Volume 1 Chapter 4 - The Wind and the Eye of Truth
A soft breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers across the forest floor. Cindy hovered lazily near the stream, her wings glimmering in the sunlight.
The days had begun to fall into a rhythm—wake up with the dawn, drink nectar, explore, and rest under a leaf beside Puff. For the first time since her reincarnation, the forest felt like home.
Today, however, she wanted to experiment.
Her wings tingled faintly with mana—ever since she had unlocked her new ability, Gentle Breeze, she could feel the air differently. It wasn't just wind anymore. It was something alive, something she could touch.
"All right," she whispered. "Let's see how this works."
She closed her eyes and flapped her wings slowly. The air responded immediately, swirling softly around her. Leaves rustled in unison, and nearby petals trembled under her control. She focused on a dandelion puff across the stream and imagined the wind lifting it.
A light gust swept through, carrying the tiny seeds into the sky. They floated upward in graceful spirals, catching the sunlight like drifting stars.
Cindy gasped. "It worked!"
Puff, who had been dozing nearby, raised its head and tilted its ears curiously. Cindy laughed and flew around in excitement, sending gentle breezes that danced between the trees.
She could feel it—mana flow, subtle but real, coursing through her wings.
"This power... it's so calm," she murmured. "Like the wind's heartbeat."
For a few more minutes, she played—lifting petals, parting blades of grass, and even stirring the surface of the stream into ripples. Her control grew steadier, her movements smoother.
And then, without warning—
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[System Notice]
Condition met: Successful manipulation of elemental mana (Wind).
Skill unlocked: Appraisal
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A translucent window shimmered before her eyes, its letters glowing softly in midair.
Cindy froze midair. "Whoa... it's happening again."
The glowing text hovered just in front of her face—something only she could see.
"Appraisal?" she read aloud. "Like... identification in games?"
She blinked, and another message appeared.
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[Appraisal]: Allows the user to view information, names, and hidden traits of beings or objects within sight. Accuracy increases with level and mana stability.
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Her wings fluttered nervously. "That sounds... useful!"
Excited, she turned toward Puff, who was nibbling on a leaf. "Let's try this out."
She focused her gaze and whispered, "Appraisal."
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[Target: Spirit-Horn Rabbit (Young)]
Race: Lesser Beast (Spirit Type)
Level: 3
Affinity: Earth
Temperament: Gentle / Curious
Note: Often companions to low-tier forest spirits. Feeds on mana-rich flora.
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Cindy blinked in amazement. "So that's what you are! A Spirit-Horn Rabbit... and gentle, huh?"
Puff blinked back at her with wide eyes, tilting its head as if wondering what she was so happy about. Cindy giggled. "Don't worry, I'm not judging you. You're adorable."
Curious, she looked at the flowers nearby.
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[Spirit Blossom]
Type: Mana Flora
Effect: Restores small amounts of mana when consumed by magical creatures.
Warning: Overconsumption may attract high-level predators.
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Cindy froze. "Wait—what?"
Her eyes darted to the half-eaten flower she'd been sipping from earlier.
"Oh great... so I've been basically eating magical bait this whole time."
She laughed nervously and fluttered her wings. "Well, at least now I know what not to eat too much of."
Still, a sense of awe filled her chest. This "Appraisal" skill wasn't just useful—it was knowledge. And knowledge meant survival.
She looked at her reflection in the stream again. Her blue and gold wings glimmered brighter than before, the faint golden light inside pulsing softly like a heartbeat.
"Appraisal, Gentle Breeze... little by little, I'm learning how to live here."
Above her, the wind stirred once more, as if whispering encouragement.
She smiled. "All right, world. Keep your monsters and your magic. I'll figure you out one skill at a time."
As the last rays of sunset fell upon the forest, the tiny butterfly fluttered gracefully through the air, carrying a new spark of confidence within her wings—
for now, she could not only feel the wind...
she could see the truth.