Maria comes home with a down mood expression. She can't stand the truth that she is weaker than her opponent, Rika. The UNITE concert was amazing and she had a fun time with Olivia. However, the thing that made Maria like this was Rika.
5 minutes later, Maria has a great idea.
"Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad!". Maria ran straight to her father's office. She slammed the door widely open. "Dad!".
"What's wrong sweetie?". Her dad softly asked.
"This is important, I need help". Maria activated her puppy eyes. "I want to know how to transform".
"You should come and ask your mom". Maria's father stopped talking for a second. "When she was young, she was the first freshman that could transform". Maria's father explained thoroughly. "At that time, I was in the normal school, not the academy for special people". He spoke with sad eyes. "Your icy power comes from my hidden DNA, I do have ability, but I can only create small ice cubes".
"Why does my mom never show me her transformation?". Maria was confused, she didn't understand why her mom hid things from her.
"Because it's not necessary yet, your mother will transform when there's a battle to dive in". Maria's dad drank his coffee cup. "Now go to sleep, you can ask her tomorrow morning".
"Okay, I got it!". Maria's eyes emerged a gleam of hope. She walked back to her bedroom and slept. She can't wait until tomorrow. She can't wait to get her transformation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A beautiful Sunday morning, Maria's mom is enjoying her breakfast. She has sweet apple juice, an omelet with a morsel of beef steak, and a piece of strawberry cake for dessert.
Out of the blue, a loud noise was coming from the behind: "MOTHER!!".
Maria's mother almost spilled her cup, she turned her head back around: "Why do you have to be so rude like that?!".
"I'm sorry". Maria apologized and said with excitement. "Mom! Mom! Mom! Dad said that you have your own transformation, was it right?".
"That's correct". Maria's mother sipped her cup of juice. "Why are you talking about this suddenly?".
"Umm, it's for my class project". Maria is a terrible liar. Anytime that Maria lies to anyone, she'll just scratch her body constantly.
"You're lying". Her mother knew her too well. "I heard that there is a girl that can transform in your class". At this point, Maria was overreacting, so her mother already understood the situation. "You want to know how to transform right?".
"Yes mother, I'm sorry for hiding things from you!". Maria continued with fiery eyes. "But I don't want to keep losing her even though I know that I am stronger than her in battles!".
"Finish the breakfast, then we'll talk about it later". Maria's mom didn't say anything else, she just started eating her meal.
40 minutes later, Mrs. Lenormand brings Maria to an old shrine that is deep in the red maple forest. The shrine is neither big or small, it's just a regular size. In front of the shrine's gate are 2 lighting torches and these 2 have eyes, Maria guesses that these flames could be the shrine's guardians.
Inside is a vast yard with a lot of maple trees. Farther more is the shrine, its door has a symbol of Phoenix on it. At this point, Maria feels like her mother hides many things from her, including her origin.
"Maria, this is the protector of my family!". Mrs. Lenormand pointed her finger at the Phoenix statue in the middle of the yard. "The Blaze Family has been worshipping the power and blessings of Phoenix for a very long time".
Blaze is the original last name of Maria's mother. Mrs. Lenormand's original name is Hazel Blaze. Her transformation wasn't the magical type, it was the blessed type.
"Why do you have to hide so many things from me?". Maria was happy to find out more about herself and sad at the same time, because she always wanted to be closer to her mother.
"It's all for your safety". Mrs. Lenormand spoke firmly, her face didn't show any expressions. "When you're grown up, you'll understand me".
"Now come in". Mrs. Lenormand opened the shrine's doors and stepped in. "About your transformation, I'll let you meet with Phoenix first".
Mrs. Lenormand starts igniting candles in the shrine. In the middle of the room is an obsidian pedestal, it contains a fire stone. All the candles within the room surround the pedestal. It looks like Mrs. Lenormand is going to do a ceremony. In the back of the room is an altar of Phoenix. The statue's eyes are too real, it's like the deity Phoenix is watching everything.
"Stand away from me". Mrs. Lenormand pulled Maria to a corner. "Now be silent".
Mrs. Lenormand throws an igniter to the pedestal, the fiery flare glows up the whole room. Next, she begins dancing and whispering something. She keeps moving around the pedestal, each time she completes a circle, the fiery flare starts to glow higher and bigger.
"Please visit us my God, PHOENIX!". Mrs. Lenormand bowed on her knees and shouted toward the pedestal.
A few seconds later, the flare turns into a flaming bird. It flies around the room and lands on the pedestal. That's the puppet of Phoenix, he rarely uses his true form to appear in front of mortal beings.
"Hello my child, long time no see". Phoenix blinked his eyes. "I already saw and heard everything". He turned his sight to Maria in the corner. "Come here little girl, tell me, do you deserve the blessing of Phoenix?".
"I know that in the present I don't". Maria honestly answered. "But I can prove myself!".
"Do you accept the challenge?". Phoenix continued speaking. "To receive the transformation, the power of ancient flame requires you to be brave and unselfish".
"That sounds tough for you". Mrs. Lenormand mocked Maria, now we know where Maria's mocking skills come from.
"Mother!". Maria uttered. "I know that I'm a bad girl, but I can change myself".
"To receive the transformation, you have to sacrifice yourself to save the one that you care deeply about and you have to be fearless enough to face your darkest side in the divine trial". Mrs. Lenormand explained.
"Come back later when you're ready". Phoenix faded away after he finished his last words. "Hazel, train her well, prepare your little girl for the trial!".
All the candles' light turns off at the same time. It leaves the room with the quiet darkness again.
Mrs. Lenormand closes the shrine's doors and walks Maria back to the mansion. Today is Maria's first day of finding her true self and learning about her origin.
Her elemental ability isn't a normal one. It's blessed. It is divine power, not just mortal power. Now everything makes sense, that's why Maria is extraordinary even though her ability is just elemental just like every other Afon student.