No child truly knows the strength of a mother’s love for them. Edus knew his mother loved him. He also knew it wasn’t enough. It was never enough in the Underbelly.

His mother held his face in her hands, kneeling down to kiss his forehead.

“One day, Edus, you’re going to do great things,” she said. “It’s in your blood.”

Edus nodded in solemn obedience. He didn’t like when his mother told him things like this, like he was the savior of some unfulfilled prophecy simply because his father was a deacon. He had his father’s cool, blue eyes, eyes that his mother told him were the same color as the sky. Someday, she said, he would see it.

The sky was a bottomless pit, only instead of inside it was outside, so much space lit by the sun, a light so bright you couldn’t look at it. Edus didn’t like the idea of a space larger than their crammed den, a dirt hovel fifty by fifty square feet. He barely survived in the cavern of the Underbelly, and was terrified at the thought of endless space, so vast you couldn’t see from end to end. He liked even less of the idea of a giant light that blinded you, forcing you to look down instead of up. Still, Edus kept quiet.

“Ma,” Edus said, hesitant.

“Yes, special?”

“The other kids say I'm different. Their parents say I look like father. That I was never meant to be born.”

His mother paused. “Your father is a mage. He’s a great man, and you will be too. When the time comes, you’ll join the Academy, and you’ll live in daylight. Everyone wishes they were you, Edus. They’re jealous of what you’ll be, what you’ll be able to do one day. Just don’t forget your ma, okay?”

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“Never,” Edus said, shaking his head with brave conviction. “I will go back to Den 1146, in undertower 7.”

“And you will?”

“I’ll find you. If I don’t find you in 1146, I’ll ask where I can find Terese Aldin, you, ma.”

“That’s right. When you’re big enough, you’ll be able to take the testing for the Academy. You won’t be able to visit me… for a long time, Edus. That’s why you have to memorize our number. That’s why you never forget my name. Because I will never forget you, special. Because you’re my special boy.”

His mother hugged him tight, trembling. He realized she was trying not to cry.

Edus hugged her back and said, “I’ll come back for you, ma. I promise.”

His ma stood and smiled. “I know you will, special. But first, you have to practice. Give me the spoon to cook.”

Edus pointed at the wooden ladle, shaking from his concentration. The wooden spoon rose from its holder, moving on its own through Edus’ power into his mother’s hand.

“Good. Now we need a pot to cook.”

Edus bent over to lift the heavy black-iron pot, but his mother raised a hand for him to stop.

“We need a pot to cook,” she repeated.

Edus nodded and stayed put, then winced, grimaced, then groaned.

The pot, nearly his own weight, scraped from the dusty tiles, then began to rise over to the stovetop. It fell, slamming over the burning oven.

Blood seeped from his nose, and Edus felt like his head would burst.

“Very good, Edus,” his mother cooed.

Despite his pain, Edus smiled.