A cloud of dust covered the area. Trees blown away, a part of the cliff was destroyed from the blast. It was eerily quiet. As the dust begins to disperse, Mark is revealed.

  He was sitting on the ground again by the sheer force of the blast. It left him in awe, never did he think he was capable of doing this. This power he always saw as weak, was able to do something like this?

  “Woah…” Mark whispered under his breath.

  *Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

  The sound of clapping broke the eerie silence, startling Mark. He turned his attention to the source of the clapping and was shocked to see the boy still here.

  “Told you the stick would be better.” The boy said mockingly, letting a slight grin run across his face.

  Mark turned to look at the stick's charred remains in his hand. He tossed the remains to the ground, refusing to inflate this guy's ego. He gets up and dusts himself off.

  “My wand could've done the same thing.” Mark responded.

  “Bullshit. That thing would have exploded right in your hand, it’s not even up to standard for 3rd grade mage in training.”

  Mark couldn’t help but grimace at what the boy just said because deep down he knew he was right. The wand was truly pathetic. The only reason he kept it was to prove that it didn’t matter what wand he had, he was going to excel with it no matter what. You can guess how well that's been going.

  “Forget it, as long as that wolf is dead…It’s dead right?”

  The boys looked at each other both unsure about that answer. They slowly turn their heads towards the edge of the now destroyed cliff. They steadily walked towards the new edge made by Mark and looked down. All they could see was rubble and dust. They scanned to see if they could find any evidence of the wolf.

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  “Look.” The boy said while suddenly pointing down.

  There was a large charred paw sticking out amongst the rubble. Its stillness confirmed the wolf's demise. The boys both exchange triumphant laughter as they look at their trophy kill.

  “That's what that damn mutt gets. Haha!" Exclaimed Mark who had a big smile written across his face. He couldn’t believe what he had just accomplished. He turned to thank the boy who helped him but was shocked to only see air beside him.

  He looked around behind, thinking he may have snuck off but the…

  “Hey!” The boy's shouted.

  Mark turned back around towards the cliff and then looked down. He sees the boy already at the bottom of the cliff next to the wolf's paw waving at him.

  “How did he get down there so quickly?” Mark asked himself.

  The boy takes out a medium-sized knife out of his back pocket. He turns to the paw and proceeds to sever the paw off from the wolf.

  “Catch!” Yelled the boy as he hurled the wolf paw up towards Mark.

  Mark barely had time to catch it ,but he did at the last second, barely holding on to it. He looked at the large paw now in his hands and gawked at it. The paw size could be compared to a tire of an 18-wheeler. He couldn’t help but smile while looking at it.

  “Now I don’t know why you would want to stay at that P.O.S. academy but if you were willing to risk your life it, you better flaunt that shit when you get back!” The boy yelled. “Good luck kid!”

  Said the boy who started to walk away into the forest trees.

  “Wait, you’re just leaving like that!? Hey!” Mark yells out trying to get the boy's attention but to no avail. The boy disappeared into the forest way faster than Mark anticipated. “Who the hell was that anyway?” Mark thought to himself.

  Mark sighed and gave one final look at the destruction he caused. The charred trees, the destroyed cliff side, the dead wolf and its paw he’s holding. All these things he caused with just his power.

  Mark gripped the paw tightly, a new feeling was starting to form in his chest, a feeling that he never thought he could feel. Empowerment. Never once has he ever felt this way about himself or his potential, sure he had his dream but that’s all it was at first but now…

  “This changes everything.” Mark said to himself.

  He turned back toward the woods, ready to make the trip back to the academy, but this time with some pride. His grin grew as he played with dragging the enormouspaw on the ground behind him.

  “He’s right, I should flaunt this.”