Nymphix

Chapter Six

Even after Katerina returned to reality, they sat in a comfortable silence for a while before Mire abruptly stood up and looked down at her.

“Come with me”

Katerina didn’t even have time to contemplate as Mire gave her a stern look before walking towards the back door. She stood up slowly, not wanting to stumble and fall again, but her legs were steady and she hurried to follow Mire as he opened the door that was camouflaged against the back wall of the gym. Katerina’s eyes were blinded for a moment as they stepped out onto a length of wild grass that looked as if it hadn’t been cut for a couple of years at the least. Wading through the outstretched grass, Katerina looked up to see a strangely determined look on Mire’s face. The grass merged so seamlessly with the forest surrounding the school that Katerina didn’t even realise that they has entered the forest until the sunlight above was blocked by the limbs of trees that grew more gnarled and large the further they walked. The ground went from grass, to solid dirt, to decomposed leaves and small twigs. The trees above them grew so heavy with leaves that the only sunlight shone in small spotlights illuminating particular patches of the ground. Finally Mire stopped at a particularly large tree that commanded a large spot of sunlight to surround it. It had no leaves, only gnarled branches that extended from a trunk that looked to complex and knotted, it almost seemed to form a pattern. One branch in particular had grown outwards instead of upwards, as if extending a hand in welcoming.

“We’re going to become familiar with that wild magic of yours.” Katerina wondered why they had to discover it at this particular tree in the middle of the woods, but kept her mouth shut and nodded.

“Okay now step back to that point over there” Mire pointed to a small shrub further away from the tree and Katerina obeyed silently.

“Now, I want you to hit that small branch, and only that branch” He pointed up to a small protruding twig that seemed so small and out of place amongst the rest of the overgrown branches.

Katerina was about to protest but Mire looked at her encouragingly, with something else in his face that he seemed to be trying to mask. Anticipation? Curiosity? It was only a small twig Katerina thought to herself, and so she fired off a small ball of magic with ease and let it strike the twig. A small crack sounded and the twig fluttered down to the ground.

“Excellent aim.” He smiled as if he had no doubt Katerina would be able to do that.

“Now let’s see how powerful you are. I want you to knock the tree down.” Katerina faltered, her mind racing with...what? Disbelief? Anger?

“I-I can’t” Mire took a step forward

“I’m sure you can Kat, I’ve seen you-“

“No I know I can, I mean I won’t.” A troubled look crossed Mire’s face

“Why not? We’re in a forest full of trees. One tree gone won’t make a difference”

Katerina stopped at that. He was right, there were perhaps thousands more trees, but there was also something special about this one. She couldn’t place it.

“Because... because it’s still a living creature and...” Katerina was furious that Mire would suggest such a thing, yet she had no idea why. Why couldn’t she cut down one tree? Was she weak? Scared? She looked back up at Mire expecting a look of disappointment, instead he was grinning again.

“Now see Kat, if you were a monster you would have struck that tree down without hesitation.” Katerina’s breath released all at once as if she had had the wind knocked out of her. This was all a stupid game to show that Katerina had a conscience? Still, Katerina couldn’t help but feel relieved at this small sliver or reassurance. She was not a monster.