I watched the herbs flutter in the warm air with excitement. But my happiness was short-lived as my attention turned to the next challenge: water manipulation.

I knew that mastering this element was crucial to my success. So I walked to the nearby lake by the waterfall I discovered with Helga and sat on the bank, watching the water flow by.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, visualizing the movement of the water molecules. I tried to feel the coolness of the water and the gentle current against my skin.

I reached out with my mind and focused on a small section of the water, attempting to control its movement. At first, it didn't seem to be working, and I was worried that I had bitten off more than I could chew. But then I felt a shift in the water as if it were responding to my thoughts.

I slowly lifted my hand, and the water rose with it, creating a small stream of water that flowed through the air. I was amazed at what I had achieved, and I couldn't help but smile with excitement.

But then, as I tried to control the water more, I realized that it was much more difficult than controlling the air. The water was heavy and sluggish, and I could feel it resisting my efforts. I knew that I had to keep practicing if I wanted to master this element.

It was time to move on to the hard part. I plucked an ordinary leaf from one of the branches of a nearby tree and stared at it intently, imagining the water coursing through its veins.

"Water can be gas too, right?"

"So what if I injected energy into the water inside the leaf and forced it to become water vapor?"

It was a risky endeavor, but I was determined to try.

I focused all my attention on the leaf and sent a surge of energy through it. At first, the water inside resisted, and I could feel the strain on my mana. But I refused to give up and continued to pour more energy into the leaf.

Suddenly, the leaf glowed brightly, and then, to my horror, it turned into ash. I had put too much energy into it and destroyed the leaf!

I spent the rest of the day trying to perfect my mana control until I was too tired to continue and decided to call it a day.

As the sun began to set, I made my way back to my makeshift drying rack. The umbrifila were still hanging, and I knew that time was running out.

I gathered my herbs and stowed them again into the hollowed-out stump. My mind was a flurry of thoughts as I walked back home, pondering over the events of the day.

The next day, I returned to the forest, and I sat on the ground with a determined glint in my eye, staring at a new leaf intently.

I concentrated all my energy on the water inside it and focused on removing it from the leaf and transforming it into vapor. My mana moved through my body, and I felt the heat building up inside me.

I focused all my energy on the leaf and sent a surge of power through it. This time, there was resistance, but I was prepared for it. With a deep breath, I increased my efforts, pouring more mana into the leaf, until I felt a sudden release of pressure.

The water inside the leaf transformed into vapor, and I watched in awe as it slowly dissipated into the air.

I sat back, letting out a deep sigh of relief. The effort had been worth it, and I had made progress in my training. The possibilities of what I could do with my newfound abilities were endless, and I couldn't wait to explore them further.

I repeated the process on a few more leaves, each time honing my control and minimizing the amount of energy I had to inject. It was a delicate balance, but with practice, I was getting better.

So now is the time to try it for real. I carefully laid the herbs out in front of me and began to channel my magic.

As I focused on the delicate balance of heat and air, I slowly turned the water inside into vapor and drew it out of the herbs, then used the hot air to get rid of the moisture, allowing them to dry gently and naturally.

It took several hours, but finally, the herbs were perfectly dried, and I could store them in a cool, dark place for when I go back to the city.

With my heart racing with excitement, I realized that my adventures in the forest were only just beginning and that there was so much more to learn about magic.

***

It was now the height of spring, and the forest was full of life. After I managed to dry the first batch of herbs, I then spent the following weeks scouting the forest for more.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

With each subsequent batch of herbs, it became easier and easier, and my confidence grew. I moved with a practiced ease through the woods, my eyes scanning the ground for the telltale signs of the herbs I needed.

But I ran into another problem. As I searched for the elusive umbrifila, I realized with a sinking feeling that I had already collected all that grew nearby.

As I pondered my current predicament, Konrad's tenth birthday approached, and it was time for him to leave for the city.

He would train to become a carpenter under the watchful eye of my uncle, and it would be a long time before we would see him again.

The day before his departure, we gathered for a farewell dinner. My mother cooked up a hearty meal that we all savored. We ate, drank, and laughed long into the night.

The celebration was a welcome respite from my worries about the lack of umbrifila, and I allowed myself to forget my troubles, if only for a moment.

He left early in the morning with our father. I asked if I could go too, in the faint hope that I could manage to sell my growing stockpile of herbs, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Since my father will only escort him to the city and will be coming straight back, he will have to move quickly, and thus, I will only slow him down. Because I can't exactly tell him why I'm so eager to go there, I have to wait until the market in the autumn.

However, it had a bright side. I could use their absence to go on an even longer expedition into the forest to try to find more herbs; I've managed to gather quite a pile so far, but who in their right mind would turn away more money?

Besides, there isn't anything else I need to do at the moment, so why not?

The forest loomed before me as I set out, a vast and ancient expanse of trees that seemed to stretch on forever.

The ground was a carpet of fallen leaves and moss. As I walked deeper into the forest, I felt unease creeping up on me. The once lush greenery that surrounded me had now turned into a twisted and eerie landscape.

But I was determined to continue my search for more herbs. The thought of the coins that I could earn kept me motivated, and I pushed forward despite the unnerving surroundings.

The air became heavy, and I could barely see the path in front of me. But I pressed on, my eyes scanning the ground for any sign of the herbs that I sought. Every rustle of leaves and every snap of a twig made me jump with fear. I knew that I wasn't alone in the forest.

I still didn't discover any umbrifila, even after walking for what seemed like hours. While I was pondering whether I should abandon my search and return home, I heard a deep growl coming from up ahead.

My heart raced in my chest as I realized that I had stumbled upon something dangerous. I quickly hid behind a nearby tree, peering out to see what was making the noise.

There, in front of me, stood a massive bear-like creature with fur as black as coal. Its eyes glowed red in the darkness, and its teeth were as long as my hand. It sniffed the air, and I could see the muscles in its body tensing up, ready to attack.

I stumbled back a few steps while thinking about how to escape this predicament.

"RAAAAAH!"

I wasn't given any time to think as the bear roared furiously and jumped straight at me. I guess I infringed on his territory.

So, fight it is!

The creature charged at me with incredible speed, and I quickly fired my [Stone Bullet] at it.

The pebble hit the bear's chest, but it barely even flinched, and there wasn't even a dent in his fur.

"He's like a tank, dammit!" I exclaimed, feeling frustrated.

I had only five pebbles with me since I never expected such a fight. The creature swiped at me with its massive paw, and I barely managed to dodge in time and hide behind a tree.

*CRASH!*

The tree snapped in half like a toothpick, and I stumbled back, feeling terrified by its strength.

I knew that I had to act fast. I fumbled while I aimed my gun at it, my fingers shaking. With a quick breath, I raised my hand and released my pebbles one by one, while increasing their speed as much as I could.

The first pebble hit him, and at last, there was damage; then the second and finally the third pebble hit him and tore his paw straight out of his body, but it didn't stop him; it only made him even angrier, and he charged at me again.

"RAAAAAH!"

I was down to my last pebble; it was now or never, so I quickly decided to throw away my caution and put my full power into this last shot.

The air started to swirl around me while my surroundings buzzed with static electricity.

*BANG!*

The pebble flew out at tremendous speed, like a shot from a canon. My poor little gun shattered in my hands. But it was all worth it because, in a split second, it hit the creature square in the chest.

*BOOOOM!*

The bear literally exploded, and chunks of flesh and blood rained all over the place, and the ground turned crimson red. I was hit with the aftershock of the explosion and rolled helplessly on the ground.

I was left in a sorry state, my body battered and broken. My forehead was bleeding from shrapnel that hit me, and my clothes were stained with blood, both mine and the beast.

I had underestimated the monster, thinking I could defeat it easily, and it had nearly cost me my life.

I tore my shirt to create a provisional bandage and tied it around my head to stop the bleeding. My fingers shook as I worked, adrenaline still pumping through my veins. I could hear the distant howls of other creatures, drawn by the scent of blood. I needed to get out of there.

As I stumbled away, I turned and saw a glint in the blood-soaked ground. Curiosity got the better of me, and I walked over to investigate.

It was a small, red-tinted gem, covered in blood and grime. Hmm, this must come from the bear; it reminds me of something similar to a monster's core.

Quickly, I grabbed a few leaves and cleaned the gem as best I could. I stashed it in my pocket, thinking that it might be worth something at the market. Then I turned and ran as fast as I could.

It took me hours to make my way back to the waterfall near the edge of the forest. I was exhausted and in pain, but I knew I had to clean myself and my clothes before I could return home. I built a small fire and set my clothes out to dry, wincing as I peeled them off my battered skin.

I then sat down by the fire and sighed with relief that I had survived. I knew I could defeat that monster, but all it would take would be one hit, and I would be dead, and nobody would ever find my body.

I shivered at such a thought and decided in the future to not attempt fate and stick close to our house.

As the sun began to set, I gathered my clothes and limped back home.

It was a bittersweet victory, one that showed me just how weak I was in this world. I needed to train more to become stronger and more skilled if I was going to stand a chance here.