The next morning, Spirit woke with only one thought burning in her mind—
Her gift.
She barely listened as the others moved around the room, getting ready. While they waited for the rest of the family, Spirit crouched near the floor, eyes locked onto a small droplet of water.
Slowly—
She lifted her hand.
The droplet trembled… then rose.
A smile spread across her face.
She twirled her fingers, guiding it through the air like a tiny dancer. It shimmered in the light, spinning, bending—
Alive.
Spirit grinned and flicked her wrist, sending the droplet toward James's face.
James didn't even flinch.
Instead, he smirked.
A second later, a clump of mud shot out from his hand—
Splatter.
It hit Spirit square across the cheek.
"Hey!" Spirit yelped, recoiling.
Esther burst into laughter.
James leaned back, satisfied, a wicked grin tugging at his lips.
"I didn't spray anything on you!" Spirit snapped, wiping at her face.
She turned back to the droplet, regathering it with a sharp motion—and this time, she threw it.
James lifted his hand casually.
The water stopped midair—blocked—before falling uselessly to the ground.
Spirit narrowed her eyes.
"I'll get you next time."
James chuckled.
"Sure you will."
"You know," Esther said, stepping between them, her tone bright with excitement, "once you get better at your ability… Capture the Flag is going to be so much more fun."
Spirit's anger vanished instantly.
"Yes!" she said, practically bouncing.
"That's true," James added, thoughtful now. "Although… it'd be nice if Luke, Peter, Rachel—or even Deborah—became gifts too. Then teams would actually be fair."
Spirit tilted her head.
"I don't think that'll happen… I mean, most people become gifts around our age, right?"
"Some," Esther said. "But not all. Mom and Dad didn't become gifts until they were older, remember?"
"But most do, right?" Spirit pressed.
"…Yeah," Esther admitted.
James hummed under his breath, unconvinced.
Right then, Peter walked in, grinning.
"Luke's trying to convince Mom to let him hang out with that dinosaur-looking kid he met yesterday."
Spirit snorted.
"That's not happening," James said immediately. "Dad already said we're too young to be around people like that—especially as gifts."
"Wait—what are we talking about?" Peter asked, dropping onto the edge of the bed.
"The average age someone becomes a gift," James said, gesturing between himself, Esther, and Spirit. "And how we became gifts pretty young."
"Not really," Luke said as he walked in, crossing his arms. "It depends on the person—and their bloodline."
Everyone turned to him.
"I mean, look at the Lafang family," Luke continued. "Everyone in that bloodline is born gifted. But families without strong bloodlines? They usually develop later—if at all."
Spirit leaned forward, interested.
"Wait… what about the Neqoi family?"
Esther immediately nodded.
"Oh yeah—"
"That's the weird one," James cut in.
"How is it possible," Spirit said, eyes wide, "that only one gift was born?"
"Exactly!" Luke said. "Five siblings—all gifted. They all married other gifted people too. And between them, they had over twenty children…"
He paused.
"…Only one of them became a gift."
Silence settled for a moment.
"Yeah, but our only gifted bloodline is Mom and Dad," Esther said. "None of our grandparents were gifted. So for us to develop abilities this early… that's not normal either."
James shrugged slightly.
"Yeah… I guess."
The hotel door opened.
Naveen stepped in first, followed by Kendra, Rachel, and Deborah. Luke slipped in behind them.
Esther's eyes widened.
"James—" she whispered urgently. "The mud!"
James reacted instantly.
He opened his hand.
The dried bits of mud scattered across Spirit's face, neck, and shirt suddenly moved—pulling together, lifting, sliding through the air—
Back into his palm.
"Hurry!" Spirit whispered.
Within seconds, every trace was gone.
James clenched his fist and shoved the mud back into his pocket just as their parents turned toward them.
"Alright," Naveen said, clapping his hands together. "Today, we're going swimming with the one-of-a-kind silver fairy fish."
His voice carried excitement, warm and inviting.
"So let's get going, my little traveling swimmers."
James and Peter immediately moved, energized. The rest followed.
"Hold on, Spirit."
Kendra's voice stopped her.
She gently grabbed Spirit's arm, turning her to face her fully.
Spirit looked up.
Kendra's expression softened—but her eyes were serious.
"I know you're excited," she said quietly. "And I know you're curious about your… gift."
A small pause.
"But none of that today. Do you understand?"
Spirit nodded slowly.
"If I see you practicing," Kendra continued, her tone firm now, "you know the consequences."
"I know, Mom," Spirit said quickly, a small smile forming. "I won't try anything."
Kendra studied her for a moment—
Then smiled.
She wrapped an arm around Spirit's shoulders, gently rubbing her arm as they walked.