This is impossible!No one could do something like this!Certainly not me!

  To the north and south, the packed dirt road runs as far as I can see.Behind me, to the east, a wall of trees marks an edge of the forest.However, what has me so incredibly perturbed is the sight in front of me.

  A smooth, dirt path about thirty-five meters in length extends from this road beneath me into the meadow.Beginning roughly several meters wide, it swiftly expands to nearly thrice that size.While it cuts through a fertile grassnd with torn flowers bordering it, not a single, living pnt mars its surface, as if nature simply refused to grow in this rich brown soil.

  Maline, partly atop her sister in a manner that leads me to believe she was attempting to protect her, is lying on the grass where I saw her previously.Thankfully, the freshly exposed ground forms a nearly direct line into the pin, as they lie shortly to the side of the destroyed greenery.I’m extremely gd they were not directly in the way of whatever caused this.Because, while a barren path is not exactly unusual, though the size of it may be, this dirt portion seems to have suddenly and quite violently come into existence.It surely wasn’t here a short time ago, as I’m certain I would have noticed something of this size before now, either while flying by or when returning to the wagon.

  Speaking of which, the reason I had, at first, mistakenly assumed that I had been thrown a good distance is because their family wagon now lies beyond them instead of directly beside the road where I remember it being.Thankfully, Mr. Loka still seems to be lying where he was previously, slightly to the side of the dirt.However, their wagon certainly didn’t roll itself into the distance, not while lying on its side with nothing to pull it, nor do enormous clearings create themselves in mere moments.No, the only thing I can think of that may have caused this is my magic.Which returns me to my first thoughts.

  This is impossible!!All I did was create a gust of wind!Yet now, an enormous portion of the meadow is simply missing!Wait…No, not entirely missing.I can see scattered petals, grass, and leaves strewn across the surrounding area, blending in with the living pnts nearby.But that doesn’t make me feel any better!

  A long time ago, I had the opportunity to see mages use magic, wind mages being among them.While most entrants at the competition were novices, barely capable of more than a strong breeze or cutting a slight gouge in the target, there was one who professed to be a master of the art.I remember being thoroughly impressed when she cut the dummy in twain without any visible indication of touching it.Shortly afterwards, Pa said that she had worked for many years to acquire the skill I saw then.Yet, somehow, with only a week’s worth of experience, I obliterated a sizable portion of this meadow by sheer accident!?With my ck of familiarity with magic, there is simply no way by which something of this magnitude could be possible!

  Moreover, while I may be ignorant about many things concerning magic, I did learn some basics from Maline, one of which is quite relevant to my situation.It is that, in general, the rger the being, the more magic they can safely handle.Thus, she can’t provide an adult-sized portion of a magic potion to a child without some risk.

  Now, I’m still tiny, I checked.So how could someone far smaller than even a newborn babe possibly do something like this!?Yeah, sure, I apparently caused a bit of destruction at the fairy gde, but I had most of a night to do that!Not merely a few moments!And I still have no idea where the bear disappeared to!

  Ugh, my head hurts thinking about this.No, wait, that’s serious pain.In fact, I feel a bit faint.Moreover, my strength feels as if it’s rapidly draining away, and my entire body is growing limp.Behind me, my wings are fiercely aching, barely able to keep me aloft.I can’t catch my breath.My whole body feels…empty.I need something.What is happening to me?

  A quick look behind myself reveals a set of utterly transparent wings, and with every feeble fp, the wind essence surrounding me feels more and more enticing.So I simply stop holding it at bay.

  A sigh of relief escapes my lips as my wings begin turning a dim cyan.The pain subsides and my strength rapidly returns as the fog clears from my mind.Oh, this essence feels lovely!

  Okay, Akari.Lesson learned, do not run out of energy.It feels awful!And I’m never telling Mum about this.Can’t have her finding out that I almost accidently starved myself.If she does, she’ll treat me like a child for the rest of my life!

  Well, no more time to waste, there was something I ought to be doing.But what was it again?Hmm, I suppose I’ll just take another look around.

  When I turn my gaze to Maline, my eyes perform their odd magic, allowing me to see her in great detail even at this distance.A year older than I, she would often be mistaken by strangers as my sister, considering her eyes and hair match my own, among other things.At least, they used to.Currently, her neck length, blonde hair is covered in dirt and shreds of pnts, as is the rest of her, concealing her fair skin beneath a grimy yer.Since she was traveling, she’s wearing simple pants and a shirt, with a quiver on her back.Also, a bow lies by her side, yet I don’t recall seeing any arrows in the beast that attacked them.She’s breathing, doesn’t seem to be in pain, and is also still holding onto Lucia, so I think she’s fine for the time being.

  On the other hand, her pa, Mr. Loka, doesn’t appear to be faring as well.I’m certain one of his legs is broken, and he has cuts on his arms and chest matching the shape of the bear’s cws.But I can heal that!There’s an entire forest of nature energy directly behind me.

  Flying from tree to tree, I quickly gather a small amount and then fly to where Loca is lying.There, I see his short, red hair is matted with sweat, and he doesn’t appear to be conscious.Carefully envisioning what I desire, I fly near to his chest and slowly release this orb of nature essence into the wounds.At first, nothing happens, but then his life force swells and consumes the energy, and his wounds begin visibly closing.A short time ter, they vanish entirely, leaving behind whole skin.

  I knew I could do it!Now for the broken leg.

  Once again, I attempt to push my intent into my magic, but this time, it denies me.No matter what I imagine, the only response is a sense of certainty that I cannot properly mend this.Or worse, that if I ignore this feeling and proceed with my attempt at healing, it will cause further damage.Well, he seems to be breathing easier now and aid should already be on its way, so as long as he doesn’t need to walk, he ought to be fine till then.The guards will carry him to his wife, the best healer our town has, and she’ll know what to do.

  Nearby movement suddenly catches my attention.Looking up, I find my gaze returned by three different colors of eyes.Lucia, who at twelve years old is the same age as my sister, takes after her pa in more ways than one.Besides her love of haggling and trading, the color of her long, red hair also matches his.As does her one bright, green eye.Strangely, her other eye is simir to her mum’s, being a deep grey color.She’s the only person I know whose eyes don’t match one another.The third color is, of course, Maline’s blue eyes.

  They’re both kneeling on the ground where they were lying before, looking at me.Since there is bright daylight shining down, it’s possible that they can see what I am, even through my magical glow.This isn’t nearly how I imagined showing myself to them, but perhaps I ought to make my voice louder and attempt an expnation?Though how do I apologize for accidently exploding the meadow all over them?I suppose I’ll just keep it simple.

  So after magically amplifying my voice, and this time doing my best to direct it towards them, I fly up to eyelevel and attempt to apologize.

  “I’m sorry, Maline, Lucia. I was merely attempting to distract the bear for you. All ‘this’ was an accident.”

  Yeah, sure, from this distance, they likely can’t see me wave at our surroundings while I’m speaking, but I’m certain they’ll understand.Yet, the very next moment, Maline picks up her bow, notches an arrow, and draws it back.She’s aiming at me!

  “Um, M-Maline, i-it’s me-”

  I cut off when I realize that she’s aiming above me.She may not be the most skilled person to wield a bow, but she would never raise the arrow that high if she were trying to hit me.Also, she seems to be tracking a target, but I’m gently hovering in pce…Is there something behind me?

  Her bow twangs as I spin around and then two things happen nearly simultaneously.First, I get a far too personal view of a hawk, talons extended directly at me.Then an instant ter, her arrow narrowly misses me, but finds its mark, sending the bird hurtling away.

  For a moment, I float in pce, stunned.Then I, of course, do the only appropriate thing.

  “Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”