Her fresh Rapunzelesque hair offers no resistance in the form of tangles within reach, but the touch is soothing. Combined with her mother giving her suggestions the potential to be correct, the anxiety Nel feels ceases to rise. “Right…people can be stupid,” she says before burying her face in against her mother with an extra strong hug through her arms. The tremors from her muscles are gone when she relaxes after a long moment taken to appreciate the security brought by her mother holding her.

Lifting her head to look up to her mother, determination is left in the wake of that anxious burst, “Whatever happens, I’ll help. And I’m going to keep practicing my magic every. single. day.” Eventually, she will get a handle on this water business now that the warm weather will allow her to tolerate it for longer.