After having convinced Mum to, albeit reluctantly, consent to my pns, I turn my attention to the excess gold coloring in my wings.Clearly, too much sunlight essence will not be helpful when I want to cautiously practice magic.So in addition to the fruit, I also eat some of the comparatively bnd bread that Talia hasn’t finished yet.The neutral energy soon becomes dominant, and I can feel my troubles grow in importance again.

  Ugh, dimming that essence is always unpleasant.Yet, I ought to be cautious of carrying it.While it is enjoyable to be able to ignore my worries for a time, the cause of them won’t magically disappear on its own.And I would like to avoid doing anything that I’ll be embarrassed of ter.

  Once we finish breakfast, Mum leaves the house and sets out towards the forest.Ever since Pa died, she’s gone into the woods in order to gather any useful herbs, mushrooms or other medicinal ingredients that she may find.Now she even has an area set aside for her where she cultivates some of them.Besides the mundane sprouts, she also searches for the much rarer magical pnts, which tend to grow well in this region.Once she collects enough, she sells the gathered ingredients to Mrs. Narissa, the alchemist, who lives on the other side of town.Her husband, Mr. Loka, and occasionally, Maline, their eldest daughter and good friend of mine, travel amongst this region’s vilges, acquiring raw materials and selling alchemical goods, as no single vilge in this region is rge enough to support such an occupation.

  The insurance the country gave for Pa’s service helped substantially by providing us complete ownership of our home and its nd, but the paltry monetary amount didn’t suffice for long.To help earn enough for food, I had begun following Mum into the forest and assisting her as well as I could until I took up sewing for Miss Delia, and Talia recently started her garden outside.We all did what we could, and with what help our neighbors gave to a widow and her children, we’ve managed to survive.Since we were unable to acquire much more than the necessities, which mainly included our home, basic clothing, and cheap food, I had hoped to finally increase our funds when I grew up and began a proper trade.*Sigh*It would seem that I need to devise a new pn, as growing up no longer appears to be an option.But first things first, I need to work out a good way to use my magic for protection.

  *Knock knock*The knocking at our door startles me from my retrospection, and Talia, who had been clearing away the remnants of our breakfast, moves to answer it.Hurriedly grabbing Nibi by the hand, I fly into my room and nd near my bed, the small one, out of sight of the entryway.A moment ter, I hear Talia.

  “Who is there?”

  “Talia, it’s me, Garen1Bcksmith and childhood friend of Akari.. Is your mum home?”

  From the sound of his voice, he seems utterly exhausted.Then I hear the door open.

  “No, she returned to the forest a short time ago. But you look awful! Are you okay!?”

  I’m not surprised she opened the door for him.When Mum and I went to the forest, Garen would often watch over Talia until she was old enough to stay at home on her own.It wouldn’t be a stretch for her to think of him as an elder brother by this point.

  “Has there been any good news?”

  …

  …

  My sister doesn’t answer.

  “I was in the woods myself searching everywhere, but I couldn’t find any sign of her, and it’s been so long. Then when I returned, I heard the gossip in town. I’m sorry, Talia, I…”

  It’s quiet for a few moments.Neither of them are speaking.Yet, before long, the sound of sniffling and suppressed sobs reaches my ears.Quickly, I fly down to the floor near my doorway and nd.Then, while carefully keeping my wings behind the wall, I peek around the corner.Standing in the entryway, sis has her arms wrapped around Garen, who is clearly struggling, and failing, to hold back his tears.

  Shit!I vanished into the forest nearly a week ago, and in all that time, they obviously found not a single trace of me.He assumes me to be dead!Come to think of it, it’s likely everyone does!Truthfully, I should’ve considered this after Sinora visited, as it never takes long for gossip to spread in a vilge of this size.Yet, I didn’t, as I was rather focused on myself, and now the one who’s been my friend for longer than I can even remember is mourning my passing.While I’m standing right here!But if I show myself now, what will he do!?Would he think that I’m a ghost, just as Sinora does?Will he even believe that I’m me if I try to prove it to him?What do I do? What do I do!? What do I do!?!

  After a short time, Garen regains his composure and Talia speaks.

  *Sniff*“Come inside and have a seat. Even if only for a minute. Please?”

  It would seem Garen wasn’t the only one crying.

  “Here, a washbasin and a rag. You know where the water is. I’ll be right back once I freshen up.”

  Wonderful, Talia!That’ll buy me time.Wait!Where are you walking?Your bedroom is over there!Aaah!Her feet are massive!

  I flee to the top of my drawers just before Talia enters the room and closes my door behind her.

  “Sis, what should I do!?”

  “I have no idea!”

  Why couldn’t Mum have waited just a little longer before leaving this morning?I wasn’t prepared for this!

  “He’s crying because of you! This isn’t right! We can’t just tell him nothing!”

  “But what if he doesn’t believe me, or bmes me for not telling him earlier, or worse, tells everyone else about me and then someone will want to use me as an ingredient or to sell me or, or... I-I-I need time to think!”

  Pacing back and forth, I try my best to think through the issue.Stop panicking, Akari, and focus!Hold on, that’s it!I wanted to grow more accustomed to it before doing this again, but if there was ever a time this particur trait of my magic could benefit me, it’s now.

  “Sis, I have a pn! But remind me to take in another essence before too much time passes.”

  “What!? What are you doing!?”

  Doing my best to recall the feeling, I focus inward as well as I can.Currently, the dominant color of my wings is white, made that way purposefully over the course of a couple meals.So when I then convert the entirety of my neutral essence into water, my energies become massively skewed in that direction.Now I need to focus on my problem.

  Should I tell Garen about myself?

  My panic and fear fades into insignificance.While I don’t have as much as my st attempt, the water energy I hold is sufficient to cause the effect I desire.As soon as I willfully dive into the task I set for myself, the necessary memories seemingly float of their own accord to the forefront of my mind.

  I first met Garen, who is two years my elder, when I was four.Or at least, that is my earliest memory of him.We used to py together as children.Back then, he would often tease me, but never caused me intentional harm, and I gave just as good as I got.

  Over time, he grew into a handsome young man and took up the family craft as a bcksmith.He’s now fulfilling some requests entirely on his own.And as far as I’m aware, he has never attempted to cheat a customer but always works diligently to fulfill orders in a timely manner.

  “Sis, what did you do!? Why did you choose now, of all times, to turn your wings blue!?”

  “Shush!”

  Garen regurly joined me in my mischiefs, and even took the fall for me on occasion.He would also often come to my rescue when the boys were again making fun of my name.Every promise he’s given me, he’s fulfilled to the best of his ability.Any secret given him, he’s kept.

  When pa died, he always helped whenever we asked.Oftentimes, he would care for Talia, even finished teaching her to read and do numbers since Mum could no longer afford the time to teach sis herself.

  However, he would express subtle dislike whenever I spoke about Thomas.Perhaps he knew Thomas would betray me?Or possibly an indication of his own interest?That means he would feasibly be more willing to believe unconventional good news.

  Wait.For a moment, I felt surprised about something, but no matter, it’s irrelevant.My thoughts rush onward.

  “Are you done bnkly staring at nothing yet? I don’t think he’ll want to wait around for much longer!”“It would be faster if you would stop interrupting my concentration!”

  She is correct in that Garen is not the type to wait and do nothing.However, a couple of minutes won’t be an issue.He has waited for me much longer than this in the past.

  With as long as we’ve known each other, he should be able to recognize me no matter how I may appear.We both know how the other acts.And there are certain events that only he and I know about.With Talia giving me an opening to speak, as she did with Mum, convincing him shouldn’t be difficult.

  Energetic, competitive, caring, honest, hardworking, considerate, protective.

  Trustworthy.

  I’ve made my decision.He won’t hurt me, and he’ll keep my secrets.

  “I suppose I’ll expin matters for the third time. Nibi, could you wait here for a bit? I need you to stay out of sight.”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you. Now, why don’t you reintroduce me, sis? Put your hands out.”

  Flying up, I nd in Talia’s outstretched hands.This should be the most convenient way to have a conversation with Garen.

  “Shouldn’t I speak with him before you show yourself?”

  “No. This approach should be fine.”

  “Um, okay. Are you certain about this?”

  “Yes. Now we mustn’t keep him waiting any longer.”

  Talia frowns and hesitates a moment, then moves to the door and opens it, where we find Garen putting away the washbasin Talia lent him.He turns towards us upon hearing the door open, and his gaze then immediately drops to me as I hesitantly wave at him, not wanting to be confused for a doll again.Which is followed by the washbasin cttering to the floor.His face now seems locked in a mix of surprise and disbelief.Talia begins speaking as soon as the racket ends.

  “Garen, remember Mum’s stories about fairies? It would seem at least some of them are true. Sis met them in the forest, and now, well… she’s like this!”

  She holds me out with both hands.My turn now.

  “Hello, Garen. It would seem the fairies caught me.”

  “Sis!”

  “What? It remains true!”

  He’s still frozen in pce.I suppose I should continue speaking.

  “Garen, it’s me, Akari. The day I went missing in the forest, a swarm of fairies decided they would prefer some entertainment in the form of changing me into one of them. As you may imagine, it was some time before I could make my way back home. However, I believe I owe you an apology. There was so much to muddle through on my own and with my family that I was blinded to what might be happening outside of my immediate circle. I am incredibly sorry I didn’t meet with you sooner. I truly ought to have spoken to you. But also, you should know that the needle you gave me has proven to be useful. Thank you again for that.”

  Oh, he’s finally moving.

  “That, that’s a fairy? You’re holding a real fairy, Talia? I’m not dreaming?”

  “Yes, of course she’s real! I’ve seen her move things and eat and fly, and I can feel her standing on my hands!”

  “I thought them a myth. If they’re real, then maybe there’s still hope.”

  He seems to believe her.That’s a good start, at least.

  After muttering, Garen seems lost in thought, but once a short time passes, the quiet builds, and I try speaking again.

  “Garen, are you okay?”

  “No, I would say not. And apparently, because of you.”

  Ack!I suppose I deserved that.

  A few more moments pass, then, gathering himself together, he focuses on me.

  “Well then, the reason you know about the needle I gave Akari, I’m unsure of, but am very keen to find out. I gave that to her the day she disappeared and told no one else about it. However, one thing I am certain of. You are not Akari! How dare you pretend to be her! Where is she!? What did you do with her!?”

  Huh?