The Echoes of Rivalry & Ruin (The Acamancy Series I)

Prologue

"Mitch! Mitch!! It happened! Mitchell! It happened! Did you see that?" I shout as I jump up from my seat at the edge of the picnic bench, almost slipping in the puddle that I was just staring into.

I sidestep the puddle, that just made a small, mysterious, but ever so thrilling splash on the surface. just in time to avoid dowsing my coat and thin pants in mud. My sights never leave Mitchell's hazel eyes, as I jump up and down, watching the look on his face as a stunned Mitch remains gapping at me. Still looking startled, Mitch reaches out to still my small body as it is buzzing with nervous excitement. I watch as the confusion on his face turns into a shocked expression, then morphed into a grin of pure joy reaching all the way into his eyes that light up.

"Emmie, that was amazing! Try it again, you can do it!!"

I turn back to the small puddle of water that has gathered in a hole in the grass. Instead of sitting back on that cold bench, I decide this time it will be best to stand next to Mitchell, my heart racing full of hope. He's sitting there like a statue, watching me with more anticipation than I have even seen in my best friend's eyes. I'm completely zoned in on that little puddle, feeling the pressure as if this puddle alone holds all the answers to my future. With all the determination I can muster, I stretch out my small hands, fingers trembling with the weight of what I want. I push all my tension into them, willing something—anything—to happen. I'm concentrating so hard that I can actually feel my forehead creasing with effort. My shoulders already ache from trying so hard. I try to ignore my quivers as my weak arms shake so violently that my entire being shutters. I try my best not to make an obvious show of just how much I'm struggling with this thing I cannot yet control. I've never felt anything like this, it is exhilarating, but as I wrestle with my focus and attempt to calm my thoughts, a splitting headache rips through my skull. The start of the pulsing at my temples is urging me to take a break, or to just give up, I am too young for this. I thought I was prepared but that couldn't be further from the truth. No, stop. I got this! 

My fingers throb, my body trembles like those leaves blowing from the tree I stand below, in the gentle breeze blowing through my red pigtails. I am trying the best I can not to crack under the pressure, to avoid the tears of frustration I feel threatening to fill my ice blue eyes. I stare, really stare, at this small puddle pooling in the grass beside my yellow rain boots. Come on water... splash, ripple, expand, condense, turn into a mud monster and attack me to put me out of my current misery... anything, please. I stand here helpless, defeated, desperately wishing I could do something, anything, to produce even the tiniest splash from the surface of the water again.

But nothing happens. The doubts start creeping in, as I wonder if maybe I just imagined the rippling across the puddle the first time... The frustration is eating away at me, and I feel like I might just give in. I let the tension ease off, my thoughts drifting like a lost paper drifting in the wind. Maybe it was just this springtime breeze blowing drops of the rain off the tree, and into the purple below, and not me. I probably didn't even do anything at all. I want this so badly; it only makes sense my mind would jump to the exciting conclusion that my time has come. Even if I had shown potential skills at such a young age, the gifts of water wouldn't be the skills running in my veins, would it? Dad had wind and that is the most common. Yes, Mom had water, but everyone else in her family had light, so there is no promise for one or the other. Wind is the legacy I got—Everyone in this town seems to be within these windy skill sets. I don't know why I thought I wouldn't be too. 

Just when I'm starting to fall into that pit of doubt, I hear Mitch's voice cutting through my thoughts, cheering me on and lifting my spirits again. I push aside the shadows of my mind, focusing all of my energy like a spotlight against that shiny, little puddle. I lock my eyes onto it, getting ready for that moment, waiting patiently, hoping against hope... Just focus and watch...