Spirit Animal Ficlets

Oh Burn!

Verona knew fire. She was an apprentice of the fire magic and summoner of Kesha the Totem Of Fire. Sometimes Verona forgot her magic was dangerous.

It happened at a sparring match. Verona was going against Fern the new boy. He had gotten a good handle on his magic now with Master Rahel into Exile, the masters hired a Incati to teach Fern while Gallow controlled the ice magic until both apprentices could take over as Masters.

Fern had ice covering his finger tips, rapidly growing and sharpening to points. Verona unleashed a swirl of fire from her own.

Spars never had an indicator noise, they mostly consisted of whoever they the first move and the fight would begin. Fern went first. An icicle went slashing at Verona in an instant. She flared up a wall of fire, the ice sizzling as soon as it got close. She shoved it forward. Fern's eyes widen and he jumped away.

Almost dodging the wall completely. Almost.

A flame had lashed out and singed his leg. Fern gasped, eyes stinging with tears as he got up again. There was red burns up his leg which gave out under him with ease and no remorse. The dome went up, ending the natch as the spectators -Master Arthur and Mister Reinhert - came down from the spectating rooms.

Fern was wobbling as he stood up like a newborn deer. He winced at the pain. Verona approached "I am so sorry Fern I-"

He smiled at her with nervousness "It's fine! It's a sparring match, we were bound to get hurt," he replied.

The Operuean girl smiled back "Okay, but if it gets any worse-"

Mister Reinhert swooped beside his student "He will go see the water masters for healing," he said cooly. The pair left to visit the healing masters.

Verona looked down with slight shame. The flames had scorched him but she hasn't for that to happen to him. "Sometimes fire was dangerous and peolle were bound to get burn but it doesn't mean you should blame yourself," her master said.

Verona looked up "I know but I still feel bad," she replied.

Master Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder "We are fire, we swirl and create warmth for others but we are also dangerous and will hatm whatever tries to put out our flames. You summoned Kesha the red fox, you can either stand in the flames and burn brightly or let them consume you and your world," he said without missing a songle beat.

Verona stared at her master "That's what you said after I got to the Temple," she pointed out. How could she forget? They did everything about flames and that being their motto.

Master Arthur nodded "And I meant those words, now how about we go practice cobtrolling some of our fire? Maybe you'll feel a little better," he replied.

Verona slowly let a smile into her face and nodded. Together, they left the spar pit and went to the fire training room.