Elijah’s arm stretched back slightly, brushing mine as if to remind me he was my wall, my shield. Caleb puffed up his chest, sparks fizzing brighter with every second like fireflies trapped under his skin. The children around us gasped, some edging away, others whispering nervously. A teacher lifted a hand to stop them, then froze, too afraid of the raw power crackling in Caleb’s tiny palms.
Nearby, parents sucked in sharp breaths, their whispers fluttering through the air like startled birds. “Did you see? They used magic against the elders!”
The woman sneered, though she stepped back when Elijah’s energy swirled like hot air. “Savages,” she spat. “Just like your….”
She didn’t finish. Caleb stomped hard, and the ground shook just enough to rattle the bucket. Elijah’s hand lifted, light
