The whole family set out on a long-awaited vacation after Naveen finally saved enough for a three-day trip to Greyshore Land.
They spent their days gliding through quiet villages in narrow canoes, drifting across waters so clear they mirrored the sky itself. Greyshore was a land shaped by water—rivers, lakes, streams woven through every corner of the country. The people, known as the Greyin, treated it not as a resource, but as something sacred. From childhood, they were taught to protect it, to honor it.
Many of the gifted in Greyshore possessed water-based abilities. The most renowned among them was Zelo, who could summon rain at will. Another was Iluya, a master of metal manipulation—human-made steel bending effortlessly under her control. Because of her, the entire city was forged from steel, casting a breathtaking landscape of shifting blues and silvery greys across the horizon.
"Wow… now this is a sight," James announced, eyes wide.
"It's so pretty I think I'm going to cry," Esther said, her voice full of awe.
"Yeah…" Luke murmured.
But his gaze wasn't on the water—it was fixed on the towering steel statue of Pharaoh Psalm. Above it, a cloud hovered, releasing a gentle rain that fell endlessly over the figure. When the cloud emptied, another rose from the statue's feet to replace it—a perfect, eternal cycle.
"This is where I belong," Spirit whispered, breathless.
Immediately, Peter and James burst into laughter. Rachel joined in a second later.
Spirit's expression hardened. She smacked Rachel's arm.
"Stop laughing, you twisted piece of wood. I'm trying to enjoy the view."
Rachel clutched her arm, still laughing uncontrollably. James suddenly stood in the canoe, waving his arms dramatically toward the river.
"CLEAN WATER, COME TO ME!" he declared.
Luke doubled over, laughter spilling out of him. James spun his arms wildly.
"Yes! Get clean, stinkies! See? I did that! Mom, you saw that—I'm a gift!"
Rachel grabbed Peter's arm as her body shook with laughter. Peter nearly tipped backward. Luke laughed so hard no sound came out. Even Esther couldn't hold it in.
Spirit's chest tightened.
Embarrassment burned into anger.
Before she could stop herself, she lunged at Rachel—grabbing her hair, slapping her head.
"Hey! Ow!" Rachel yelled—and retaliated just as fast.
They tumbled into the canoe, wrestling.
"STOP IT!" Kendra's voice cut through the chaos like a blade."If both of you don't stop right now, we're going back to the hotel."
They froze.
"Mom, they're making fun of me," Spirit cried, her voice breaking. She pulled away, rushing to Naveen and burying her face into his chest.
"I'm so sorry about that," Kendra said to the canoe guide, forcing a polite smile.
Naveen rubbed Spirit's back gently.
"James," he said calmly, "come apologize to your sister."
"What did I do?" James snapped. "I didn't—"
"You know exactly what you did," Naveen replied firmly. "Your sister is sensitive. You owe her an apology."
Rachel scoffed. "What about me? She hit me for no reason. If anything, she should apologize—to all of us. We're here to have a good time, and she ruins it." She looked at Spirit with sharp contempt."You wannabe gift."
"Enough!" Kendra snapped. "You and Spirit will apologize to each other. But right now, James started this."
James groaned. "Okay… sorry."
"You're twelve years old," Kendra said flatly. "You can speak louder than that."
"I'm sorry, okay?" he said, louder this time.
Later, after exploring the city, they stopped at a restaurant built directly over the water.
"Wow! Eating in the water? That's a first!" Esther beamed. "Thank you, Dad—and thank you, Lord!"
Everyone echoed their gratitude.
"We should come here again," Rachel said, smiling around the table.
"Yes!" Luke said immediately.
"For sure," Esther added.
"Yep," Spirit said quietly.
Peter bounced Deborah on his lap. "Right, Deb? We're coming back?"
Deborah nodded sleepily. "Yes."
James leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head."This place is great and all… but it's missing something."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a clump of dried mud. It lifted from his palm, hovering.
"This is what's missing—"
"James. Stop." Naveen's voice dropped low. "Put that down."
The mud fell back into his hand.
"Give it to me," Kendra said sharply.
James handed it over.
"I've told you this before," Kendra continued. "And this goes for you too, Esther—"
"I didn't do anything," Esther protested.
"I know. But both of you have—"
"Let's talk about this later," Naveen interrupted gently as a waitress approached.
Spirit dipped her fingers into the water beside her plate, absentmindedly tracing circles.
Then—
A sudden pulse.
A strange, electric feeling surged through her arm.
She froze.
Her fingers tingled. The water seemed… alive. Familiar.
Connected.
"Spirit, eat your food," Naveen said.
She snapped back.
"Yes… okay."
But her thoughts raced.
That feeling…
Wasn't that what James and Esther always described?
Could it be—
No. Her parents had said she wasn't a gift.
…But what if they were wrong?
That night, Spirit slipped out toward a small stream behind the hotel.
She knelt.
"Okay," she whispered. "If nothing happens… I'll drop it."
She closed her eyes.
Connect, she told herself.
She let the water brush against her hand. Felt the current. Followed it.
Then—
A surge.
Stronger this time.
She gasped, pulling her hand back—but the energy remained, humming through her veins.
Slowly, she lowered her fingers to the surface again.
The water responded.
It rose.
Higher.
Higher.
Until it hovered at eye level, trembling, connected to her hand.
Spirit stared.
"I'm… a gift," she whispered.
Joy exploded inside her.
Her siblings would stop laughing.
They'd respect her.
Her parents would finally see her.
The water trembled.
"Wait—stay still," she murmured, steadying it.
She adjusted, focusing—guiding.
A sphere formed between her hands.
She laughed—bright, uncontrollable.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I have to show Dad."
Later, breathless, she burst into the hotel room.
"Daddy! I'm a gift!"
The room went silent.
And then—
Everything went wrong.