Vasco's laughter rings through the forest, loud and wild, drawing the eyes of the guards on duty. But I couldn't care about that when I just performed magic. I did! My mind is a whirlwind of emotions. I stare at my hand again while pointing my hands away and whisper, "Fire." Another jet bursts from my palm, scorching my thigh. I flail my arms, trying to soothe the pain. I can hardly believe that I'm the source of these flames. The magic, I felt it again, coursing through me.

The foolish fair-haired elf finally regains his composure and rises to his feet, still clutching his stomach. He looks at me, still chuckling, "I thought I was going to perish! For a moment I mistook you for a Grand Magician, so much for greatness!"

I extend my hand towards him and challenge, "Let's see if you can repeat that after you feel your flesh seer... Fire!" A stream of fire erupts from my hand, striking him in the face. I wipe the smile off his face, but he only smirks and says, "So this is the game you want to play." He utters a spell in his elven tongue and spheres of water appear in front of him, hovering in the air. He points his finger at me, and yells, "Shoot!". The spheres burst on me one by one, drenching me with water, but I don't give up. I launch my flames again and hit. As we relentelessly exchange attacks, our giggles filled the air with our emotions but the guards stop us and tell us to knock it off.

I can't remember the last time I smiled and laughed this much. I recall the days when I was a little girl, perstering Nola with my antics. The days when my father would pretend to be a horse and make me giggle. Tears fill my eyes as I wonder what Leonard would think of me now. Playing with magic, like all the other kids did. Mayve if it had happened last year, it might've given my father the will... to stay with me longer.

"I've never witnessed Fire magic before. To think that humans have the greatest affinity to such magic besides the dwarves. Capable of manipulating a destructive power, truly a savage species." Vasco says while he sprawls on the ground. I Ioom over him, but he tugs on my skirt, "Come, let's look at the stars."

I join him on the ground and ask, "How can you be ignorant of Fire when it's so common that most humans are born with it. I can't believe you, especially when you're living near the borders!" I turn my head away, hiding my face and add, "You're probably just trying to flatter me with your petty lies. Because otherwise you would be weird here."

"I told you to look at the stars. And... I suppose you're right. Hmm... I will share a secret with you if you keep quiet for a moment." Vasco says, still gazing at the night sky. I close my mouth and follow his eyes. The sky is vast, endless and beyond beautiful. I feel a sense of wonder. It's the same night sky I have seen a million times but now it's different. 'Appreciate the mundane before it's too late.' my father used to say, I think get it now.

"The sky is the same wherever you go, it reminds me of home." Vasco says, lifting his right arm and pointing it to the sky. He rolls down his sleeve with his other hand, revealing a tattooed body beneath the silk stretching from his shoulder to his wrist. It's a stunning depiction of water and waves, with sea creatures following each other in a downward spiral.

"Before you speak," Vasco says, conjuring a floating cube of water. He plunges his tattooed arm into it. Inside the water, the drawings pulse with rainbow colors, as if they are alive.

"The ink is special. It's extracted from a tentacled beast that hunts in our seas, spitting it as a weapon. My people use it to mark ourselves. It represents us and where we belong." He says, breaking his connection with the sky. He turns to me and locks his eyes with mine.

"I come from the western ends of the continent, far away from your kingdom. I come from the Shores of Wescult. Home to the sailor elves of the west." He speaks with pride and looks at me, waiting for my reaction.

"That's so far away! Where you behold the Great Ocean! And it explains your tanned skin and your gross muscles." I blurt out excitedly, and continue, "So... you're a sailor? Like you catch fish and stuff? Did you catch the ink monster to do your tattoes? They're really pretty, in and out of the water!"

Vasco's face reddens and he looks back at the sky. He opens his mouth again, "That's not the secret. I'll tell you, if you swear not to tell any elf here. Do you swear by the grandeur of your king?" I shake my head up and down in agreement. His lips curve upwards and says, "Maybe you're right. I'm a little different to the forest elves here. Gulvan is actually not my father."

I didn't believe him yesterday when he claimed to be Gulvan's son. But today, I took notice how the elves treated him, and the special privliges he enjoyed. While the other younger elves trained and followed a routine, Vasco and I wandered around the camp fooling around. I asked him if it's because of me but he said that this was everyday for him. And they even called him 'Son of Gulvan'. But he is not his son, he told me himself. But why is it a secret from the other elves?

"I knew it! That's hardly a secret when you look like a pear in a basket of apples." I say, getting up from the ground, then ask, "But... why do you hide it, and is Gulvan in it too?" I ask.

"That's a secret for another time. Come on, it's getting late. Tomorrow is a big day and we need to rest. Well, a big day for me while you snooze like a sloth for the whole day. Anyway, I challenge you to a race to your hut! Three, Tw-" Vasco sprints away from my sight, leaving me behind. I shout at him, but stop myself when I see the guards' stern looks.

I arrive at my temporary home and find Vasco leaning against the wall. He sees me coming with a glare, and quickly bids me a good night and runs away again. I smile and wish him well too. But I cannot sleep, not when I've finally blossomed as a magician! I stay up for hours, fiddling with my... magic. Until the sun rises again.