When Agnès cast Aero for the first time, a childish sound - part surprise, part joy - came out of her throat. She hadn't expected to feel so freed when they bought the scroll in Ancheim, hadn't anticipated the sensation of movement in her chest when she had looked it over to learn the spell.
Finally, after years of attuning herself to the Wind Crystal and praying to it in hopes the world's breezes would remain calm and moderate, she had the ability to directly manipulate a little gust of her own. And it did not feel as if she had discovered something new - rather, it felt like an ability she had always possessed, but never had the means to use. It was deep and familiar.
She had no pretentions of being more powerful or knowledgeable than the Wind Crystal, of course. But never had she felt her title more appropriate. She was of the wind.
Aerora she mastered after a quick glance at the scroll. She hadn't even needed to look at the one for Aeroga. She simply watched how Ringabel had done it and cast it soon afterwards, with a lot more ease and much more success.
She experimented with its applications. The wind could be harmful, yes - the Wind Crystal was completely capable of creating hurricanes and tornadoes if it was not properly calmed - but it could also be sweet and gentle. She found she could guide the squall before the magic's hold on it broke. Then she had a very, very foolish idea and tried to walk on the air.
Her feet had cuts from the slicing gusts for days. But as long as she was working with Aero, she had access to white magic. Such things were easily hidden.
It took her weeks, but she learned how to glide a bit, to catch some of the wind under her body and rise, and if she used all of her concentration, hover without hurting herself.
Her companions were ecstatic when she showed them.
"Agnès! Agnès, could you move a little closer to us?" Ringabel asked, nearly bounding in excitement.
"Yes, I can," she said lightly, nudging herself so that she was above them. She suddenly didn't know what to do with her feet, so she crossed them a few times.
"Ah! What fine control! Very impressive! Could you, perhaps, twirl in place? With your arms out, yes, that's it..."
Tiz stared at Agnès' movements, red crawling into his face. Edea seemed to realize something and tackled Ringabel.
"I should've known -! Agnès, get down from there!"
Agnès paused, then shrieked in realization and cut her hold on the magic so quickly she fell on top of all of them.