Prologue

We all ran outside. They were out there today. I was privileged to see the change, like so many others-this was the upside to living next to Train Eir. The sky a brilliant blue, the sun reflecting off the copper earth; we shield our eyes and wait. It's long and we all sweat bullets, distantly hearing them clang the tin with dents. Before long, a puff of white cloud evaporates and reappears before our amazed eyes. The signal. This is it. It's beginning. The first figure shoots up and our held breaths release to an exhilarated gasp. More and more follow, leaving trails of white. They twirl, and swirl, and enchant. It's a dance: a dance from the soul. I lay back on the malleable metal, hands crossed under my head, and wistfully trace the patterns. I'll be up there one day, my soul whispers to my heart. I'll lead the graduates into the air. I'll be the best Flighter yet.