Misunderstanding

"If you want, we can switch places anytime. I would give everything I have to have these wings." Ash retorted, stretching his gray wings until they touched Laura's, comparing the two with sadness.

Certainly, Ash's wings were larger, stronger, faster, and the flames they contained were more powerful, but all he could see was the stigma that marked him throughout his life and would follow him to death.

"Um, sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I just thought it would be cool to be so good at magic." Laura apologized hastily, thinking she might have offended Ash or triggered some trauma, but he just shook his head.

"I'm not upset, relax. I'm just not used to measuring my words when I talk to people. My feathers have been like this since I was born, and I've had more than enough time to lament and decide to do something about it." Ash spoke with a shrug.