Another sunny day. Another light breeze tickled my cheeks. Another failed effort at conjuring magic.

“Why won’t this work?” I grumbled as I looked down at my hands that lay in my crossed legs. The comfortable grass did little to alleviate my irritation. I waved my hands as I had done that day in Shian’s palace but the sparkles didn’t pop out. “Come on. You’ve done it before. Why not now?”

Arian came up to me with a tray and a plate of little cakes. She knelt in front of me and set the tray down. “Perhaps you have not found the purpose to your magic.”

I blinked at her. “What do you mean?”

She bowed her head and shrugged. “It is only something my father said as he caught my brother his magic.” A smile danced across her lips. “My brother is rather, well, unfocused in his studies. He would always rather go out and play among the forests than sit and meditate. When he did try to train nothing would come out and he gave up altogether.”

“So how’d your dad fix that?” I wondered.

She set her hands on top of each other over her bent knees and chuckled. “Well, first he tried beating him.”

My face drooped. “And then?”

“Then he tried sealing him in the caves but he escaped.”

“Does this story have a happy ending?” I wondered.

Her eyes danced with mirth at the recollection of the fond memories. “Oh, yes. You see, our father realized that my brother needed a purpose for his magic. My brother had no use for magic when he could use his strength to master anyone who tried to fight him, even without being able to transform, so one day our father challenged him to a fight.”

“And?”

She chuckled. “My brother lost very badly. He swore he would best our father in the next bout and my father told him he would never win without magic. My brother challenged my father then and there to a rematch and during the sparring they grew rather violent.” I could just imagine two burly men jousting it out with fists. “My brother was knocked down and my father stood over him to give the winning blow when my brother suddenly transformed.”

“And won?” I guessed.

Arian burst out laughing and shook her head. “Oh, no. Our father thrashed him but my brother could now see the usefulness of his magic and he began his magic training in earnest. Now he is strong enough to almost overcome our father.”

“Usefulness,” I murmured as I looked down at the platter.

Arian noticed where my attention lay and held up the plate. “Would you like some? I just fetched them from the kitchen.”

“What are they?” I asked her as I plucked one from the stack and turned it over in front of my face.

“A sweet cake filled with fruits. I made them myself.”

I stiffened and my eyes lit up as a thought struck me. “That’s it!” I exclaimed as I jumped to my feet.

Arian climbed up after me with a confused expression on her face. “What is?”

I grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the archway. “Maybe I might have found out how I can use my magic!”

We hurried through the streets, catching the attention of many along the way. Most were curious, some snobbish, and others even followed us a short distance before thinking better of it. We passed a few children who stared at us with even greater curiosity before scampering away.

We reached the kitchen and I was glad to find it was empty. I released my friend and hurried over to one of the workstations. All manner of bowls, spoons, spatulas, and more were to be found and I quickly dug out a large bowl and some measuring spoons. I stood over all the supplies and completely ignored them as I focused all my attention on my hands which I held up in front of me.

“Alright, magic, we don’t know each other very well, but you and I both know this is what I want to do.” I wiggled my fingers and waited for that barely familiar spark of warmth that I’d felt that one day. “Come on. I know you can do this. Just work with me this once, please?”

My eyes lit up as a soft twinkle of silver sparkles floated out of my fingertips.

Arian gasped. “You can conjure magic!”

“Let’s hope it’s the right kind,” I replied as I positioned my hands as I had seen the cooks do. I focused all my thoughts on one single, familiar, and delicious object and moved my hands in the same smooth motion.

My silver magic sparkled brighter and danced off my fingers in transparent threads. The wisps danced about one another and sparkled like the stars, crafting something in the very center of their dance. A thin rectangular brown bar appeared in front of me. My heart pounded in my chest as I held out my hands with my palms up. The light faded and the bar dropped into my waiting palms.

Stolen novel; please report.

Arian leaned in and studied my creation. “It smells sweet. Is it a treat of some kind?”

I smiled as I brushed my hand over the top of the bar. “Not quite the kind you’re thinking about but you’ll see. We just need a few other ingredients to help it taste even better.” I paused and furrowed my brow. “At least, I hope so.”

I snapped off one of the sharp corners and tossed the piece into my mouth. The bit melted in my mouth and filled it with the sweet familiar flavor I didn’t realize I’d missed so much.

“Is it good?” Arian asked me.

“It’s perfect,” I assured her.

I broke the bar into chunks over the bowl while Arian followed my directions. She fetched the rest of the ingredients which I mixed into a wet mixture and poured into a pan. The wood-heated oven was readied by Arian and I slid the pan inside before closing the door. I stepped back with a smile on my face.

In no time at all, the kitchen was filled with the scent of brownies. Arian’s wide eyes showed me her eagerness and I couldn’t help but peek into the oven more times than should have. Finally, I pulled out the oven rack and dipped a knife into the mixture. It came out clean. A perfect success.

I drew out the pan and set it on the counter to cool. The sweet aroma of chocolate wafted across our noses and out the open windows.

Arian stretched her neck over the pan and studied the volcanic surface. “What is it?”

“It’s called brownies,” I told her as I picked up a knife and began cutting the hunk into small squares. “It’s a, um, delicacy where I’m from.” I lifted two squares out of the whole and set them on a pair of napkins set out on the table. Steam rose from them and I was glad to see the inside was perfectly set.

I handed her one of the cooled treats and took up the other for myself. Arian examined the dark interior with some trepidation. I had my misgivings but one bite told me all would be well. “Try it,” I encouraged her through a mouthful of the treat.

Arian nodded and took a dainty bite. Her eyes lit up and she leaned back to stare incredulously at the food. “This is delicious!”

I swallowed hard and grinned. “We made a perfect batch.”

She shook her head. “I only helped you find the ingredients. It was you who cooked it.”

I swept an arm over the large room filled as it was with all manner of ingredients. “Without you, it would’ve taken me weeks to find everything I needed. We made a good team and the brownie shows that.”

She blushed and nibbled some more on the brownie. That is until she noticed me take another big bite. She dove in and soon both of us were left with empty napkins. Her hungry eyes fell on the remainder of the goodies.

Any plans she had for the brownies, however, were interrupted by a soft giggle. We both froze before we whipped our heads to the nearest window. A few figures ducked out of sight and I heard more giggling.

Arian and I glanced at each other and both smiled. I pressed a finger to my lips before I tiptoed over to the window.

“Gotcha!” I shouted as I flung myself over the sill.

High-pitched screams erupted from the dozen or so kids who hid themselves beneath the window. They scattered in all directions trying to find a new hiding spot.

I laughed and beckoned to them with my hand. “Come on back. We’re not mad at you.”

The kids who had managed to find a hiding spot peeked out. Most had only been able to crash onto the grass outside the window. They sat up and stared at us with wide eyes.

The boy I’d interacted with before slipped from behind a nearby tree and marched over as if he’d never been hiding. “We smelled something funny and thought the kitchen was on fire.”

A stifled snort escaped me. “Does it smell that bad?”

His imperious expression softened and he bit his lower lip. “Well, it-”

“It smells yummy!” the girl whom I’d rescued a few days before spoke up. She scurried up to the window and placed her tiny hands against the wall under the window. Her big eyes stared pleadingly up at me. “Can I have some?”

I laughed and nodded. “You can all have some but you have to come inside for it.”

And thus began a stampede.