It was supposed to be a special day.

Her best friend's special day.

But after today, Jade Connery got something that was far from special. It was a gift. Or rather, a curse?

The family Valdez was well known in their little village. Each family member had a magical blessing which they used for helping the old town. Mrs. Valdez could control the fire, Mr. Valdez could summon water out of thin air.

 And then there was Célia. 

Her and Jade's friendship was on of those where you didn't know where they had come from. It just suddenly appeared and the two had been inseperable ever since. 

Mr. Connery, Jade's father, was a... difficult man. He was impatient and got angry easily, especially after he had lost his wive to suicide. Nobody had seen it coming. But one day he had suddenly found his hysterically crying daughter cradling the bleeding body of the woman he loved. 

Even after the court had confirmed the circumstances of Vivien Connery's mental condition being the cause of her actions, he was truly convinced that his only daughter had murdered her mother. 

His mindset turned into something no therapist could cure and he was later sentenced to almost two years of jail for child abuse. 

Jade spent most of her time at the Valdez's house, even after her father had returned with a new girlfriend. 

She would elegantly hide the marks on her back and even if a new bruise appeared on her body, she would say she'd fallen or bumped into something. 

Even after the things she has been through, Jade never failed to smile for her friends. Today was one of those days.

Célia hadn't received her blessing yet, but that should change after today. Each of the Valdez members would get their gift on their 15th. birthday, at a big ceremony with the guests arriving from the whole village. 

The young woman was thrilled and couldn't stop talking about all the wonders she would achieve with her power. She and Jade had been guessing for months about what gift she would earn. Maybe flying through the sky like the birds she admired so much? Or even bending an element like her parents did.

No one thought of what would happen this evening.

Everything was perfect. The family was ready, the guests were excited and Célia couldn't wait for the ceremony to start.

 Jade was with her in the nursery, helping her with the light-blue dress she was going to wear at the ritual. She was constantly hurrying in circles, checking her reflection in the mirror as if something might suddenly appear on her tanned, flawless skin. 

"Célia calm down, you're getting creases into your dress.",Jade chuckled with a light smile on her lips. She was leaning herself against the door frame and calmly watched her friend panicking.

 "You look gorgeous and today everything will about you. This is going to be the best day of your life."

Célia stopped walking and just stared at herself, a worried crease appearing between her dark eyebrows. "Well, what if I stumble on my way down? I could never show myself around town!", she wimpered anxiously.

Jade stood beside her and reasuringly hugged her shoulders. "Listen. Today will be great. You will get your gift and it will be the coolest thing ever. You're gonna help so many people and they will love you, they already do. Thing always turn out your way, remember? It's gonna be all right.", she grinned proudly. 

Célia smiled softly at her best friend. She opened her mouth to say something, when her older brother Sebastian suddenly bursted in like a tornado and destroyed the calming atmosphere.

"Hey pipsqueak! You ready for your super- awesome gift?", he shouted, a little louder than necessary. He ruffled his dark curls out of his eyes and smiled widely, small dimples forming on his freckled cheeks. His happiness jumped onto Célia and her chestnut coloured eyes started to glow in excitement.

 Jade's smile turned into a frown the second Sebastian entered the room. He had always been too...much. Too loud, too happy, too energetic. 

His powers gave him the ability to affect other people's emotions, based on how he was feeling, which was why the town always had the brightest smile to show around. 

But it was too much for Jade. When people laugh too often, it started to feel wrong and forced. 

 Sebastian never seemed to be out of energy, always ready to brighten up everyone's day. Like he always did. 

Giggling, Célia nudged her friend before dancing off to her mother, who was already waiting in the hallway.

"See, cielo? You just need more energy" 

Sebastian sent Jade a winning smirk, what seemed to be his iconic greeting for her, which she answered with a scoff and sarcastic smile like always. 

"Yes, thank you darling, if only you wouldn't sound like a train when you speak", she snapped back, even if her statement didn't make any sense, before following Célia with a roll of her eyes. She missed Sebastian's wide grin, which would've made her even more frustrated. 

"Look at you, I am so proud of you, mi vida."

Célia's mother overwhelmed her with hugs and kisses, close to tears. Her father gave her a proud smile, with his hand firmly resting on her shoulders. 

 Jade was standing in the shadows of the dark curtain wich led to the hallways where excited murmuring from the guests could be heard. She observed the family with a small grin on her face. It was their time now.

 ''Thank you for organizing everything." Célia went over to the girl and pulled her into a hug. 

Jade was the one who had come up with the idea of a party after the ceremony. To introduce something fitting for Célia's age, instead of the usual dinner in silence. She had taken care of the whole planning, including the many hours of sleepless nights when she tried to catch up with her schedule. 

"Thank you, for everything. For always being there for me and keeping me company when I needed it." Célia smiled. "I'm so lucky to have you." 

Célia's mother Claire stood by their side with a warm smile. ''Yes you are indeed a miracle, Jade."

''Oh please." Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Without my help, she wouldn't have managed to pull up the decorations at all" He waved his hands as if he wanted to underline his point. 

The whole week he had been insisting on helping Jade for his sister's big day, annoying her more than actually helping her. 

 Jade gave him a fake smile. The teenager was testing her patience.

"Don't be stupid." Célia nudged him, still grinning widely. 

When everybody was finally assembled in the hall, the ceremony started with Mrs. Valdez giving a speech about the family's backstory.

How the very first child of the family Valdez had been hunted down, rejected from every village like some sick animal, just because of something the normal humans couldn't explain. How Mr. and Mrs. Valdez had found this town who had finally accepted them and gave them the chance of building a family.

 When she had finished with great applause from the crowd, everyone's eyes turned towards Célia who was standing at the end of the small corridor leading to the hall. 

People clapped as the spotlights pointed at her and Mrs. Valdez walked out of the way to see her daughter get her blessing.

 The bright lights made Célia squint and she heard her heart beating furiously. Her panic rising, Célia frantically looked around the people, searching for her best friend's green eyes. Jade gave her an encouraging nod.

 With a scared expression on her face, Célia reached her hand for Jade. She slowly shook her head no.

 ''I can't", she whispered. "I shouldn't..."  

Célia looked helpless, her lips forming a silent "please". A frown on her face, Jade slowly joined her best friend.

 The guests let out a small gasp and some began to whisper to their neighbours. Célia's mother looked confused but didn't interrupt. This was Célia's choice and she needed her friend.

Letting out a deep breath, Jade gave her friend a small nudge. Looking a little more confident  now, Célia started to walk along the corridor, Jade by her side. 

At the center of the hall, Jade stepped aside, not before gently squeezing her shoulder and giving her a reasuring nod. 

 "Célia Valdez", the voice of her mother started to speak again.

 With these two words, the spot where Célia was standing started to glow. A blue flash appeared and she suddenly was floating in the air, her arms gently lifted like a body under water.

 A blue, hologram-like ring appeared around her. The guests were staring, fascinated. 

"Today we will celebrate another magical miracle. This is an honour, a blessing and a burden you will carry from now on"

 Her mother raised her hands and a blue lightning struck at Célia. Amazed goosebumps creeped up Jade's arms. The power was overwhelming, the energy in the air making the hair on the back of her neck standing up. This whole process was more than impressive.

A transparent hologram appeared above Célia, showing a girl with her arms open in a welcoming way. Her eyes were closed, a calm smile on her face and flowers and other blooming plants around her.

A second girl appeared behind her back. Crumbled into herself, with cracks growing around her. She had black eyes and was looking up to the sky with a hurt expression on her face. She was crying. Jade frowned, looking at the vision.

When suddenly, the whole thing started to change. It was glitching and the blue colour turned red as if there was a techincal error. 

The people gasped and started to scream as the hologram turned into a spinning diashow of blurred events no one could make out.

Célia fell to the ground, her brother fortunatly catching her in time. Jade hurried over to her friend, who was looking shocked. Frightened. 

Turning back to the hologram which had changed into a small tornado-like storm, Jade tried to focus on the magical bulb of energy. Lightning shot out of nowhere, striking into walls and making pots explode.

Célia's parents appeared by the side of their daughter, who Sebastian was still holding onto in a protective way.

Suddenly the tornado stopped dead, hovering in the air like a piece of cloth before it sailed towards the ground. Everybody froze, anxiously waiting for what would happen next.

There was a sudden loud bang, like something had exploded and one red lightning shot straight towards Jade. Her eyes widened in fear. 

The last thing she heard was her best friend screaming out her name, then everything went black.