“Are you feeling okay? Was the oven too hot? Because you definitely did not win.” “I did,” Arleta insisted, her voice carrying with unwavering conviction. “I’m headed back to Adenashire with a completely different outlook on life.” Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. “I’m not there yet, but I’m on the way to learning who I am, to knowing I matter… simply because I’m me. I have people in my life who don’t care that I don’t have magic. They care about me. They want me to succeed.” She eyed her friend. “People like you.”
