Summer, age 7.

``Take deeper breaths. Straighten your back and try to relax your shoulders.'' [Jessica]

``I am trying, but when I take deep breaths and try to relax, my back bends, and when I straighten my back, my shoulders tense up.'' [Nathan]

Smack.

I'm hit at the back of my head.

``Do not talk back to me in training.'' [Jessica]

I smile gently.

``Yes mom.'' [Nathan]

She didn't put any force into it. She's still strict, but she found a balance between teaching me discipline and pain, and not making me miserable in the process.

I try again. I close my eye, relax my shoulders, and straighten my back while I take a deep breath.

``Better. Keep breathing like that and focus on your abdomen.'' [Jessica]

I breathe deeply and slowly. Deeply.. Slowly..

In my center, there's a pool of water. I can feel it move when I breathe. It's in every fiber of my being, but it's a tiny ball in my solar plexus.

There is no feeling like it, and I don't know how to describe it. How to you explain fireworks to a blind person? You could tell them the shapes and motions, and they will probably know the feeling in their chest when it explodes.

But they will never understand the light and the colors.

It both IS my being, and a thing inside me. Like a second heartbeat that flows through you, filling you with energy and power.

And I do feel powerful. I feel like nothing could stop me if I harness this energy.

``Let it fill you. Expand it to every part of you.'' [Jessica]

I take a deep breath and focus on the beat. It expands within me, I feel it in my ears. I taste it on my finger tips, I hear it on my tongue.

``Guide it from your abdomen to your heart. Let it flow out from there, to your spine and your head. Let it flow down your back and out your arms and legs, to the tips of your fingers and toes. [Jessica]

She doesn't have to tell me. It's already flowing out from my heart, filling my body along my veins.

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Then it touched my spine. It flows out fast, like electricity, spreading to my head and along my nerves to every extremity in a split second. I'm shivering, on the point of shaking, across my body.

Something appears within me. It's a small sphere of light, radiating power and fury throughout my body. I feel like I'm about to go on a rampage, but I am completely calm. Even the shivers stopped.

``What is his name?'' [Jessica]

Ash. It's name is Ash. Not as in ashes, it has a deeper meaning. Like a dream, like desire..

``Now ask him for power. Repeat the words I told you.'' [Jessica]

I take a deep breath and focus all of my being on my spine.

``Freedom of the air gather through me, by the will of the son, I command!'' [Nathan]

The power flow out of my neck. It envelops me, along my spine to my arms and legs. Warps around me, creating intricate patterns that change with every passing second.

I open my eyes. I'm standing? When did that happen?

My arms are enveloped in a deep marine blue aura, with a bright blue glow. The aura is a thin net of veins, twisting and turning around my skin. Looking down, I see the same pattern around my legs.

This is great!

I managed first try! Mom told me it might take a few weeks to get down, but i did it in my first try! YES!

I turn around to face my mom and give her a hug.

Wait. What?

My father is standing next to my mom, his arm on her shoulder. They both have this.. This look on their faces..

A look of absolute pity.

Why?

What's going on.

``.. It is.. so thin..'' [Jessica]

``.. Yeah.. It is..'' [Shale]

Why do you look so sad?

I.. I did it.. Why do you look at me like that?..

``Mom.. Dad.. What's wrong?'' [Nathan]

``...'' [Jessica] [Shale]

`` Mom?... Dad?...'' [Nathan]

``.. Nathan.. Do you remember how I told you that some people are innately better at magic than others?'' [Jessica]

``... Yes..'' [Nathan]

``There are a lot of factors but.. The big one is how strong your magic is.. And that.. That depends on your aura..'' [Jessica]

``To be more precise.. It depends on how thick your aura is..'' [Shale]

I look down at my hands. My aura is paper thin. When my mother uses her magic, it's like a continuous blanket. Mine are the thickness of veins.. Tiny ropes strung around my arms..

I feel tears welling into my eyes..

Magic was one of the few things that I was really looking forward to in this life..

And now.. God, just that look on my parents faces..

``Nathan.. I know how you must feel..'' [Jessica]

My mother slowly moves towards me and gets down on one knee in front of me as she puts a hand on top of my head.

``But this is not the end of the world..'' [Jessica]

``.. I know..'' [Nathan]

``Nathan, this does not mean that you cannot use magic. It just means your magic will be.. Weaker. You can always learn the magics, and use them for your imbuing. If anything, the fact that you have such excellent magic control means that you will be much better equipped for imbuing.'' [Jessica]

``I know...'' [Nathan]

``And I am sure there are still magics you can use well enough.'' [Jessica]

Just stop.. You're not helping..

My father walks over to us and puts his hand on my mothers shoulder.

She turns to look at him, and then silently lowers her head.

``.. I am sorry Nathan..'' [Jessica]

She slowly puts her arms around me and hug me close to her, as my father kneels down to hug us both.