In a town where every child has a unique story-weaving ability, a young girl with seemingly no powers discovers an ancient book that allows her to bring stories to life.
Excerpt......
Chapter 1
The Odd One Out
Lily Thompson stood at the edge of the school playground, clutching her backpack straps as laughter echoed around her. The other girls huddled in a tight circle, whispering and giggling. Occasionally, their eyes darted toward Lily—mocking glances that made her wish she could disappear. Everyone had powers. Everyone except her.
“Hey, Lily,” Amy sneered, stepping forward. “Why don’t you bring a dragon to life like I did yesterday? Oh wait…” She smirked. “You can’t.”
Lily turned away, cheeks burning, but before she could retreat, Claire Morgan appeared beside her. Claire’s blue flower shimmered softly—a calming presence.
“They’re just jealous,” Claire said firmly, pulling out her notebook. “Ignore them.”
Ben Parker joined them, his tiny squirrel, Scruffy, chattering angrily from his shoulder. “Yeah, Amy’s all talk. She’s probably scared we’ll outshine her.”
Before Lily could respond, Amy closed in, flanked by her friends. “What’s this? Lily and her band of misfits?”
Claire stepped forward, her flower turning a fiery red. “Leave us alone, Amy.”
Amy crossed her arms, smirking. “Or what? What can any of you do? Especially Lily—she’s nothing.”
Lily’s heart pounded. She wanted to run, but she couldn’t abandon her friends. Instead, she shouted, surprising even herself: “Just stop it!”
The playground fell silent. Then a firm voice cut through the tension. “What’s going on here?”
Mr. Roberts strode toward them, his sharp gaze silencing the bullies. After issuing detentions and demanding apologies, he turned to Lily. “Remember, Lily, you don’t need powers to be special.”
As the day ended, Lily walked home with Claire and Ben, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe she didn’t have powers—but maybe she didn’t need them. Not yet, anyway.
