The next morning I wake to sounds of what seems like an earthquake. On shaky knees, I cautiously peek out the door, and breath a sigh of relief when I realize that it's only Maria hurling rocks... At Dorian.
"You do not touch my stuff, understand? It is mine and you should keep your grimy little hands off of it!" Maria yells.
"Hey, what happened to little miss nice- oof!" Dorian questions, as he's pummelled to the ground by a huge boulder.
I snicker behind my hand and quietly retreat back into my room.
"Hey, stop it!" I hear Rhonda booming.
I peek out again.
"He broke my pendant!" Maria wails.
"It's just a pendant. I don't know why you're making a big deal out of it," Dorian says, exasperated.
This incenses Maria even more.
"That pendant was from my grandmother. It is very precious to me."
Rhonda gives Dorian a stern look.
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry!" Dorian complies, raising his hands in surrender.
I see Eric peeking out from his doorway down the hall, and when he catches my eyes, he holds up a sticky note.
"ᗩᒪᒪ ᗯE ᑎEEᗪ ᑎOᗯ Iᔕ ᔕOᗰE ᑭOᑭᑕOᖇᑎ"
I smirk and he grins back.
"You should not be touching other people's property, and you, " she says turning to Maria,
"should not be retaliating by using your powers. You should come to an adult right away if you have a problem, so it can be resolved. If you cannot stay amiable currently, how are you going to work as a term to defeat monsters?" Rhonda gives her spiel and ambles away.
"Well, that was exciting," Eric dares to come out of his room.
"Humph," Maria sniffs, walking back to our room.
"You ok?" I ask.
"Peachy," she responds.
"Do you want help fixing your pendent?" I offer.
"I can fix it myself, it just makes me mad when other people vandalize my stuff," she explains.
I nod.
"That's understandable."
                                                                                            ***
"There is a training room for each of you, and a bell will sound to announce lunch," Ms. Garret briskly says, leaving us to it.
I find my room is a cavernous hall, and several instructions on a table. Equipment has been haphazardly placed around the room, but the whole atmosphere makes me excited to train.
I pick up one of the training sheets, and look at the instructions.
ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴀ ᴛᴏʀɴᴀᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜʟʟ ɪɴ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴘᴇʙʙʟᴇs.
I search around until I find the pebbles, and work on sucking them into my tornado. It requires lots of force and concentration, but by the time half an hour has passed, I've completed my task.
I look at the clock on the wall. 10:30. According to Rhonda, lunch is at 12, so I have plenty of time. The next task is to engulf the walls in flame, but leave a space in the centre, flame free. I let myself stay still, feeling my arms tingle in anticipation, and lash out. I try and try again, but it doesn't work.
I try creating a tornado to encapsulate the amount of fire I need, and star bursting it to the walls, but the fire snaps right back into the tornado, I try to create fire at the ceiling and melt it down the walls, I try, and fail. My fingertips are sore, and the smell of burnt toast permeates the air. Frustration pricks at me.
11:55. Should I try again?
I exhale and close my eyes. I feel the needles of electricity running through me, and only one thought fills my head.
'Ring of fire.'  Then I let myself go. I feel a whoosh of air as the bell sounds, and when I peel open my eyes, I'm surrounded by a ring of fire.