The dragon was rapidly destroyed. Ember bounced excitedly by Nina's heels, its countenance clearly ecstatic and eager to rejoin the fray. It was only Nina's silent order, firm and insistent, that kept the little fire sprite from bounding back into danger. Instead, Ember bounded around the keeper and the warden, seemingly needing to burn off energy that would otherwise be utilized in its imaginary battle.
The next sculpture to arise was a frost giant in miniature; air magic manipulated the target further into something that moved this way and that, unpredictable in its pathway. As Nina watched and Ember flounced, she considered the notions of accuracy and control - things that she had learned practically in the cradle, or at least as soon as her magic had become apparent. It was vital, with fire, to learn such things, lest one burn down everything one held dear.
"I have trained with my fire extensively," she said, head tilted to one side as she continued to observe. "But rarely for combat, and never among a group of other combatants. I do not believe my grandmother believed I would be engaging in fighting very frequently. Or perhaps she assumed that the lessons she had to teach could be applied to combat as well."
The next sculpture to arise was a frost giant in miniature; air magic manipulated the target further into something that moved this way and that, unpredictable in its pathway. As Nina watched and Ember flounced, she considered the notions of accuracy and control - things that she had learned practically in the cradle, or at least as soon as her magic had become apparent. It was vital, with fire, to learn such things, lest one burn down everything one held dear.
"I have trained with my fire extensively," she said, head tilted to one side as she continued to observe. "But rarely for combat, and never among a group of other combatants. I do not believe my grandmother believed I would be engaging in fighting very frequently. Or perhaps she assumed that the lessons she had to teach could be applied to combat as well."
Nina
