She was falling, hurtling through the darkness of space as the bright home world disappeared behind her. The portal was closed forever and she was lost.

“Noooooo!” she screamed … and woke up in her bed in the girls’ dormitory, sweat running down her back. Avielle of Ryn stared at her reflection in the mirror; her eyes, the green of a stormy sea, stared back, full of fear. She took a calming breath and slipped out of her bed, her white nightdress billowing around her slender frame. Mistakes don’t happen, Avielle reminded herself. You’ll never be a meri without the Trial. To be a meri, one of the sorceresses, healers, and seers of Illyria, was her greatest dream. Avielle paced, unable to get back to sleep. Suddenly, a slow smile appeared on her
face. She had forgotten that yesterday had been her fourteenth birthday. Avielle had thought only of the Trial, only of the other worlds she would go to to prove that there was magic within her and to do good in these strange other places. Today was the beginning of her Trial.

Avielle sighed and sat down cross-legged to meditate. She was too nervous to concentrate on sleeping. She cleared her mind, and the magic surged up to cover her in its silver fire.

Later, Avielle realize that there was someone outside calling her. She glanced at the light of dawn streaming in through the window with surprise.

“Avielle,” the meri was saying, “It’s time for your Trial.”

As she stood up, some barrier that she had not known was there shattered. The meri held a white robe in her hands, which she offered to Avielle.

“Oh, thank you,” Avielle exclaimed and accepted the robe. As she slipped it on behind the screen, Avielle glanced in the mirror. Her black hair, shining and slightly wavy, flowed down her shoulders and back. Avielle’s fair skin was almost as pale as her robe. Her mouth was full and almost delicate looking. Her other features were all graceful, but no one considered Avielle beautiful. Underneath her robe she wore the undergarments of all the girls training to be meri. Avielle looked just like another fourteen-year-old about to take the Trial.

She walked silently with the meri along the long corridors until they reached the center court. In it, the chief meri stood. Behind her, the portal shimmered in the air.

“Avi of Ryn, are you prepared to undergo the Trial?” the chief meri asked, her voice ringing like a bell.

“I am,” Avielle replied.

“Then step into the gate and enter other worlds,” the meri commanded. Avielle walked to the portal, hesitated for half a second, and stepped in. The magic washed over her as Illyria fell away from her and another world approached.

“Ugh,” Avielle complained. She was standing on a muddy planet with arches of colored crystals above her. “First things first,” she remarked and snapped her fingers. Avielle flew upward to hover a few inches above the earth. The mud slipped off her dress and shoes. She glanced guiltily around. Hovering and cleaning spells were forbidden.

“Relax, nobody’s here. If you can do these things, like telekinesis, why shouldn’t you do it?” Avielle told herself. A war shout echoed on the air and a circle of bristling spears suddenly appeared around her.

“Oh, no,” she whispered.

Avielle dove inside herself and yanked the silver fire up. In less than two seconds, a silvery bubble enclosed her. “Listen to me,” she said, the savage’s language flowing from her tongue. “You will not hurt me, you will be peaceful. So drop those spears.” Her voice became hypnotic as she carefully gave instructions to these strange people, reweaving their brains with her magic.

Last of all, she reworked the land, making it green and fertile. “Remember what I told you,” she said softly. Then Avielle left the planet behind and flew through the darkness of space. I do have magic, I do! she rejoiced as she flew.

On Illyria, the chief meri staggered back as the portal vanished. “Before it closed,” she gasped, “I felt a flare of strong magic. It was as good as anything I could do, yet it must have been Avielle, a girl of only fourteen.” The other meri stared in astonishment.

A new planet loomed in front of Avielle, and she knew instinctively that the meri wanted her on this planet. She glided to a stop and glanced around, amazed. Water covered the planet’s surface completely. She was near what appeared to be a city of buildings raised up by stilts. Avielle glided over the water, sending up a rush of spray behind her. As she entered the city, everyone stared at her, half in awe, half in fear. Suddenly a boat pulled up in front of her. A man wearing a heavy golden chain around his neck held up his hands in protection. “Please,” he asked in a hoarse voice, “do not destroy our city, whatever god you are.”

“Don’t be silly, Michael,” a woman said as she stepped from behind the man. “She’s the one who flies above the water, the one who’ll help us. You will, won’t you?” she requested nervously and softly, hardly daring to look at Avielle.

Avielle swallowed. I’m the only one who can help. Who knows when another meri-in-training will come? she told herself. “Of course. What is your trouble?” Her voice trailed off. “It’s obvious. You need land, don’t you, to grow food?”

“Yes, yes,” the man, obviously the mayor, nodded.

“All right, I’ll need an empty, comfortable space to work the magic in,” Avielle replied, trying to sound confident but still feel a little nervous. For the next three days, she sat in the Town Hall, coated with the silver fire of magic. At the end of the three days, islands were dotted all over the planet. Avielle walked outside and stepped onto solid land. The whole city chorused their thanks as she smiled, waved goodbye, and left the planet behind. As she left, Avielle yelled, “One more thing. I’d love to stay but I must go. I’ll try to come back.”

“Goodbye, goodbye,” the city cried as she flew away.

The next few weeks were all a blur in Avielle’s memory. Shattering a maze of mirrors, stopping a drought by drawing rain, and breaking and rebuilding a society all were part of those weeks.

She could feel it in her bones. Her Trial was almost over, but they wanted her to visit one last planet. Even now, Avielle could feel the magic tugging at her, trying to steer her on a course. Her temper snapped and she charted her own course, steering away from the path that the meri had set. This planet of her own choosing was in front of her. Avielle saw several landmasses and vast oceans. She landed and glanced around her with delight. This planet was a nice one, but she looked out of place. Avielle passed her hands over her body and instantly was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. She walked along the street, a nice one with houses and maple trees. As she leaned against a tree, somebody else hurried out and stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted Avielle.

“Oh, hi. You just moved in, didn’t you? I’ve never seen you before.” The girl stuck out her hand. “Emma.”

Avielle glanced at the hand and, on an impulse, shook it.

“Avielle. You’re right, I’m new.” Avielle replied, thinking to herself, well, I am new. “Do you believe in magic?” she suddenly asked.

Emma blinked in surprise. “No,” she replied slowly. “Why do you ask? I mean, magic isn’t logical.”

“Just asking.” Avielle pointed to a new house, adding a moving truck and removing a For Sale sign. “That’s where we’re moving in. We’re still unpacking all the things we brought.” Avielle silently thanked her knowledge of this planet—called Earth—which she’d gotten through her magic. “I do believe in magic,” she added.

“But how? When I was little, I used to believe in magic, but as you get older, people laugh at you and you stop believing,” Emma said, looking confused.

“This is how.” Avielle moved someone’s rake with her mind, and it flew into her hand. Emma was speechless. “I’m actually from, er, another planet. But I’m not planning to invade your planet. I’m … it’s complicated. Don’t tell your parents, however, that you’ve met an alien. I have no desire to be dissected.”

“Come on.” Emma hurried her into the house, Avielle cloaked by her invisibility spell. They ran up the stairs. Emma paused for a moment and whispered to Avielle, “I trust you, even if you are from another planet. So please tell me the whole story.” The two girls stayed up long into the night as Avielle explained everything. Avielle put her hand on Emma’s forehead and cast a spell. She smiled at Emma. “Your planet will get brighter and better. You’ll help do this. And remember, don’t tell anyone about the girl from another planet who you met.” Then she flew away.

On the way, Avielle flew into a spaceship passing by her. She glanced into a classroom of some sort, then stopped in surprise. They were teaching about Illyria and the meri. “On Illyria,” a woman with silver bands on her uniform was saying, “The meri are strictly regulated in their use of magic. For
centuries, they have been suppressed out of fear that the meri might take over. Therefore, not one meri has been able to fully use her powers. The Coalition does not know whether there will ever be a meri with great enough magic and a brave enough heart to break this system. Many have hypothesized that only a meri could successfully do this.”

Avielle had heard enough. She flew out of the spaceship, her mind in turmoil. Was it true? Somehow she didn’t doubt it. Avielle realized that she could fly in the opposite direction, right now, never to return to Illyria, free to use her magic as she wished. Or she could return to Illyria, become a meri, and never use her magic any way she wanted again. But, if she returned, Avielle would be able to try to break the spell. Maybe, just maybe, she could do it, give the meri the gift of being able to use their powers fully.

“Great enough magic and a strong enough heart,” Avielle repeated to herself. “I will!” she cried. “I will be the one to free the meri!” Her power coated Avielle in bright silver as she turned and headed for Illyria.