Let's talk about Alicia.

This year is gonna be her 15th birthday.

She's an energetic young girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes.

Now, what kind of gift would be appropriate for a 15th years old girl.

Next year she may or may not be in here to celebrate her 16th birthday, so if I could I would like to give her something that will make her remember me, her family, and her life here as a village girl.

As I think about that I got to the lake just the west side of the village. 

The water is frozen. Well, of course. It is wintertime on the north side of the continent after all. 

Even though it is only just 1 pm in the afternoon the temperature already really cold. 

As I gaze towards the other side of the lake, something caught my eyes. 

"Eternity flower" 

It is a blue flower that only blooms at the time of winter. It is pretty rare to see one bloom this early in the seasons.

Just as I think about that. I got what I think a really good idea.

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I rush back to my room and search my bag for a certain paper.

"There it is."

An unusually large piece of paper. I take that paper that I need for my works and rush back to the lake.

I go to a cave near the lake area. Its location is also the source where the water that flows to the lake comes from.

At that very cave, I found what I've been looking for.

I place my hand on a certain rock and use magic to extract the raw mineral that forms around it. It's a pretty tiring process, and this is also the reason why a lot of blacksmiths still buy raw materials from miners.

Quartz.

A pretty common kind of crystal that can be found about anywhere a mineral could form. 

It's a crystal with a dull white kind of color. This crystal is actually really good at amplifying magic. A lot of magic items usually use this crystal.

Well, magic can be performed without any kind of helping equipment but, people still need to use Quartz to feel magic before can use it.

"Well, I think this amount is enough. 

Okay... Now to the next process."

I don't think that I can finish this today. 

But before creating something I like to know the basics of how to do it and get the feel of doing it.

I lay the piece of paper that I brought to the ground and start my process of filtering the crystal. It's a quite long process full of trial and error.

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"So that how it is..."

After I got the feeling of how to do it correctly I pack all my equipment and the material that I gather and preparing to go home.

When I leave the cave, It's already dark outside. The sky is bright full of stars.

"So, I already leave for that long huh?"

It's not about how long I've been in a cave. But about the time of how long I've been away from home.

The stars that can't be seen from the capital, look clear and shines so brightly. 

"Well, better I go home sooner.

They probably already waiting for me."