Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One by Donna Wagner (books you have to read TXT) 📕

assumed that meant the worst. We didn't. We didn't think anyone else but a royal with a portal key could get through the wall."

"They can! When we came back through the fort, with Anna's parents, I almost got caught because I thought the social worker- the man who was trying to take me away from my house- was there. There was a man who looked just like him!"

Grandpa Mit frowned. He didn't know if it was the same man, if somehow the rebels devised a way to keep crossing between the worlds, or if they came up with a way to communicate with those over there already. There had always been rumors that the other worlds that existed were actually other realities instead, which meant everyone existed in each world, so it could have been a coincidence that Tim recognized the man, if he wasn't actually a part of their situation.

While Grandpa Mit was thinking about the new development, Grandma Cire continued the conversation. "Tim, earlier, you asked if you could ask what people’s powers are. Generally, no, it's not polite to ask, but it’s usually not secret either. As I told you earlier, powers run in families, so most of the time you can usually tell what family someone is in because of the power. Powers present during your thirteenth year. Sometimes there are signs at an earlier age. Occasionally something we've never seen before presents. For instance, we've never known of anyone who can pass between the worlds, like you do; then again, we've never tried. The only royals that we know of who have used their portal keys have been old kings or queens who felt, once their reigns were over, that they weren't needed any longer in this world. Your father and Anna's mother were the first prince and princess to ever leave, and the first to take someone with them through the portal, but I'm getting off track! Where was I? Oh, yes! When someone's power fully presented, there would be a celebration! This is another reason someone's power isn't generally a secret! Now, let me share my secret with you!"

Grandpa Cire put down the cup he had been holding during his speech. He held out his hand and suddenly there was a second cup sitting on the table, next to the first one. He moved the second cup in front of Tim. "I can manifest a copy of anything I've touched," he gestured to the cup, "It's real, can be used, but that’s only because it's the first copy. If I were to keep making the cup, eventually, it would no longer be substantial enough to hold liquid!"

Tim picked the cup up, amazed. It felt completely real to him. The cup flew from his hand. Tim followed it with his eyes to find that Grandma Amme was now holding it. "I can move things with my mind. This was your father's power as well. It's a very strong power in my family- there has been one who presents it in every generation for years. I'm actually surprised it's not your power."

Tim laughed, thinking about all the times something had magically appeared in his father's hand. His dad had always shrugged it off, but now Tim knew better. "This explains so much about my dad!"

Grandma Amme smiled. "It must have been incredibly hard for him not to use it for everything! I loved my son very much, but he became quite lazy once he had full control over this ability!"

Tim reached over and squeezed his grandmother's hand after noticing the tears in her eyes. Then he turned and looked towards Grandma Aras. "I guess that just leaves you."

Grandma Aras smiled. "My power has two parts. Thankfully, I can't show you one part right now.  Let me explain," she said seeing the confused look on Tim's face, "I can heal people, you see. I'm thankful that right now, no one is hurt or sick, which is a good thing! My family has always been the healers, or doctors as you know them. Asilla, the woman who brings us food and showed you how to see us- she's my cousin's child," she paused, and then continued almost shyly, "I can show you the second part of my power, if you'd allow me to give you a hug?"

Tim nodded and stood up. "Sure."

Grandma Aras came around the table and gave Tim a tentative hug. As he hugged her back her arms tightened around him, and he could feel her power pouring into him. When she released him, she had tears in her eyes. Grandpa Cire grabbed her hand reassuringly. Tim was confused. He felt normal, maybe a little better than normal, like he just woke up and was ready for the day. He looked at his hands, his arms, down at his feet. Everything looked the same. "Am I missing something?"

Grandma Aras smiled at him again. "I can restore energy. You just woke up and haven't done anything to really drain your energy yet, so it wouldn't be as noticeable. When I touch someone, they're energy is restored, just like a full night’s sleep," she explained.

Tim nodded in understanding, then something popped into his head. "Why do you have two different powers? I thought everyone only got one."

Grandma Aras nodded. "Most people do only have one. Mine go hand in hand, though, so I assume that’s why I can do both things. In more recent times, we've seen that more and more. Either someone has two things that are connected, or they have a dominant power, but also a smaller power as well. Your mother was one of those people."

"My mom? What she writes comes alive like a movie. I know that, but what else- the light!"

His grandparents looked at him in surprise. "How did you know that?" Grandpa Cire asked.

Tim explained about the memory he had when he and Anna had been in his mom's copied room from the Y and about the fake window. "I don't