It was the middle of the night. The only sounds coming from the outside world were of the owl hooting, and the crickets chirping. But inside her mind, it was utter chaos.

As I sat for the fifth time to complete my magic trick, I prayed that I wouldn't get disturbed anymore. The gentle fire that I had built from my powers was, fortunately, still glowing consistently. The little glow increased and became larger as the chants emanating from my mouth increased, and started to glow a beautiful, purplish light, just how I wanted it.

I quickly, but precisely, poured all the other ingredients into the sacred fire, and it began burning brighter than before. The purple fire darkened and now, there were flames of violet mixed with blue, but the fire still burned brightly and wonderfully, bringing a huge smile to my face.

But, as soon as I was about to chant my last lines, and finish the charm so that it could work properly, a sudden interference ruined it all.

This small creature ran havoc over my site of practicing magic in the woods, and over my little wooden hut too. Flapping its wings all about, screeching noisily into my ear, and ruining every last bit of my ingredients left, so that I couldn't perform anymore, this creature looked like it came here with a purpose and was only working towards it.

I screamed in agony and pain over my hard work being reduced to dust in a matter of minutes, and lunged for the petty creature, but it was smarter and faster than me. It worked swiftly, whereas I, struggled to even foresee its moves until it dropped blood over the sacred fire, and corrupted it. The fire rose to a height that was unacceptable while the creature stood in the distance and watched merrily, but then, the rebellious flames took a turn and flew straight toward where the creature was seated.

Its eyes widened considerably, and I could hear it shaking in its boots, but it still wanted to fight and took off for its final destination. But this fire was a sacred one, which shouldn't be tampered with under any circumstances, and the fool had only chosen its doom by contaminating it. The fire chased it down relentlessly, before engulfing it in one go. The creature let out a final shriek before its soul left its body, but the flying ashes from its body too, were detrimental to me.

They still didn't leave me alone and turned towards my hut instead, where my little sister lay all alone. I was too far from the hut to reach there in time, and by the time I finally got there, I was greeted by a damaged hut and a dead sister.

The only two things that I treasured in my life – my sister, and my magic – just blew up in smoke right in front of me.

And I couldn't do anything about it.