The fire raged all night long. Its orange glow lit up Serafina's window, and the smell of smoke filtered into the house.

In the distance, men shouted as they tried to save the fields. Her father joined them, the back door banging shut behind him.

She couldn't sleep after that. She lay awake for hours, watching the fire grow and spread

like wild magic. It finally burned out near dawn, the bright light replaced by the blinding

sun. Her father had clearly not slept either.

There were dark circles under his eyes when she joined him at the breakfast table.

It was unlike anything I have ever seen, he whispered as she sat down.

Her mother set a bowl of porridge in front of her,

but Serafina ignored it and focused on her father instead.

How so, Papa?

He shook his head.

Eyes glazed over as he relived the horror.

Serafina shivered.

He looked haunted by the memory.

That was no ordinary fire.

No matter how many buckets we poured, it only grew.

It finally burned itself out in the end.

But not before consuming acres of wheat fields.

I fear our community will go hungry this season.

Do they have any idea what caused it?

Mama asked as she sat down across the table.

None.

...