Being gifted

Mary thought about it.

“We finished Procecsa’s experiments today, and we think we can see a pattern,” Mary told Tariana excited. She didn’t know how Tariana already knew about that, but that was the only thing exciting that had happened lately. Tariana laughed again.

“That is exciting to hear, but no. I was thinking about the fact that you have gotten some control over your fire magic,” Tariana smiled.

“Oh, that. Yes, Procecsa helped me with it last night,” Mary said. She didn’t understand what was so exciting about that.

“Do you think you could summon it now?” Tariana asked.

“I think so,” Mary nodded.

Tariana stood and went over to the bookcase. She got a small tray and walked back, placing it on the desk in front of Mary.

On the tray there was a candle, an empty bowl, a feather, a pile of what looked like soil, and a plate with a dried bean.

“Please light the candle,” Tariana asked Mary. Mary focused and after a while she found the now familiar feeling of her fire magic. The candle lit.

“Fill the bowl with water,” Tariana said. Mary didn’t hesitate. She filled it with her water magic.

“Make the feather float,” was the next request. Mary was now feeling comfortable. They were entering the magic elements that she had worked the longest with. She had no problem summoning a small gust that made the feather float in the air.

“Shape the soil,” Tariana said, looking at the pile on the tray. Mary smiled and shaped the soil into a perfect sphere.

“Make the bean sprout,” Tariana smiled. This request took a little longer. Life magic was trickier than the other magic elements. The potential for life was contained in the dried bean, but it was put on hiatus. Tricky, but not impossible. As Mary solved the problem in her head, the bean cracked opened, and a sprout emerged.

“Good work, Mary,” Tariana said with a big smile.

“Thank you,” Mary smiled back.

“Do you realise what this means?” Tariana asked.

“No,” Mary looked quizzical.

“You can control all five magical elements, Mary,” Tariana sounded proud.

“Oh,” was the only thing Mary could think of to say.

She hadn’t realised that. What does that mean? Mary wondered as she sipped on her tea.

“This changes things, my friend,” the Lady said as she looked at her.

“How so?” Mary asked.

“All aari with this gift is automatically put into the running for who becomes the next Lady,” Tariana told her. Mary almost choked on her tea. After coughing for a while, she looked up at Tariana.

“The next Lady?” she asked quietly, and Tariana nodded.

“Yes, it’s an ongoing process. I’m not considering stepping down soon. But the time is approaching where I need to look for an apprentice to train.” Tariana took a sip of her tea.

“We keep a close eye on the ones that have the gift. We give them trickier assignments and things like that. All to give us an understanding of them. Then, as the current Lady decides the time has come to choose an apprentice, the council will go through the list of candidates and narrow it down to two or three,” she explained.

“The candidates are then given an assignment each. Based on the result and the candidates’ previous work, the council and I choose the apprentice,” Tariana concluded.

“Okay. But I’m not even an aari,” Mary said.

“I know, dear, and usually when we discover someone with the gift, everyone knows within a day or two. But things are different now,” Tariana admitted.

“Why?”

“Because it is getting close to the time when a new apprentice will be chosen. I whish I could say that politics didn’t matter. But they do. Most of the council have already picked their favourite to nominate and since we usually have a good idea who will manifest the gift, they are certain no one new will show up,” Tariana explained.

“And then I come along,” Mary said.

“Yes, you surprise people, Mary,” Tariana smiled.

“If we let it be publicly known that you have this gift. I’m afraid you will be put under scrutiny and unnecessary pressure. I would like us to keep this quiet for now, at least until you are an aari. You can, of course, tell your parents and Procecsa knows. I will talk to Furnlow and arrange so that you can take classes for all your abilities without it being known. What do you say, Mary?” she asked.

Mary thought about it. She would like to not have the pressure of the council looking at her every step, measuring her progress. Some of her confidence was back. She didn’t feel like putting it to the test just yet.

“I think I would like that,” Mary nodded. “But…”

“But what?” Tariana asked.

“Can I tell Tenac as well? I don’t like the thought of keeping something like this from him,” Mary asked.

Tariana smiled, and she thought about it for a while before replying.

“Yes, I think that would be alright. He is good at keeping secrets, he doesn’t attend your classes so he can’t inadvertently give you away and it could be good for him to know regarding your training,” Tariana nodded.

“But I’m going to have to ask you to keep it from your other friends. The fewer who know, the better,” she added. Mary nodded. She didn’t like the idea, but she understood why.

“Good, I’ll leave it to you to tell your parents and Tenac. Just make sure they know not to tell anyone else. And Mary?”

“Yes?”

“I’m proud of you. I always knew there was something special about you, but in this case, you surprised even me,” Tariana smiled.

“Thank you. I surprised myself as well,” Mary admitted, making Tariana laugh. 

“Are you going home for the break?” Tariana asked.

“Yes, I’m just going to my room to pack some things and then I’m heading home,” Mary told her.

“Good, I’ll send Kopa home soon. I’ll ask him to pick you up on the way so you can wait for him. He is just going to nag me to tell him what we talked about anyway,” Tariana smiled.

“I’ll do that then,” Mary said.

After saying goodbye to Tariana, Mary headed to her room. When she got there, both Firlea and Hinat were packing for the break.

“Did everything go okay with the experiments?” Hinat asked Mary.

“Yes, I can’t wait to get started with analysing everything,” Mary said.

 “That’s nice. We are almost done, but we can wait for you,” Firlea told her.

“You don’t have to. Dad is coming by to pick me up,” Mary said, putting some books in a satchel.

“I should have guessed,” Firlea laughed.

“Then we will head out. Have a pleasant break and we’ll see each other in two weeks,” Hinat said. The friends hugged, and then Mary was alone in the room. She couldn’t believe that she wouldn’t see them for two weeks. She was so used to see them every day.

As she finished packing, she sat on her bed, reading. There was a knock on the door and outside was her father.

“Hi, dad. Let me just get my satchel and we can go,” Mary said, stuffing her book into it.

“I’ll take that for you, little one,” Kopa said, swinging the satchel over his shoulder.

“Thanks, dad,” she smiled.

After rowing over the river, they started walking home.

“What did you talk to Tariana about?” Kopa asked her.

“Didn’t she tell you?” Mary asked, knowing that she hadn’t.

“No, she just said that you would tell me.” he sounded mildly irritated.

“It’s a secret. I’ll tell you and mom when we get home,” she smiled.

“Do I need to worry?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think so,” Mary said, shaking her head.

As they got home, Mary got one of Bettina’s signature hugs. Mary missed them and enjoyed it. As they were sitting down to eat, Kopa gave Mary a look. Mary knew he wanted her to spill the beans.

“Yesterday, after we had set up the experiments, Procecsa helped me practise my fire magic. And I lit a candle. That puts my elemental count op to five,” Mary said, watching her parents to see if they understood what she hadn’t.

Bettina had frozen, her fork halfway to her mouth, just staring at Mary. Kopa seemed to mouth the word five, over and over again. Yes, Mary concluded, they had understood the implications.

“Are you saying that you have all five elements and therefore are eligible…” Bettina stopped mid-sentence, as if not knowing if she dared take the next step.

“… to become the next Lady. Yes, that is what I’m saying. But it is a secret,” Mary confirmed.

Bettina dropped the fork to her plate, making a loud clang as she bolted out of her chair to run around the table to hug Mary.

“My daughter is a genius!” she exclaimed.

“Your daughter?” Kopa laughed.

“Well, our daughter, but I’m claiming the genius part,” Bettina joined in the laughter. Mary laughed as well and hugged her mother back.

“I’m so, so, proud of you,” Bettina said.

“We both are,” Kopa added.

“Why keep it a secret?” Bettina asked as she settled down in her chair again.

Mary told them about the council and Tariana’s wish to keep the pressure away from Mary. And how Mary felt it was a good idea. Kopa nodded, looking serious.

“I agree as well. This subject is one of the few that the council can be testy about,” he said. “It’s better that you can finish your training without them butting in. It’s better that Tariana and Furlow decide what classes and which training you need,” he added.

Mary agreed with him. She knew Tariana would do what was best for her. There were a few people she trusted as much as her. But the number was growing, Mary was surprised to discover. It used to be just Tariana and Kopa. Now it also included Bettina and Tenac.

The dinner went on much longer than usual as the family discussed the news and what they might mean for the future. Mary smiled. She had missed having dinner with her parents.