The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim (the mitten read aloud .TXT) 📗

of the current. Then I just relax and put my mind to what I want the water to do. Then bam, it yields.”

As Austin ushers us out of the room, he says, “For me, it’s single-mindedness. I laser my focus on the metal and imagine my hand around it, melding it, shaping it, moving it the way I want it to act. The more I concentrate, the more effective it becomes.”

I must look concerned, because Austin pats me on the back. “Don’t worry too much. It might not happen on your first go, but you’ll figure it out. We all have.”

A flicker of anticipation passes through me. A part of me is excited for the challenge. I’m eager to try out my new gift.

But as Hattie’s rapidly cooling heart vial rubs against my skin, I also think of everything that’s at stake—my sister’s life, my parents’ gifts, the prophesied end of days…. The burden feels like too much to bear. What if I fail? What if, no matter how hard I try, it’s not enough?

As Austin leads us to the lakeside, where the challenge will be held, Taeyo takes something out of the pocket of his yellow chinos and slips it into my hand.

“This is for you,” he whispers. “For good luck.”

I open my palm to find a beautiful round compact made of shiny gold. Cool and heavy to the touch, it reminds me of how my onyx teardrop stone used to feel in my hand.

“What is it?” I ask.

“It’s a compass I found a long time ago. I want you to have it.”

I push the small button on its side and the compass flips open. It’s intricately designed with tiny black detailing around the edge and a slender golden arrow hovering inside.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

He smiles openly. “I saw what you did for Emmett back at Jennie’s house. How you gave up what you wanted so he could have a chance to speak to his mom. And now you’re putting yourself through this initiation to save your sister and to stop the prophecy. You’re a good person, Riley. You came a long way to find us, and I thought maybe, one day, if you ever get lost, this could help you find your way back to us.”

He adjusts his bow tie, and something flutters inside my chest. This has to be the nicest gift I’ve ever received.

“It’s beautiful. Thanks, Taeyo.”

I close the compass and feel a rough patch against my palm. I turn over the compact and see a small faded outline of two overlapping triangles on its back. I press the symbol, and suddenly the compass makes a slicing sound as triangular blades release from the edges, forming what looks like metal rays around a golden sun.

“Whoa!” Taeyo breathes. “I didn’t realize it was a weapon, too.”

I carefully spin the compass on my palm. “Let’s hope I won’t need that part.”

BY THE TIME WE MAKE IT to the lakeside, the forest clearing is full of people. I’d say there are at least a hundred folks milling about, waiting for the call for volunteers.

I can’t see Emmett anywhere, but he must be somewhere in the crowd. What I can see, however, is a terrifying bird creature probably seven feet tall, with a wingspan the cheollima guard would die for. Her body is covered in a shock of dirt-colored feathers, and her talons are so large they look like pitchforks. The most disconcerting thing about her, though, is her face. It, too, is covered in brown plumage, but it is distinctly human. She has high cheekbones, a well-proportioned nose, and two large eyes. Except the “whites” of her eyes are amber, and her lips stretch out unnaturally into a hardened beak. She really should have treated those bachelors better….

Like Austin said earlier, the inmyeonjo is trapped inside a metal cage near the edge of the lake, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to hold her for too long. Because if I could use one word to describe her, it would be furious. She is flapping her wings aggressively against the metal bars, clawing the ground with her talons, and screeching at the top of her lungs.

“Come forward, volunteers!” Sora stands next to the metal cage and ushers people closer. “If you are brave enough to attempt the taming of the inmyeonjo, step up now.”

Two kids who don’t look a day over eight walk forward, holding hands. “We volunteer!” they call out.

Sora smiles but waves them back. “You’re very brave, Henry and Grace, but perhaps not today.”

Three older scholars from the crowd bravely raise their hands as Austin pushes me toward Sora.

“Good luck,” Taeyo whispers.

I steal another glance at the metal cage. The inmyeonjo is glaring straight at me while ramming the bars, and I’m sure she’s out for my blood. I gulp.

“I’ll go first,” one of the volunteers announces. The man—who has a well-groomed beard and a man bun—takes a lighter out of his pocket. He ignites the flame, and then rubs his wrists.

“Good luck, Jo,” Sora says.

Austin magicks the metal cage so it lifts into the air by itself, leaving the inmyeonjo free on the ground. The empty trap hovers above the volunteer and the inmyeonjo like a steel spiderweb.

My heart speeds up as I watch Jo. His dominant element must be fire, same as me. Seeing him with the lighter, I realize the Horangi’s magic only works if the element is nearby. That’s why the training hall we were first detained in was full of water—because Taeyo needed it for his watery shackles. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lighter handy.

The man concentrates on the inmyeonjo, who has started to flap her wings like she’s going to charge any second. He swirls one hand over the open flame as if making a soft-serve cone, and then blows on his open palm. Fire shoots from the lighter in an impressive spiraling wave and torpedoes toward the bird-woman.

The inmyeonjo sees it