, two enforcers entered through the door. At least, I thought they were enforcers? They looked practically the same, but their armor just looked more... refined. Not to mention, it was red. And in the middle of their chest plate... oh gods, it was the royal crest.

This meant they weren't just from the capital of high-ranking magic users, Altair. They were guards of the royal family.

Big stuff.

I noticed that the other guard seemed to be holding paper and a quill, but my attention was taken away when the other guard started speaking.

"Good evening, ma'am. Your name is Ara Bella, age seventeen, correct?"

So it was evening now?

"Yes, my name is Ara Bella," I replied as politely as I could; first impressions matter, after all.

"Good. Miss Bella, we would just like to ask you a few questions."

"I'd be obliged. Please, go ahead."

The other guard smiled and wrote something down.

I'm sure that's good.

"So, Miss Bella, we've taken a look at your files, and it seems that you live with your older sister, Lydia Bella, age nineteen, who is not in service due to disability, and your younger brother, Damian Bella, age ten."

"That is correct," I nodded.

"Your father, Cole Bella, age forty-four, is in service to the royal palace, working as a gardener. He hasn't returned to your home in two years."

I blinked in surprise. I didn't know that.

"Th-that's correct," despite not wanting to, my voice wavered.

The other guard scribbled something down.

Not good.

"And your mother, Sophie Bella, was thirty-two at the time, died eight years ago from disease."

I really didn't want to talk about my mother, but I couldn't afford to appear any more weak-minded.

I nodded again. "That's right."

"Alright, Miss Bella, you're going into service when you turn eighteen in two months, correct?"

I hoped not.

"Correct."

The guard wrote it down.

"You seem to have a completely clean record, and that is mostly the same for the rest of your family, except your father, who was arrested and beaten by local enforcers for accounts of aggravated assault," he stared at me as he stated this.

I swallowed hard.

"Correct."

"You were eight at the time; do you remember anything at all?"

I remembered a lot.

I remembered how the enforcers showed up at our door and started asking questions, only for our mother to repeat that she didn't know anything. I remembered how they shook Lydia and made Damian cry, and I especially remembered how our dad was when he came home.

Instead, I simply said, "I don't remember much, but I think some enforcers questioned us that day."

Enforcers usually did that, since here in Aries, we didn't have court sessions like mid and high-ranking people. Here, they just questioned our friends and family. Which didn't really matter, because they'd beat you anyway.

Hell, they'd beat you for looking at them funny.

But I couldn't say my dad didn't deserve it.

"That's fine. Now moving on, Miss Bella, do you know why you're in here?" His tone lightened up.

"I'm sorry to say I'm not quite sure; it's really a blur."

A quill touched paper.

"That's fine, but what do you remember?"

"Oh well, Lydia had sent me on an errand to buy groceries... and on my way home, I was attacked by some boys."

Thinking about it, I could get in trouble for killing those boys; I might need to act a bit.

I threw my hands in the air and painted a concerned expression on my face.

"Oh my goodness! Those boys! Did I hurt them? Please tell me!"

"Don't worry, miss; those boys are dead, but you won't be charged for their deaths."

I settled, but made sure not to look too settled.

He wrote it down.

"Well, Miss Bella, we have some rather... big news to tell you. I'm sure you heard the king's announcement?"

How could I not have?

"Yes, I was in attendance yesterday."

"Well..."

He looked to the guard next to him and back to me.

"We believe you may be a Child of Aster," he announced at last.

I tried to look shocked, which wasn't too hard, considering I partially was. I honestly couldn't believe I had confirmation now.

Child of Aster.

I mouthed the words in awe.

"I know it must be a shock for you, but it would be best if we could leave immediately. My companion and I will escort you directly to Altair, where you'll meet other children and the royal family."

He got up to leave, and the other guard stopped writing.

"We'll be waiting outside."

Then they left, and I was alone again.

I started to twiddle my thumbs again but decided to stop.

When I exited through that door, I'd leave my old life behind. I'd leave behind Cyrus, my only friend. And... I'd leave behind Lydia and Damian. No. That's stupid; I'm sure I'll see them again. Not to mention, my dad's in that palace.

But one thing's for certain: I've never wanted anything more in my life.

So I shook my head, stood up straight, and straightened my skirt.

And walked right toward my future.