Jason and Annabelle strolled up a hill, the cool breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers. From the top, the landscape unfolded before them—endless trees, birds soaring across a fiery sunset sky.
She turned to him, curiosity lighting up her features. "So, have you ever tried flying before?"
Jason rubbed the back of his neck, a slight blush creeping across his cheeks. "I've tried… but it always ends horribly. These days, I just stick to jumping really high."
Annabelle chuckled and conjured a gentle gust as she lifted herself gracefully off the ground. "The yellow elementiel doesn't have natural flight like the others. So, I just manipulate the wind around me to keep me in the air."
Jason smiled at her ingenuity. "That has always amazed me. Although… it's kind of weird the gods didn't just grant you flight outright."
Annabelle shrugged midair, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Who knows? Maybe they wanted to test our creativity."
She floated closer and pointed a finger at him. "From now on, you'll address me as… Teacher!"
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that's not happening."
Laughing, Annabelle ascended higher. "Suit yourself, my stubborn student. Now, try to keep up!"
With that, she darted into the sky, a blur against the fading light. Jason clenched his fists, determination igniting in his chest.
He leapt after her, bounding through the air with impressive force, but Annabelle's laughter echoed above him.
"Come on, delivery boy! Is that all you've got?!"
Jason muttered under his breath, "This is humiliating."
On his next jump, Annabelle swooped down and grabbed his arm, pulling him higher into the air.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" Jason shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
Ignoring his protests, she carried him above the clouds, where the golden light of the evening sun bathed them in warmth. Jason froze, looking down at the world far below. "I can't do this! I'm terrified!"
Annabelle smiled, her eyes kind but firm. "That's good."
"What do you mean, that's good?! What are you…"
She placed a hand on his chest. "Jason, be free."
Before he could speak, she let go, and he began to plummet.
"Hey!!!"
As the wind roared around him, Jason flailed, desperately trying to steady himself. Then he spotted an eagle, soaring effortlessly nearby, its wings stretched wide, catching the currents.
"Be free…" he whispered, closing his eyes.
He stopped fighting. His body relaxed, his heartbeat slowed, and he felt the air shift around him. Jason opened his eyes, and for the first time, he wasn't falling—he was gliding.
A grin spread across his face. "I'm… I'm doing it! I'm actually flying!"
He surged forward, only to crash into a grove of trees. He emerged, swatting at bees now angrily buzzing around his face. From above, Annabelle laughed uncontrollably.
Jason shook off the mishap, wiping his face clean, and shot back into the sky. He joined her above the clouds, where the light painted their surroundings in hues of gold and pink.
The two began circling each other, their laughter mingling with the wind. Their smile softened as they looked at each other, admiration flickering in their eyes. Without a word, she stretched her arms wide and let herself fall backward through the air.
Jason paused, watching her descend. The sight of her falling so freely, so fearlessly, struck a chord in him. He took a moment to admire the sunlight streaming through the clouds, the serenity of the moment, before diving after her.
As he caught up, Annabelle twirled toward him, grabbing his hands. She spun them both around, her laughter infectious. Jason found himself laughing too, the sound surprising him with its unrestrained joy.
Their momentum slowed, and they hovered side by side, the wind rushing past them. Jason grinned, his confidence growing. Without warning, he surged forward, leaving Annabelle behind in a streak of golden light.
She watched him go, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Not bad," she murmured, before chasing after him.
Jason and Annabelle landed on a tall, narrow mountain that jutted out of the ocean. Jason touched down unsteadily, his knees wobbling as he tried to maintain balance.
"Well," he muttered, brushing off his shirt, "I seriously need to work on my landings."
Annabelle chuckled, effortlessly alighting next to him. "Yeah, you definitely do," she teased. "But for your first flight, not bad at all."
They both turned their gaze toward the horizon. The sun was dipping low, casting fiery streaks of red and gold across the sky.
"It's amazing," Jason said softly, his voice filled with wonder.
Annabelle nodded. "Yeah, it really is."
Jason leaned forward slightly, his eyes focused on the sunlight. "I mean, just look at it," he mused. "The way the light pierces through the clouds, the reflection on the water. It's funny how much beauty we miss when we don't stop and… look."
Annabelle glanced at him, a playful smile curling her lips. "Oh, my," she teased, covering her mouth in mock surprise. "I didn't know you were such an observer."
Jason flushed, scratching the back of his head as he looked away. "Well… not exactly."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the wind whispering gently around them. Annabelle broke the quiet, raising her hand to let the breeze play through her fingers. "Jason… I'm in love."
Jason blinked and turned to her, his brows raising in surprise. "Oh, I see. Connor's a good guy."
Annabelle froze, her expression shifting to one of sheer bewilderment. "Eh?"
"I mean, you and Connor are…"
Both of them stared at each other, confusion mirrored on their faces. "Eh?"
Annabelle's face turned red as she covered her mouth. "Wait. You actually thought we were…?"
Jason's eyes widened. "Wait! You're not?!"
As the awkward moment passed, Jason quickly bowed his head. "I apologize," he said earnestly.
Annabelle waved it off with a laugh. "It's okay. You may rise."
Her gaze grew distant as she looked out over the ocean. "Connor's like… a big brother to me," she said quietly. "After my father died, he's been there for me, looking out for me, teaching me everything I know."
Jason nodded, his expression softening. "It's nice that you have someone like him in your life. Connor really cares about people."
Annabelle's smile deepened. "He does. When we traveled, he'd stop to help anyone who needed it, no matter how small the task. That's just who he is."
They fell silent again, the weight of her words settling between them. Finally, Jason broke the quiet. "So… what did you mean when you said you were in love?"
Annabelle turned to him, studying his face for a moment before looking skyward. "I want to be free. Just like the wind."
"The wind goes wherever it wants, without a care in the world. When I think of true freedom, I think of the wind."
She glanced at him and continued, "When I told you to 'be free,' I meant that you should accept your fears and never let them hold you back."
"Think of it like a mountain. No matter how hard the wind blows, it can't move the mountain. So the wind doesn't fight it—it just moves around it."
Jason watched her intently, her words resonating deep within him.
Annabelle smiled gently. "So, yeah. I'm in love with the wind."
Jason stared at her, her words stirring memories of someone else. Stacey's face flickered in his mind, her laughter and bright eyes as vivid as if she were standing before him.
Annabelle noticed his distant expression. "Is something wrong?"
Jason blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Oh, no… It's just… you remind me of someone I used to know."
Jason hesitated, then looked down at his hands. "Stacey. She was… different. When she first came into my life, I found it very hard to accept her. She was so strange, so… vibrant. But over time, I started to admire her. She had this incredible talent for music and—"
He paused, his voice faltering. Annabelle's gaze turned gentle. "Was?"
Jason's jaw tightened, and he nodded. "Yeah. She was… attacked by a dragon. I wasn't strong enough to protect her. Even now, I can't stop blaming myself."
Annabelle reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That's why you want to get stronger, isn't it? To stop others from getting hurt like she did. You feel like, because of your powers, you don't have an excuse to fail."
Jason's lips curved into a small, bittersweet smile. "Yeah. Exactly."
They sat quietly, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below filling the silence.
Jason broke the quiet with a sheepish laugh. "Hey. Thanks for everything, Teacher."
Annabelle arched an eyebrow before chuckling. "Please. Call me Anna."
Jason grinned, and they exchanged a warm smile before a voice interrupted them.
"Hey, you two!"
Both startled, they turned to see Connor landing gracefully behind them.
"Connor!" Jason exclaimed. "Check this out!"
He launched himself into the air, performing a series of loops. Connor sat down beside Anna, shaking his head with a smile. "Careful now!"
Connor smiled. "Nice work, baby bird. He's getting better."
Anna smiles confidently. "Of course. I'm the best, after all. Her eyes followed Jason, her expression thoughtful. "His energy… it's interesting."
Connor nodded. "Yeah, it's way higher than normal. That would explain why he learns so quickly."
Jason landed in front of them, grinning. "What are you two talking about?"
Connor waved him off. "Oh, nothing. Let's head back. It's getting late."
Together, they flew toward the kingdom, the fiery glow of the setting sun illuminating their path.
As they stepped into the bakery, they saw Grandpa Mark standing behind the counter, his hands dusted with flour, a welcoming smile spreading across his face.
"Well, how was training?" he asked, his voice hearty and full of curiosity.
Jason beamed as he stepped forward. "It was amazing, Grandpa! I learned how to fly!"
Grandpa Mark's eyes widened in delight, and he placed his strong hands on Jason's shoulders. "Incredible, kiddo! Finally, no more embarrassing falls, eh?"
Jason's cheeks flushed as he sputtered, "Grandpa!"
Laughter erupted in the room, with Connor and Anna joining in. Jason crossed his arms, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips despite his embarrassment.
Once the laughter subsided, Grandpa Mark's expression shifted, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a more serious air. "Now that you're all here," he began, wiping his hands on a towel, "a knight stopped by a little while ago. He said the commander wishes to see you tomorrow."
The room grew quiet, the lighthearted mood replaced by a sense of intrigue.
Connor stepped forward, his tone calm but probing. "Did the knight say why?"
Grandpa Mark shook his head, his brow furrowing slightly. "He didn't share much. But he made it clear that the matter is… very serious."
The weight of his words hung in the air, each of them exchanging glances. Jason's fists clenched lightly, his mind racing with possibilities.