The training had moved to the training dome above as per Gnicholas' request. It seems that Lumikki's spells had damaged the gymnasium too much to be able to be in use until it is repaired. The initial reason they had went underground was to be able to give Lumikki some darkness she could use for her spellcasting. But given the time, night had fallen. And with the lights off, it was perfect for the both of them.

Besides for Gnicholas, who had brought his lantern with him.

"Alright, lass, time to use another hard hitter" Brone Heavyaxe was energetic and ready to continue training with Lumikki.

"Not at the moment" Gnicholas interrupted, "She needs to learn a utility spell; try and emulate my Shrouds of Darkness, see if you can hide in the shadows" he explained as he readied his notebook and pen.

Brone stood ready, his armor only slightly damaged.

Lumikki loved her Uncle's energy. He was always an hardy man rearing to go and it always filled her with the energy and resolve to do the same.

She paced herself a bit away from the pair. Taking the moment to grasp her task. It shouldn't be too hard, she has been kinda of doing a variation from before. Although it was very sloppy and weak. She never used it to actually blind, just obscure objects or dim the lights. So actively trying to blind someone could prove fairly useful. Obviously so in a fight.

Lumikki asked Gnicolas to demonstrate his own spell. He calmly obliged. Working it slowly than he normally would to allow Lumi the time to study his motions and technique.  When the gnome finished his cast a dome formed, it was made of complete darkness and created with the intention of blinding all who stood within.

Lumikki studied the dome from without, then entering within to see what it was like. She enjoyed the sensation it gave her. The training room was fairly dark, yes, but this was even further. A more advance and intense darkness that snuffed out all matter of light. One usually wouldn't enjoy something akin to this unless deep within the depths of a cave. She marveled her teachers work before eating it all up hungrily. She couldn't resist the urge to taste his magic since the opportunities have been so rare.

Lumikki cupped her hands. The dark frost of her own making spilled over her fingers. It came, coiling from around her arms in smoky wisps. She waited and watched and the dark frost pools, eventually spilling out of her hands like black streams before drifting apart much like smoke would. She tried to hold a lot in her hand. At least enough that what ever she would use would stick and execute its purpose. When she finally was satisfied she looked up again towards her teacher. Locking eyes with him before she blew her smoke his way.

Sadly it would fall short before it could reach him. Falling apart not no further than halfway though. Lumikki sucked her teeth in her failing, but as a dwarf raised girl, she was hardly phased. Cupping her hands once more to try again as she let her dark frost fill her palms. She watched it swirl as she tried to strengthen it. Infusing it with enough of her magic so that it could sustain its form as it traveled but not too much that it became something else.

She play sound with her smoke as it swished. Trying to achieve a certain consistency. Thinking back on her teachers example as she worked. The way he had choose to express his dark blind was different. Lumikki didn't know why she has leaned toward treating it as some form of smoke. It seemed to be the form she assumed would obscure. Gnicolas made something more consistent in comparison. As if anyone within would be submerged in his magic. She thought this over as she was trying to fortify her spell. Thinking about how she could make a more solid and consistent smoke of darkness.

She closed her eyes and thought deep within about all the memories she could pull for inspiration. The times she would see smoke so thick it would block the sun. Her favorite would some from the times as a child when she visited her father forge. Watching as he would work away on the orders he had at hand. Pounding away at the steal as he would explain to the young lass the purpose to all this actions. Taking breaks in between to let her see his work. The fires had to burn extremely hot to maintain his crafting. Burning away at what ever would be use to feed the flames. Lumikki at times would just spend the moment to look at the smoke rising from the forge. Making shapes in the wisps that sprout from the vents.

Though that was only a few of her memories. Her resent ones were far from being to her liking. Yet perhaps the gravity had instilled her deeper than most. She still remember the days she flew to Rush Valley to answer the call. A dark guild was encroaching the North and pillaging the nearby towns and cities. The sky was lit ablaze with a scarlet hue. It rivaled the setting sun in intensities of color. At least from the amount of sky we could still see. The smoke rose and cluttered the sky above like black ominous clouds. Thick with soot and dark as any setting dusk could be. Flying in it was unbearable and even through her worlds eye, her sight could hardly pierce it.

Lumikki thought back of the struggle and the pain that day brought her, only to be met with a bigger blaze just the day after. The sky both lit and brought to a night with the hungry inferno ravaging the trees. She focused hard on it, her hands tensing as she did. She had to remind herself not to close them as she tried to get to work. She poured her disdain for the flames and this damage. The fear its intensity had struck withing her. The near impossibility it was to look further than the smoke would allow.

She poured it all into her dark frost. Taking inspiration for an element she could bring herself to care for and enjoy in all its destruction. When she felt she packed her spell with all she could muster, she looked over to Gnicolas again. Blowing her dark frost his direction and watching it fill the air. Unlike the smoke of the flames, her cloud did not choke you. It felt more like a cold blanket the settled around you before sitting atop what ever was beneath. Shifting the scene to what looked and felt like a night.

It coated her teacher as it no longer hung in the air. Covering his eyes in its cool touch. Lumikki await his response to her spell's work.

Gnicholas had presented his student with his globe of darkness, providing her with the density of the darkness and it's make. With her extraordinary ability to interact with darkness as if were solid. He wondered, while he was blinded by his own spell, how Lumikki was inspecting his spell, possibly feeling the texture and it's flexibility; that is if one can stretch something that was simply an absence of light. The globe was suddenly gone as it was inhaled by the daemon.

She ate it.

The gnome was surprised and the dwarf bellowed a laughter, "Best way to inspect something, taste test it" Brone nearly fell over in his joy. Gnicholas cleared his throat to hide his shocked expression and then waited for his student's presentation.

The first whisp was sent towards him, but it dissipated before it reached him. Gnicholas didn't react, but simply waited, knowing a great teacher is one who doesn't discourage his student. As for Brone, he clapped his hands in encouragement, cheering his niece on. The annoyed gnome debated whether or not he should quiet the dwarf down, but he wasn't sure if this was proper for a dwarven family, so he let it go.

This time Lumikki focused, taking more time to prepare. Gnicholas smiled, impressed that even though she failed the first time, she wasn't bothered by it, but was ready to give it another try, taking more time for the second attempt.

The second whisp was released. The gnome was inspecting the whisp as it closed in, trying to determine it's length until he was suddenly engulfed; his vision vanished entirely. Brone laughed at Gnich's struggle.

"Ah! Good, good work" The gnome stopped struggling and returned to his standing posture, event though he was still blinded, "Total blindness and attaches to the target, allowing mobility" he hid his excitement from how impressed he was. Allowing mobility meant it was unique in comparison to his own globe of darkness which was stationed.

Brone walked over to Gnicholas and debated whether or not he should tap his head with Spellcleaver to free him of his blindness, but figured he would see if Lumikki was able to dispell her magic successfully.

Lumikki eased off her will of the spell so that she was no longer sustaining it. The dark stain from her magic was dissipating from the gnome. And with that it freed him from her blind. She gave him a moment to readjust before moving onto the next spell she had in mind. One she figured would do her Uncle Brone proud.

“I have a defense spell in mind, it has been a while since I made one last and I am starting to feel it.” She give it further thought. She made the magic with her Uncle Brone and Tamas in mind. The idea of letting her black frost creep and encase her skin so that she could survive a hit really pleased. What made it even better was her ability to still be able to move around and stay protected. Unlike her Dwarven Door that stayed I place and could only cover so much, this would allow her so much freedom to move and fly as she pleased so that she could cast her spells as needed.

After her fight with Emil who barely interacted with her frozen shield construct and Yuurei who blasted her to oblivion with the toss of a spear. She could not overlook the weaknesses of her defense spell any longer. Not if she hoped to fight them again and maybe even win.

She clenched her fist from the memory of her losses. She did not mind losing the fights and she knew just how strong they were but it did not change that she did not like how she failed. She wanted to be a pillar of Dawn. And therefore she will have to be more and do more.

She let her anger and frustrations bubble in her. Letting it simmer flood her being. She held it tightly in her mind, her body feeling as if it would burst. When the feeling became overwhelming enough that she really did not want to hold it out any longer, she flexed her arms upward before dropping them back down. As soon as her arms hung back around her sides, black ice crept along the daemon’s skin. It was like stars or flowers flourishing as it inches up her skin rapidly. Starting from the tips of her fingers before branching out from her chest. It left all the skin that it covered in a shiny black casing making Lumi look as if she was made of obsidian. In just a few moments it had her covered from head to toe. In some areas the ice poked out in clusters as if they were like unruly flowers otherwise oppose to her smooth cases skin.

Lumi looked over the palms of her hands before turning them over. Working her way up to studying her arms. She was very pleased with the look and the feel of her magic. Perhaps working on veil had helped her in ways she could not predict. Including figuring out what amount was enough for coating her skin in frost without turning her to a frigid and cold figure.

She looked over to her Uncle Brone and teacher for their thoughts and feed back. Curious of what they thought of her spell. Yet no matter how much she liked the look and feel, it was more important to see how it held in battle. Thankfully her Uncle Brone was here to help her test the skill since she was not so sure that the patrol could muster any meaningful damage to help her find out. She needed to be sure her ice could handle a decent amount of damage before she felt comfortable taking it to battle. The last thing she would want is to think she could take a hit when she really could not.

”Give it a go Uncle, I want to know if this spell could hold.” Lumi took on a stance in her preparation to take a hit. She knew her Uncle Brone was experienced enough to know just how much damage for the job. So she trusted that he would test the spell well and fair. Still she tensed up as she braced for the incoming hit. Hoping her Uncle Brone would let her know when he was about to take his swing.

When she mentioned her next spell was inspired by him, Brone bounced on the balls of his feet, like a child again, waiting to see his parents working together to forge a new weapon for the family's armory. Gnicholas had his notepad and quill ready, looking forward to seeing a defensive spell.

The ice slowly enveloped her as she focused upon her spell. Gnicholas was glad she took her time, allowing him to inspect the make of the spell as he walked a bit closer to her so he could get a good look.

"By the Stone" Brone said in a whisper as he too just like the gnome stepped a bit closer, "Like obsidian glass" he said out loud. He remembered a young female dwarf back in the mountains who was a skilled glass maker. She was the only one who was able to shape obsidian, creating beautiful works of art. The flowers sprouted as if spring arrived. Brone believed, right then and there, that Lumikki could bring spring to the cold mountain tops and to the tunnels beneath, and the halls of the clans.

There was a moment a tear formed and ran down his face, but didn't make it to his beard as it froze. Finding it as a personal weakness to wipe away the tear, he let it set there, smiling at his niece. And when she gave him permission to test the layer of ice, he cheered and drew forth his green axe. He had pulled back, readying his attack when the gnome stopped him.

"Brone! That blade will negate her spell!" he was practically panicking. His breathing harsh as his worry for his student was obvious.

"Right, sorry" He said sheepishly, giving a nervous laughter as he switched to his black axe.

"Brone!" Gnicholas' shout this time was more of anger, wondering if the dwarf was messing with him on purpose.

"Alright, I'm joking" he said to calm the gnome down. As Brone gave it another thought, he realized that Dhuraindarin was strong enough to level the entire training dome. As for his other weapons, they were design to harm and destroy. His stowed his weapons away and cracked his knuckles, "Don't take me lightly, lass, my fists can break concrete" he smirked at her. He needed to let her know that he wasn't going light on her because he switched to his fists, but because his arsenal was made to destroy and harm, which is why at times during training, he had to keep them out of certain fights.

As for his fists; he wasn't lying. Brone would train his strength by bending metal for his work and breaking stone for little jobs. Truly, and Gnicholas knew this, that dwarf's punches were stronger than most of the weapons in the main armory, so the gnome still worried.

Brone took a stance and clenched his fist. He would would delivery a quick jab. It would be quick and light, but it would still pack a heavy punch, heavy enough to crack the concrete wall of the main building hall.

He threw the punch and connected with Lumikki's stomach. The black ice cracked all over with great force, but... it still remained. Brone stood staring at the cracks. Gnicholas' mouth held open, both him and the dwarf expected the layered skin to fall away, since he had studied Brone's punches from the jabs to the hooks. He then realized he wasn't marking this down, so he quickly jotted down his findings.

Brone shook himself out of his surprise and laughed in excitement, "Ye made obsidian itself!" It wasn't just the look of obsidian, but the feel of it too. His pride swelled as he looked at Lumikki's face then back to her make-shift armor. He laughed again, dropped to one knee and slammed a fist into the ground with all his might, cracking the floor; he couldn't hold back his excitement, "Harder than steel, lass, harder than steel!"

Gnicholas coughed as he was startled"Right, right! Extraordinary defense with it only being a single layer over your skin in which you can move around easily, A+" Sounding as professional as possible, the gnome couldn't hold back his smile.

Lumikki braced herself for her Uncle Brone's strike. She never doubted his strength even without the axes and so she was tense in anticipation. By the time he swung and connect, even Lumi was confused. Not feeling the pain of the blow one bit, thought she did feel the weight and vibrations of the impact. She ran her fingers over her stomach to inspect the damage, but it was mostly just cracks and no more. The gist of her spell still helps well, rearing to take another blow if need be. But Lumi wasn't sure she wanted to test just how much more it could even handle. Satisfied with this one test alone. She could at least see that her spell could handle a good blow, and for now, that was all she needed. Not many mages around could throw a hit like her Uncle Brone.

Stronger than steel he exclaimed in his merriment. It repeated in her mind until it sunk in. "Stronger than steel!!?? Ye really think so? It's hard to believe Uncle that I made it as far as being harder than metal itself! Magairlean!" Lumi joined in on his excitement, cheering feely herself despite still being encased. It only made her cheer more feeling how she was far from restricted in her moment. She both could not wait and hoped to never have to try to her spell out in the real world. Though she already knew she had a few rematches to look forward to.

She relaxed her body, releasing the tension and the hold of her magic. It was like feeling the relief of revealing a bandage that was held tightly in place. Her skin gave way to be rejoined in the fresh as the ice crackled and fell away. The little Daemon visible once more.

Brone and Lumikki celebrated a Gnciholas marked down his findings on the spells, "Very well, time for an attempt at an offensive spell" he said.

"Aye, let's see something akin to a storm!" Brone was getting ready to throw in ideas for great powerful spells, but the gnome had to quickly chime in.

"No no, we can see she is well versed with open field, scattering attacks, but I would to see something more... precise" Gnicholas gave a smile, knowing that with how detalied Lumikki's creations were, he had no doubt she was able to duplicate something he favored. Brone was confused by what he meant until the gnome put down his pen and notepad so he could demonstrate. He positioned his hands in front of him and within seconds the darkness around him coiled together and formed an arrow which then shot across the room and slammed into the wall, leaving behind a deep hole. Both the gnome and the dwarf looked to Lumikki, waiting for her attempt.

Lumikki studied her teacher's work. Minding the way he gestured his hands as he cast the spell down to the way he willed the darkness to coil. She would study how the darkness would materialize into an arrow, wasting no time as it took one form. The arrow was a simple bit quite sturdy as it shot forward in an instant and punctured the wall. Lumikki's eyes were keen, she could easily see the damage from where she stood. Studying the impact of the arrow embedded into the wall.

She nodded to herself as she got the gist. Lumi faced the wall which her master already shot at. She took a moment to think to herself. This should be a fairly simple task. After all, she already make a multitude of weapons and so one arrow should be simple in compassion to the work she had already accomplished just before.

She closed her eyes, so as to allow herself to sink deep within herself and her thoughts. Trying to form the base of her arrow in her mind. She cycled through the stories of the greats before her and how they were written or drawn to be. She cycled to the god's depictions and the arrows they would rain down on the foolish mortals below the insulted their power and presence. She even thought of ones corrupted and warped by their passions whether benevolent or malicious as they were now only known and remembered as cautionary tales. Woes and whispers on, as to not and why and let your goals and intentions consume you.

Her mind hung on those who only echoed as warnings. Their names were hums if that at all. Their existence blurred among all the other stories and tales. Swallowed up in the test of time.

She of course didn't know the name or faces of those that she thought of. They were obscure to even her. It was just that Lumikki felt deeply for these beings. She felt she was walking along the lines of this cusp herself. Sure she could continue to emulate the great heroes of old like she had with her previous spell. Cycling through the nobles to find the base of her arrow. But she felt that she wanted to tap into more. She could not bring herself to only take from those that were held in the light and continue to cast away the ones cloaked in shadows.

After all, Lumikki continued to think on. Perhaps all she too would be is a being veiled in shadows. Hidden from the world in all the mighty stories if she was so lucky. Or a creature lamented for her wrath and savagery if she was not.

She kissed her fingers. It was a simple gesture at first. One to remind herself to love who she was, what she was, despite how she worried she would be seen. It was a simple gesture at first, but she also did it to grant those lost within themselves the kindness, love, and respect that they deserved. That she would still deserve if the end of her tale was no different.

Lumikki kissed her fingers and laid her intent within her spell. The darkness around her rotates rapidly. Swirling with the force of a vortex, haphazardly when Lumikki was still first in her thoughts thinking of those of woe. The shadows lashed and cut into the floor around when she stood, carving into the ground in hungry strikes. Though Lumikki was still too much in her own thoughts to notice. She would only kiss her fingers again.

Medea the poisonous witch, Fenrir the bound and terrible,  Scilla the ravenous, Medusa the horrid terror, and the list would go on. Beings that would lose everything down to their legacy. Villians and monsters of their own stories onward. She wondered to herself if would she one day be the same.

Lumikki kissed her fingers yet again, but this time she would finally hold out her palm. It pointed to the same wall her teacher had struck further. The hungry swirling darkness would be pulled just before her. A large lavender magical circle would appear just in front of Lumikki just as the darkness was reforming. Yet like the shifting and restlessness of her thoughts did the dark remain restless as well. Ever shifting to all her whims before finally at least phasing into the form of an arrow. Though the head and tail would forever shift. Frightful beasts would appear, as well as items of note in legend. Snakes, dog heads, beaks, and even an apple, would appear for the head. The tail would change from wings, fins, tails, and more.

The construct, just like Lumikki's mine refused to settle. As long as she refused to settle on one note the arrow would be formless. Lumikki after all this time finally opened her eyes, eager for the shape the arrow would take. Yet she would be met with the phasing construct before her.

It was then she understood that like in her mind, her intentions could not take shape. She felt for them all and unlike her Black Star Shoter where all she envisioned came to be, she could not bare to make a choice now. And, as Lumikki would conclude, it never will. As the weapons of heroes fought in her favor, she would simply reference all of those lost on the way to making their own legends come true. It would be the nature of her formless shadow.

She kissed her fingers one last time, pointing her palm to the wall before her. The arrow settled this time with the head of a raven, the tail made of four bird wings connecting to a point. Lumikki chuckled at the odds and notions, wondering if this was a reference to herself. The arrow now spins faster, creating another small vortex just around it, just before it shot further and right to the wall her teacher previously impaled. It howled in the wind before drilling into the wall. Embedding itself deep within the structure, further than Gnicolas would have. It sat around one and two-thirds in.

The darkness twisted and formed, then reformed and reformed again, each time Lumikki touched her lips to her fingers. Both Brone and Gnicholas were curious of this form. Yes, they knew her well as the caster who adds her art to her form in how she weaves her magic, but this was much different. The gnome noticed the forms the shadows took, resembling shapes of different animals and possibly monsters; he eventually understood she was telling a story, or several stories. Her imagination was assisting with her weaving, or was the reason for her weaving. He was amazed by how she was able to take control of the magical energies and mold them to her will, applying her stories into her magic. "She is excelling rapidly" The gnome had never seen a magical practitioner develop in their craft so quickly; he now confirmed she was a prodigy and he wondered how far can she go.

Brone didn't know anything when it came to the formation of magic. The forms that the spell took were lost to him, but he could see it on Lumikki's expression... her focus. She must have watched her father as he smithed, for that intense focus was that of a dwarven smith working on his craft. The focus was too similar for him to get wrong. Each kiss reflected whenever Brone dipped his heated metal into the basin of water to cool down. He began to wonder if her father knew well her crafting skills had become. Brone smirked; either way, he can proudly say that he himself was the one that witnessed the peak of her growth and he'll showboat it when they next meet.

The arrow was craft and both the gnome and dwarf awed in it's beauty. Then it began to spin, not what they expected. It was then launched and struck the area where Gnicholas' arrow hit. It drilled inward until it stopped. Brone and Gnicholas ran over to the wall and inspected it. The gnome measured the distance, but the dwarf could already tell it's distance just by his gut and the touch of the Stone.

"Surpassed my arrow" is all the gnome said before he marked down another passing grade. Brone patted Lumikki on the shoulder.

"That's my girl!" the dwarf said proudly.

Lumikki blushed profusely. She was never short of praise growing up but the acknowledgment of a Dwarf always got to her. They did not compliment needlessly, only speak what they felt was fact. So all the words from Uncle Brone hit harder than the Spear Angel ever could.

Lumikki shieled her face in her flustered state, hiding her reddening face. The darkness could not veil her unless she willed it so, but that would make for a fun secret to hold on to. Lumikki rubbed her face vigorously to change the sensation, icing her cheeks to alleviate the heat.

When she felt her bashfulness subsiding she slapped her cheeks and honed her focus. "Right, right ye wanted to see a storm Uncle? I wanna try my hand at making one. It felt amazing being within yer blizzard back in Joya." Lumikki stepped back for a bit to figure out where exactly she would want to direct it. She looked over the vast space that was the training dome. All she concluded was to spare the fire from her cast so he could see the work she's done. Lumikki was content with this as she faced away.

She closed her eyes once more so that she would be able to dig deep. Thinking back on her life further North in her home. Lumikki only knew the cold and chill for some time. Though the waterfalls would warm up enough in Fjallgard to resume falling, it never was so warm that she would feel bothered. Even the fresh water nearby invited a chill to the wind during the summers and spring.

There was one winter she remembered clearly, back when she was but a smaller lass. Her father was aiding another in their forge for a collab. The recipient wanted something very particular and Morgrym, her Pa, had a particular set of skills that knock off some requests in the order. So the smith had made plans to call her Pa over and get some of it done, only they were hardly perceptive to the weather occurring around them. Despite the warnings of her Nan, a woman her could read the storms even before she could taste the air. A feat Lumi could only wish that she could acquire over time.

Her stubborn Pa, Morgrym set off to do the work that must be done. He insisted so confidently that a Dwarf was built to handle any harsh climate, ever challenge of adversity that threatened them. The woman was no longer of an age to put up a fight, already on in her years. Viola, Lumi's mother put up the fight for as long as she could but there was no getting through to a man that had already lived three of their life times. So she relented for the moment but was not any happier for it.

Lumi remembered seeing her Pa leave, slamming the door behind him. He had all his tools packed and was trekking them to the other forge. She ran to the window and watched him left.

Not too long after a blizzard was picking up outside. It was a soft flurry at first but quickly kicked into a storm. The wind wiping at the windows violently. Nan reinforced her magic for the house, warding of the storm but the massive blizzard was becoming a raging sea separating Lumi with her Pa. Countless hours went by and it long passed Lumi's time for bed. Her mother was pacing in the kitchen because she couldn't bring herself to sit down. Nan was working her magic just nearby, silently chanting her prayers to the primordial Frost so that she may deliver Morgrym just fine. All in the home were impatient but it was Lumi who ran out the door.

Her mother and Nan were non the wiser for a bit of time until they saw it open and letting in all the snow.

Lumi had already long began digging a trail through the snow. The little bit of magic she knew helped her pave the way but she could never quite forget what it felt like to be in that blizzard.

The cold was something she had never knew, and it was far before the years to would build her tolerance. Every once of heat was constantly and rapidly escaping her body. Yet Lumi pushed on as far as she could despite it all. Almost getting buried alive quite a few times. She was finally at the forge where her Pa was after two hours of digging through. Taking in all the snow and its weight, the impact of its strength and the feeling of acold so deep her bones were chilled. The sight just up above of near all white as the snow violently lashed all in its way, mixed with the dark of the night sky so that it felt like oblivion.

And just a few meters from the forge would she collapse. The storm finally claiming her. Lumikki would remember that chill well. The feeling as the wind would burn you in every passing. How it felt the blizzard was taking everything away from you until nothing was left but the husk of your form. It almost felt like the antitheist of life itself as it wore you away and slowed you down. Purged you of all you needed and desired to go on, as it tested your will to live anyway. As Lumikki laid on her back slowly getting buried alive for the last time, she gave much thought to the power of the blizzard and to the cold. She truly understood that day and from then on the things her Nan would speak on. She didn't surrender herself to the cold, and with the little of her magic left she even tried to fight it. Yet there was only so much a child could do against sheer force of nature. Against Aurilandür the primordial of Frost. All Lumikki could hope to do was be accepted into the cold realm and become one. May Niflheim where the cold creeps from, embrace her.

Though before Lumi could completely reenter Aurilandür's grasp, all the snow from around her was pushed to the side as far as she could see herself. It was like an even greater wind challenged the snow piled and won. It was only later that she was told Nan clears the whole path from home to the forge. Allowing her Pa to scope her into her arms.

It took many days for Lumikki to recover. The chill of the cold ran so deep that she should of died, her Nan all the much more sure in her potental as an ice mage for managing the feat of out living the storm and the feat of Lumi being able to move that far alone at all. Lumi herself was never the same, but the cold only took to her even easily, as if that day they were merged into one.

Lumikki tapped into that memory. With how it changed and made her. Perhaps the child really did die that day only to be brought back as something new. She herself would never truly know, only that her connection to the primordial Frost Aurilandür had become a strong one.

Lumikki pulled her armed to her chest. Embracing the storm with in her as a lavender magical circle flashed from behind her. Six big, strong wings spouting from her form and in one massive flap forward, a blizzard erupted. Just like it had that day many years ago, late into the nice. Her black snow merging the two like her view as she laid on the floor. Whipping around the area she intended just as violent and as viciously. Kicking up to a terroring blizzarding storm like the one conjured by nature.

Lumikki wonders as deeply and sincerely as she could, would her Nan be proud of her? What would be the look on that woman's face as she saw the child she raised today, creating a blizzard that would rival one of the worst they have seen on a whim. Just as casually as Lumikki constructing herself a chair.

Lumikki turned back to her Uncle satisfied. She wanted to see the look on his face from what she had to offer. Aye, Uncle! The storm ye were wanting. The storm to bring the blizzards back into the North. This is what I hope I could bring to the Dawn!"

Brone nodded happily, "Aye, lass! Bring on the storm!" he called in a cheer. Gnicholas groaned as he tightened the blanket around himself, preparing for the worse.

It started in silence, the calm before the storm. Both the gnome and dwarf watched as Lumikki set her focus, six wings would sprout and unfurl. They both held their breath as they watched as the wings began to beat. The temperature would drop, patches of ice was appear and grow, blooming into flowers throughout the area as black snow would fall and begin to whip as the wind would pick up.

The width of the storm was focused, small; encircling the dwarf and incasing him in a black snow blizzard. Gnicholas took several steps away from the sight, but made sure to mark down what he was witnessing. Brone braced himself as the spell continued. He would then notice black ice patches were blooming on his arms. No matter how many times he shook away the ice, they would return, reforming faster.

Eventually the storm would subside, leaving the dwarf mostly covered in ice and snow. He shook himself free before giving his niece a thumbs-up, "Finally your first storm! We'll change the weather up here in the north!" he cheered. Gnicholas nodded, realizing how powerful Lumikki had become. Brone had to use a powerful weapon of legend to summon forth a blizzard, but Lumikki was able to acquire the skill with her own abilities.

Lumikki smiled as her Uncle Brone was able to enjoy her storm. He was used to the once he conjures on his own but Lumikki's was a bight more unique to most blizzards he'd face in all his years. None would be touched with the darkness as her snow and ice was. At least she hoped that would be the case for all the years she'd reside in this world.

As she watched her Uncle Brone the work she has done, standing of the chilling and violent winds as ice and snow ripped through the air. It surprised her that her magic had caused black flowers to bloom on all it touched and she was pleased to enjoy its beauty. A las, she ended her cast when the point of her magic was made and she readied herself to do one last spell for the night.

Lumikkis wings dispersed into the air and the blizzard subsided. "Alright Uncle! One last go for the night if ye could handle it!" Lumikki exclaimed as she darted back a bit of the way to make more distance with them. When she was satisfied with the range, she began to prepare. She waited for her Uncle Brone to brace himself for what ever was left to come and got to work.

In all her excitement from all the spells she has mustered so far and how well they all landed, she was jittery in her hyper enthusiasm. Cracking her knuckles like the lightning god she knows. She wanted to take from his powers just as much as she did the others. Not so much because she admired him greatly but because she loved the beauty and flash of lightning. The crackle of the thunder always made shivers run up her spine. If she had a choice, she would have considered pulling the power of lighting into her magic too but a las, the power of frost and dark were more than enough to satisfy her needs.

Lumikki took her time concentrating her power, deeply inhaling the darkness around her before she would start. The advice her teacher provided her for the Raging Axe God was the one that came to mind. She wanted to condense her mana much similar to that spell but she would want to obviously channel it differently. Not lot the last one where she would expend it all at once after she condensed it so that it would become more volatile. This one would be more condensed thorough out the spell. Even done to the execution.

This would prove the hardest spell of the night and she was happy she could save this idea for last. Everything she had learned before would play into the craft of this spell. Condensing her magic, her control of her mana, the ability to craft things intricately and move them when needed. One could think a surge of energy was a simple matter and it probably was. That did not mean it would come easily to the magic Lumikki posses or her abilities and skills she developed with the one she had.

So this spell would prove to be a lovely challenge as much as a nice addition to her arsenal. She could only hope her teacher will notice the extra effort she would be putting into casting her spell.

Lumikki held herself completely still. She tried losing herself to a sense of zen. Hopping that the still without and within would help her begin the condensing for the spell. She wanted to do this right the first time so that she was that much closer to making this kind of magic work much easier to use and intuitive in the future.

Lumikki did something that she had not for a while. Not since she was learning how to pull from her dark magic from withing her much better and directly. She followed the currents of her mana withing her. Feeling the pulse of her energy, feeling the beating of her heart, and the sensation she felt with every breath. As her chest rose and sank, she focused on the condensing of her mana more and more. Tightening the hold of it with every pulse.

When her body begin to tense for the sensation of tightening her mana, she pushed for just a little further more. Making sure her body was reaching it's limits. When she could not hold out any longer, she began to sway in place. The rhythm helping her conceptualize the channeling she began to do. With every sway it was like creating a temple so that when she threw out all her mana from the spell, it would be easier for her to maintain. The spell throw out without any patience at all would be dangerous. It would risk her teacher getting hit with the volatile magic and Lumikki did not want for that or to lose any of her built up esteem.

When Lumikki felt she created a flow with her movement she cracked her knuckles once more. Moving her arms like she was amidst a dance, motions she had done many times when she would ice skate. Pouring all her condense mana into her arms, hands, then fingers as she did.

When every last drop of her mana resided where she had shifted it to be, her fingers would even slowly begin to encase with ice. The mana was becoming desperate to form and be set free. The arc and swings of her arm were trailing in black snow. The mana reaching its limit at last.

Lumikki would turn to look at her Uncle Brone as she finally prepared her attempt. One she cultivated slow and patience like the creeping of a glacier in the tundra and with one graceful movement like a dancer, she would point to the Dwarf and unleash her magic.

A lavender magical circle would flash before her fingers as a beam of pure darkness and frost would shot out toward Brone. The energy would crackle in its virtuosity. Imitating the arc and ripping force of lightning as it pierced the air. Bits breaking off as some of the raw energy would branch out, the tips finishing off in small black flowers blooming then falling away.

The beam would connect at Brone's chest, hitting it with all it's force.

"Alright, lass, one last one!" Brone called to his niece as he rubbed his left shoulder. Though he was enjoying himself and trying to shake off the pain, the spells Lumikki had been dealing to him were wearing him down. He knows his body is littered with cuts and bruises. Though his body has endured great cold blizzards and hail, the spells of this Ice Witch were a league of their own.

Gnicholas noticed how the dwarf winced for a moment which made him wonder if he had retained some injury, but he reframed from asking, knowing Brone's pride would hide any pain or injury and would possibly cause Lumikki to hesitate. The teacher needed his student to unleash her power, especially given that this would be the last spell for the night.

All was quiet when Lumikki began to slowly motion her arms. Neither the dwarf nor the gnome could see anything other than her dancing. Brone wanted to throw out a compliment of her dancing, given that the training dome fell too silent while they waited, but the image of black snow had silenced him. She was gathering mana, preparing her spell, so Brone grounded himself, preparing for the next attack. Both he and Gnicholas anticipated an offensive spell... they were right, but they didn't expect it's danger until they both realized that Lumikki was condensing a large amount of magic.

Gnicholas taught her how to condense her magic; he was impressed that she was able to gather and condense such a large amount and continue to do so, but the amount he sensed worried him. He had never seen someone condense such a large amount without causing a volatile explosion of mana, but his curiosity and worry kept him from saying anything. Brone waited, wondering what kind of spell required so much mana, but showed so little effect. He had experienced great powerful spells like his own blizzard created by a large amount of mana, or earthquakes caused by such power, but all he saw from his niece was simply a small beautiful display which-

A purple suddenly shot forward at great speed. Brone was thrown off, not able to dodge out of the way or even prepare himself in time to defend properly.

All fell silent, as Brone looked down and saw a small hole, absent of cracks around it's edges, in his armor right at the center. The dwarf opened his mouth to give a compliment, but his consciousness faded as he fell onto his back.

"Brone!" Gnicholas ran over to the dwarf and began working on healing him in worry. Luckily his heartbeat was still strong.

* * *

After getting the night patrol to carry Brone to the medical wing, Vivian, the nurse, managed to stabilize him. The dwarf found consciousness. Realizing the situation, he laughed, though barely, due to the pain in his chest not being fully healed. The nurse had ordered the dwarf to be in bedrest for a week so he could not risk any damage to his heart or lungs.

Brone looked over to Lumikki with a big smile, wanting to express his excitement for her accomplishments, but the pain wouldn't allow him to speak, so he gave her a thumbs-up and big grin.

"Pass" is all Gnicholas said as he walked out of the medical room. He was grinning all the way to his room. Though he made it seem he intended on sleeping, he was going to fill out his recommendation for Lumikki Omena to be promoted to S-rank.

[Exit]