“Alright kids, which of you is light? Kevin.”

It was another day for Luke, another day beginning by tantalizing him with abilities he might never have. Still, he was mesmerized by the display, jotting down the showcases into the deepest recesses of his mind.

“Aight.” A chestnut-haired boy with baggy pants and a t-shirt stepped in front of the class, holding his hands above his head. Before anyone could wonder what was going to happen, a bright light flashed across the field, forcing the kids to recoil.

“Goo-good job Kevin. You may return to the line.” The teacher rubbed his eyes, continuing when is vision returned. “As you kids can see, or could see, light is good at blinding foes, however it could also be used passively to see things not naturally visible to most. If any of your parents ask, neither I nor the school are liable for any eye related problems that may occur. Next, dark. Cindy?”

Instead of stepping in front of the crowd like the rest had done, the blonde girl kept walking until she approached the shadow of a tree. To the kid’s amazement, the girl sunk into the shade, disappearing completely.

For a moment, many wondered if she would come back. The normally loud crowd was now silent, focusing intently on the spot the girl once stood. The wind brushed by as seconds past. Luke had broken sight with the spot to look at the teacher, Julia following suit; the man seemed confident, as if sure the girl would return.

When the crow began making noise again, Luke immediately turned his attention back to the blonde, now returning from the darkness.

“Very good Cindy.” The teacher clapped for the girl as she returned to the crowd. “As you can see, those with the dark element can melt into the shadows. However, if there is no shade, you will be forced back into the normal world. Alright, last for today: metal. Jacob.”

The boy had made his way in front of the crowd. Without waiting for a prompt, the boy began dragging up a metal pole from the ground, then pushing it back down before returning to the group.

“Quick and to the point, good. As you can see, those who control metal can drag metal poles or other metal objects from the ground. With good control, you can create these objects in the ground and bring them up for a surprise.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

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“Hey Julia, what’s it like being able to use mana?” Luke pushed his friend on the swing, trying his best not to get whipped by her hair.

“Um, it’s” she paused, “it’s like…I just do it.”

“Is it hard? Do you have to really focus on making fire?”

“No, it’s actually really difficult to not make too much fire. I once almost burned my house down.”

“In Lumina?”

“No, Vesipia. My mom and dad live on a farm, it would have gotten really bad if it spread. Our farm has loboars, horses, jackalope, and pigs.”

“Jackalope?”

“Yeah, they’re like rabbits and deer. Mom calls them…something Mara, but most people call them jackalope. Have you ever been to Vesipia?”

The girl hopped off the swing, patting it as a sign for her and Luke to switch places. When Luke was sent flying into the air by someone else, he could feel his heart stop yet paradoxically beat faster in excitement.

“Well, when I was two. I don’t really remember what it’s like.”

“Oh, it’s nice. A lot of the people there are kind, and the village is small and quiet.”

“Sounds a lot better than Lumina.”

“Maybe one day you can come see me.”

“You’re going back?”

“Well, during summer. Mom and Dad want me to go to school here but come home when I can.”

“Maybe this summer, I’ll come see you. My aunt lives there too.”

“I’ll hold you to that promise” the girl giggled, giving the boy one last shove before running off with the rest of the kids.

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“Hey Dad, do you think I could see my aunt this summer?”

The older man had sat opposite of his two sons at the dinner table. Johnathan breathed through his nose, tilted his head, and rotated his shoulders.

“May I ask why?” The man’s voice was low and gravely. Luke grew anxious whenever his father talked, and somehow he was more intimidating when he spoke calmly.

“My friend is going to be there this summer. I also wanna see aunt Shelly again.”

“Absolutely not!”

Luke and Matt were spooked to hear the voice roar from the kitchen.

“You will not be seeing that woman. Someone would have to take you all the way there. Your father can’t because he’d never have the time. Your brother can’t because he has better things to do.”

“Mom-“ Matthew spoke up.

“No! That’s final!”

Luke looked down at the table, dejected. Matt put his arm around his brother’s shoulder. Glancing up, the two could their father’s expression was no longer calm, but surprised.

Once the woman had put down plates for the three, she stormed off in a huff; the father looked as if he were about to say something to her, but she was already gone. After the meal finished, the man departed, leaving the boys to clean up.

“Hey Luke, I’ll take you to Aunt Shelly’s this summer.”

“Really?! You’re not worried about what mom said?”

The boy’s eyes went wide like the plates he was cleaning, his brother gleefully taking in his response.

“What’s she going to do? Ground me? Pfft. I’m not leaving my little brother to be caged in Lumina for another summer.”

“Thanks Matt.” The little brother gave his sibling a great big hug.

“No problem Luke.”