Ruan
She returned his growl with her own and his eyes narrowed. Foolish girl.
Indignant, her fire burned hotter, furious to be trapped like some mindless beast within his frozen chains. His eyes answered her rise in anger, illuminating brighter with a flare of cold magic. In the back of his mind he recognized her change: once a frightened little girl hiding beneath his wing, and now a woman strong enough, bold enough to take on anyone, even her own father. Did she see that change? A faint smile crept carefully to his lips. Look at yourself.
It was for the best; he wouldn't be cradling her beneath any wings now. They were gone.
Her skin was flickering with dancing flames, radiating heat like a sun. They were eager pets licking at their master, displaying how powerful she really was inside. A stream of her magic snaked out from her. He watched, careful and ready. Dead calm. In a sudden burst of movement, a lance of flame shot at him. Without moving, he snuffed it out with a sharp chill, like a pinch to a candle's wick. Smoke and steam gathered angrily at her feet, discoloring her shackles of ice to a sooty black. Her emotions were wild and raw, shaking loose her fire's lethal aim. Overcoming her.
Jinju.
Finally, his voice broke through, low and firm. Naming her. Calling to her.
Two more bolts of fire followed the first blindly. The first missed completely, but the second nicked at his shoulder as it passed by his side. The smell of burning flesh assaulted him with the pain of it. He could ease it, soothe it with a chill, but he didn't. He soaked in the hurt, let it warm him through. The welted blister that appeared was almost instant from the strength of her magic. His suffering was her reward, her confirmation that she could cause great harm. She could kill someone if she ever wished it. Smother them in a heap of their own boiling skin.
Calm, he commanded quietly, not wanting to disperse her anger. Let her hold on to it. Like an archer correcting the position of his student's elbows, he guided her gently. A steady voice in the back of her mind.
Remember what I taught you. Breathe. Focus. There is a wolf in there.
A hunter.
What was first a challenge to his authority, gradually became a lesson. Somewhere along the way he recognized what she was doing, why she was doing it. Not to overthrow him, nor to defy his leadership. Only to wake him from his stupor of suffering, drag him forcefully from his self-imposed isolation. She wanted her daddy back and he was acting like a child running away from home. And now it had gotten so far, he may have lost her beneath the weight of her rage. Trapped in a fog of wild magic.
He carefully loosened the ice at her feet. Showing his complete trust in her.
Don't let them control you. But also don't ignore the emotions.
Observe them. Recognize them. Use them.
Harness that extra power. Let it make you stronger. Let it hold your aim steady and true.
Breathe.
Try again. Attack me.
Indignant, her fire burned hotter, furious to be trapped like some mindless beast within his frozen chains. His eyes answered her rise in anger, illuminating brighter with a flare of cold magic. In the back of his mind he recognized her change: once a frightened little girl hiding beneath his wing, and now a woman strong enough, bold enough to take on anyone, even her own father. Did she see that change? A faint smile crept carefully to his lips. Look at yourself.
It was for the best; he wouldn't be cradling her beneath any wings now. They were gone.
Her skin was flickering with dancing flames, radiating heat like a sun. They were eager pets licking at their master, displaying how powerful she really was inside. A stream of her magic snaked out from her. He watched, careful and ready. Dead calm. In a sudden burst of movement, a lance of flame shot at him. Without moving, he snuffed it out with a sharp chill, like a pinch to a candle's wick. Smoke and steam gathered angrily at her feet, discoloring her shackles of ice to a sooty black. Her emotions were wild and raw, shaking loose her fire's lethal aim. Overcoming her.
Jinju.
Finally, his voice broke through, low and firm. Naming her. Calling to her.
Two more bolts of fire followed the first blindly. The first missed completely, but the second nicked at his shoulder as it passed by his side. The smell of burning flesh assaulted him with the pain of it. He could ease it, soothe it with a chill, but he didn't. He soaked in the hurt, let it warm him through. The welted blister that appeared was almost instant from the strength of her magic. His suffering was her reward, her confirmation that she could cause great harm. She could kill someone if she ever wished it. Smother them in a heap of their own boiling skin.
Calm, he commanded quietly, not wanting to disperse her anger. Let her hold on to it. Like an archer correcting the position of his student's elbows, he guided her gently. A steady voice in the back of her mind.
Remember what I taught you. Breathe. Focus. There is a wolf in there.
A hunter.
What was first a challenge to his authority, gradually became a lesson. Somewhere along the way he recognized what she was doing, why she was doing it. Not to overthrow him, nor to defy his leadership. Only to wake him from his stupor of suffering, drag him forcefully from his self-imposed isolation. She wanted her daddy back and he was acting like a child running away from home. And now it had gotten so far, he may have lost her beneath the weight of her rage. Trapped in a fog of wild magic.
He carefully loosened the ice at her feet. Showing his complete trust in her.
Don't let them control you. But also don't ignore the emotions.
Observe them. Recognize them. Use them.
Harness that extra power. Let it make you stronger. Let it hold your aim steady and true.
Breathe.
Try again. Attack me.
