‘Daddy, where are you going?’ A little girl wearing a colourful, lively tunic approached her father, as he was leaving the house.

‘A little surprise for Finn, please don’t tell him yet!’ He smiled. Giah always managed to brighten up his mood.

‘Will you get something for me too? Please?’ Giah looked at her father with her bright, clear, pleading eyes, waiting for his reaction. No father could resist such a sincere request. Definitely not Faris. And he loved his children very much. 

‘I’ll think about it, if you behave,’ he added with a surrendering sigh. 

‘Yay, I love you, daddy!’ She hugged him tightly and ran off. Still smiling, Faris went out the door. He was heading downtown, as the only store fitting his needs was located there. Luckily, it was a short trip. 

The walls of the aforementioned store were covered in cheery childlike drawings of people, stars and moons. Clumsy as they were, they still seemed to bring an awkward feeling of unreasonable joy to the young father’s heart. Upon entering the building, he was greeted by a lady of age with plump cheeks and a gentle, understanding smile.

‘What can I help you with?’ She asked Faris, as he was looking around.

‘I need unmixed dough components for material shifting. My son is turning four.’ Faris carefully surveyed the area while explaining the purpose of his visit.

‘Say no more! I have just the thing for you,’ she said, and hurried to a room behind the counter. A minute later, she came back holding two packages with grey powder. ‘One part of each with two parts water, mix carefully and leave it overnight. I put the instruction with it just in case you forget anything.’ She chuckled and added, ‘That would be two fiolines.’

Faris took two tiny deep violet hexagonal prisms out of his purse and bowed to the lady.

‘Thank you very much. I shall take my leave,’ he was already at the door as a thought flashed in his mind. ‘Excuse me, do you have anything of interest for a girl of eight?’

‘Hmm… Not sure if I can help you, but there is a confectionery of a very high quality further down the road, you might even want to treat yourself, too.’ She showed him the place on the map, then saw him out.

The visit to the confectionery was fruitful, and Faris headed back, carrying bags full of treats. He was met with cheerful squeals and laughter, that always felt like home. After the children ran off with sweets, Faris’ wife came out of the living room.

‘Did you get the powder?’ She asked.

‘Yes, I did. Here.’ He gave her two bags and added, ‘One part of each with…’

‘With two parts water, mix, then leave for at least eight hours, yes, yes. It’s not my first time doing this, but thank you very much anyway.’ With that she left to start preparation.

Faris was left to his own thoughts. His son was about to learn the very first shape magic! Faris couldn’t recall his own first magic experience, he had been about the same age as Finn was now, and few memories of the tender age remained. No matter the result, he would be ready to support his children in learning concentration magic. Sooner or later, they would master it, and make their loving parents proud.