The Emperor burst into the garden, looking more panicked than I had ever seen him.
"Roxanne!" He rushed toward me, his eyes scanning for injuries. "Are you hurt? What happened?"
"I'm fine, Father," I assured him quickly. "Just a bit.…..singed."
Lady Clarissa stepped forward, her voice breathless with excitement. "Your Majesty, Princess Roxanne's mana has manifested!"
The Emperor's eyes widened. "Her mana? Already?" He looked at me, then at the scorched flowers surrounding us. "What type?"
Clarissa beamed. "Fire, Your Majesty."
Silence.
The Emperor stared at me. Then at the burned garden. Then back at me.
"Fire?" he repeated.
"Fire," I confirmed weakly.
And then, to my absolute shock, his face split into the biggest smile I had ever seen.
"FIRE!" He swept me into a hug, completely ignoring my wet, smoking dress. "My daughter has fire mana! Do you understand how rare that is? How powerful?"
Okay, not the reaction I expected.
