Chapter 13: change

A few days passed after Andy passed the thorn's ridiculous test. The forest feels more forest and alive nowadays. And though he wasn't ready to declare himself a wisp god he was happy he passed the test.

But the teasing from lira only intensified as days went by. Every time Andy tried anything new or at least had some improvement in his magic she would be there waiting for a chance to tease like a mischievous fox.

While in the morning Andy was trying to make another gust of wind the lira was sitting and enjoying the breeze "Nice morning breeze there wisp" she said "Shame the wind isn't circular i think you're still not ready to be called a wisp god."

Andy's hair is glowing magically although he doesn't have any hair. He shoots her a gaze saying "You know if you keep making fun of me like this, someday I'll accidentally blow you away next time maybe we won't find you"

Lira rolled her eyes, not a bit intimidated "Uh huh sure. Blow me away I would also like to see how you will blow me away with that tiny gust of yours. You can barely blow your hair uh, sorry you don't have any hair.

Andy sighed defeated, rubbing his round template "If I was not trying to control my powers you would have blown away long ago."

Lira floating lazily beside Andy said with her light voice a bit teasing. "are you trying to be cute? But even now I can't see any of your wisp-god potential. I mean you have the glow like others and all, but where is the power and where is the finesse?"

"finesse?" Andy huffed, looked up in the sky and then looked at her saying "What you, my magical coach?"

She looked at him and smiled "If I were your coach, you would probably be more competent and I would have been harsher than I am now"

Andy shot a glance at her as he tried to hold back his smirk "Yeah, well, at least I am not stuck as some sarcastic forest spirit I am glad"

The smile on Lira's face flattered just for a second, and looked at her he thought he saw something in her eyes, like they were dimmed for a second, maybe even a little tired. But before Andy could do too much about it the lira turned back to her usual self, hovering just out of his reach and grinning like she owned this forest.

"Just don't forget," Lira continued as she cleared her throat. Flicking her hair behind his ear trying to look good. "You are not some legendary god yet. Maybe one day you stop being a disaster and learn to control magic perfectly. We will talk about your wisp godhood."

"Now I am starting to think that you enjoy making fun of me," Andy muttered, while there was a little smile at the corner of his mouth despite his best efforts to cover it with an annoyed expression.

"Of course I like it", she said with a wink at him "You are way more funny to mess with. Besides, I am just helping you out. If you can't even take a little teasing from me, how can you survive in the real world? You have to have thick skin if you are planning to leave the forest anytime soon."

Andy sighed dramatically, feeling the weight of Liras' words. "All alright. Alright. I get it. I need to be tough right now. I am not some delicate flower who needs to be coddled."

Lira snorted, clearly amused by him "You delicate you are more like a gust of wind that can't even manage to stay in one place long enough to blow a candle out.

"Very funny" Andy crumbled.

For a moment the teasing of both stopped and Lira floated down beside him her expression was still the same playful one but there was something different like something soft and genuine.

"Look, it's not that I am saying you are hopeless," she said her voice quieter now. " You have got potential I admit it and you just need to …. Figure it out. You know it is not about being perfect all the time. It's about finding your path or your way."

Andy looked at her for a few seconds and for the first time, he saw the weight of something like truth or serious and genuine. She wasn't just saying this to him to make him annoyed. There is more to this. Maybe it was the responsibility she carried or the fact that despite her reluctance. She wanted to leave the forest, she was stuck in the same forest surrounded by the same trees. Andy wasn't sure but he wanted to know more about her.

"Thanks, lira." He said after a moment, his tone softer than usual.

She gave him a sideways glance and her expression returned to normal " I don't know you had this side in you to say something serious. Guess I'll have to start taking you seriously from now on.

Andy rolled his eyes. "Don't push it."

With that, teasing begins again, lighter and more playful and fun this time. But for some reason Andy couldn't help but feel like something important had changed. Maybe Lira wasn't just a sarcastic forest spirit after all. Maybe there was more to her than the playful teasing she let everyone see.

As they walked further into the forest, Andy's mind began to wonder about the relationship he had with Lira. They were opposite in many ways, and got… They are good together. Maybe this is what they call to grow and change together. Maybe Lira was teaching him more than just how to be a wisp.

As they heard a clear area, liras' voice interrupted.

"You know," she said, "if you want to prove yourself, you should try to make that gust a little stronger next time rather than a cyclone. Just to show me how wrong I am about your godhood.

Andy looked at her smiling "Yeah? Well, maybe I will blow your hair straight out of your head if you keep it up."

"Oh, please," she said with a laugh, *I dare you."

They both laughed as the forest continued to stretch out before then, the trees are now more like companions on their journey rather than just backdrop for their antics. Andy wasn't sure where this was all going, but with Lira at his side he felt they would figure it out at least that's what he thought.