“I guess I’ve been wanting to, so I can explain why my fire manipulation is so bad” Cassandra cringed. She didn’t want to sound like an attention seeker, but she hadn’t told anyone before and something about Ryan made her want to tell.

“I used to be really good at creating fire, but not controlling it. One day, my brothers and I were in my room having a competition of who could make the biggest fireball in their palm. It started out fun, my brothers were younger, therefore they were weaker and I could win easily. When they couldn’t make it theirs any bigger, the flames simply died out, as if starved of oxygen. My brothers were getting over excited about mine, yelling and whooping and encouraging me to increase the size of the flames. So I did. I was getting so giddy, I hadn’t known how powerful holding flames could make you feel...

I started to lose control and I knew it was happening, but I couldn’t stop it. I panicked and tried to get rid of it by absorbing all the energy. It worked at first, but I realised I wasn’t strong enough to hold it all. I could feel it burning inside of me and I screamed at my brothers to get out. I must have scared them because they did as they were told and just in time too! All that wild energy burst out of me and the entire house went up in flames. I was so scared. My parents and uncle were outside and they managed to get the fire under control. I had a lucky escape, my hair was burnt off but I only have burn scars on my back. They’re in a kind of pattern, though I’m not sure if the pattern means anything. My uncle has scars down one side of his body though, from trying to control the flames and carry me out of the house... Most of our belongings were saved though, thanks to the adults. The house was saved too, after a bit of work to fix a few things.”

Cassandra shrugged, her eyes started to glisten, but she ignored it hoping Ryan wouldn’t notice. “There, now you know.” Before Ryan could respond, there was a voice over the intercom system.”Each fledgling is required to attend the South building in ten minutes.”

“We better head on over there” Cassie told Ryan, standing up and waiting for him by the door.