The six men of the Night Patrol walked in from the staircase. The area was large and mostly shrouded in darkness, but a few lanterns were lit and placed around the center of the large gymnasium. This was the first time the patrolmen had entered the gymnasium, which was now mainly used as storage for all the equipment that was used for the training dome that was actually directly above them.

"Aye, yer all on time, good!" Brone Heavyaxe called to them as he walked out of the darkness and into the light of the lanterns. There were slightly startled, forgetting that the dwarf could see perfectly in the darkness, "I've called ye here for some sparring" though the dwarf said this happily, the patrolmen flinched. They were use to being directly trained by him, but never did they ever sparred with him. They knew well the damage he could cause and they never looked forward to the day he would ever ask them.

"S-spar with you sir!?" Alex stuttered as he spoke up, hoping he was wrong.

"Oh no, you won't be sparring with Brone" The voice came from the gnome, Gnicholas, as he pulled himself from the cowl of the dwarf's cloak and climbed his way down from the stout body and making it to the floor by Brone's feet. The patrolmen exhaled a sigh of relief. They weren't sure why the gnome would spar with them, given his size and the fact that he wasn't a being of confrontation, but they would prefer him to the Shield of Dawn, "You'll be facing off against my student - Lumikki" Though Gnicholas said this nonchalantly, a chill ran up the spine of all of them patrolmen. The hairs on their necks stood up. Facing off against Brone was dangerous, but even the dwarf knew when to hold back, but his niece, the ice demon, the frost witch, La Bruja de Noche. She was an entirely different danger who had placed many of the patrolmen in critical condition, toying with them while she smiled, or tightening her cold grip when she was irritable.

"Can I take a sick leave?" Dante asked as he raised his hand. He had accumulated a large amount of Sick Time so he could take a vacation during the summer, but this day was an acception.

"No" Brone said, simple, straightforward, and still smiling.

403

Luimikki was already long enjoying the act of slinking within the shadows, awaiting the victims her Uncle decided needed to be polished up most. She was already days in practicing her invisibility spell, but today it was time to be a bit more destructive. She had the pent-up energy to do more than intricately maneuver her spell. She wanted to match the force of a natural disaster tonight. And so she waited, purple eyes piercing the darkness. Not like the patrol noticed as they stumbled for the lanterns in the center. Already a sign of their complacency. They were supposed to maintain their guards and yet no one noticed her presence.


At least they reacted to the mention of her. She was eager to get started. Just as soon as her Uncle shut them down from any chance to leave, she shifted her form. Making the shadows coil around her and fashion wings. Just as the wings solidified form, she took off. Flying right for them but stopping just before the light could catch her. She used her momentum to force her body to flip in the air as she twisted her body until she stomped hard on the ground.

The loud noise alerted the patrol, their heads whipping in her direction. When her foot touched the ground, a lavender magical circle formed. Ice spread from the impact on her heel, rushing through the ground in blunt and blocky frost. Lumikki had no intention of doing serious damage just yet, though time will tell. She did want to let out her pent-up energy and work on a spell that devastated from the ground. As her spell spread, the anxious patrol men attempted to scramble, not knowing the level of danger her failed attempt possessed. They lost footing quickly after trying to get away. Screaming as they fell.

Lumi kicked down her ice, letting the structure Fissel so she could try again. She did not know just yet what she wanted of this spell, all that she knew was how she wanted it to be massive in force and structure. She wanted to feel the depth of how far she came since she joined her guild of Paradise Dawn. She looked over toward her Uncle, always a presence of security and inspiration for her. He was mighty even without spells of his won. His grit won out beings whose magics she would not begin to grasp. She wanted to poor some of her endearing love for him in a spell worthy of his impact. One that makes her think of all the stories told about his ventures.

She slinked back into the shadows so that she was no wear close to the light once more, awaiting the patrol's next move.

Brone gave a big grin as he faced his men. He was excited to see what his niece would come up with. Her skills have been greatly improving; though he always saw her as a prodigy, he was still so surprised by the speed of her growth.

Lumikki burst from the shadows, scaring the men into jumping out of the way. The ice witch slammed into the ground, causing such an explosive landing. Black ice shards now scattered and some of the men were harmed in that strike. They quickly got to their feet and drew forth their weapons, having no choice but to defend themselves. Brone laughed in excitement. He loved her forwardness and the use of her raw power in such a sturdy and powerful way, "Good work, lass! Put yer excitement into it! The ice is yers, like a weapon, it's an extension of yerself, ye have dwarven pride, the will of the forge to create!" he would gesture to the black ice that was jutting from the ground. The dwarf had rarely seen black ice before, so when he first seen such magic, he couldn't help but feel pride in her.

"Try to condense the mana as much as you can, then release it right before impact; This would cause a magical reaction, when magic is forcefully molded with strain, it will cause a form of volatile magic, causing more power output" Gnicholas pulled out his notepad and began to note down everything he was seeing. He couldn't below how well the black ice have been forming in such short bursts.

"Take her down, men! We're the patrols of the night after all!" Raphael called out as he rushed forward, giving courage to his men who followed alongside him. Raphael would activate a spell enchanted into his sword, causing the blade to ignite in fire. The flame would light up the darkness, giving him a better visual of Lumikki so his strike can hit. The five other men followed up on the attack and did the same with their ordinary swords.

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After Lumikki pulled back to be deep within the darkness, she kicked off again in her flight. Circling the men in rapid succession, hungry to make the turn and dart in again. Her Uncle cheering her on added to the energy of her rotation, she was in the zone to rush down. Gnicolas gave her advice to mull over, and a jumping of point for her next attempt.

Yet nothing stirred a reaction in her as much as hearing a man's voice. She hardly got a look at him since she was riding behind her Uncle, nose in a book, but his voice she could remember just fine. Her eyes locked on to the man she was sure to be Raphael, studying his face and features with her hawk eye. Only to get more angry when he lit his sword ablaze. She scoffed at his and his annoying attempt to counter her. Fire and light all in one move, it only served to temper her frost that much harder to decimate him and his team. She was holding back, but not anymore.

She flew toward the wall as she circled, kicking off the structure so she could hard change her direction without sacrificing her momentum flying pass the men and torches in her go, the wind pushed from her wings and frost snuffing all the flames. The sword of Raphael reduced to a mere dim. When she met the other side of the gymnasium again, she kicked off the wall more using the force to repeat what she did before. As she flipped her body to stomp the ground, she kept what Gnicolas said in mind. Condensing her mana since before she reverse her trajectory and then pushing out as her heel hit the floor. A lavender magical circle flashing before it gave way to massive black ice stalagmites piercing up from the ground. The men in her affect barely dodging he black shards while Raphael was getting the brunt of her attack. Most of her ice was directed at him. It pierced his armor and damaged its holding, pieces falling off as they were severed. In another blow, he would hardly be able to survive her attack unharmed. Though the ice impressive, this was not enough for Lumi. This was not enough to match the might of her Uncle as he destroyed the fields he entered in his wake. It was here that she knew what she needed to push the spell to completion. Pass her usual limits.

She cackled dementedly in the dark, satisfied with her plotting. Sucking up the dark from the air to refresh her reserves. Extending her wings to their full capacity and beating them hard toward the ground, the dust of the floor kicking hard into the air and spreading from her force. Circling the men once more and picking up speed rapidly. Her laughter still slipping from her lips as she flew, but she moved so fast that the men could swear she was everywhere. They pose and confidence waning as they were reminded once more they faced the ice demon. Even if they survived two of her spells and it swelled their moral, they were reminded in her stalking that she was only practicing. They had no way to gauge the impact of her work until it reached completion and they had all night to figure it out. They crumbled with the fear of uncertainty. Raphael trying hard to maintain his composure. Out of his need to lead his men and to maintain his facade. He ignite his blade once more in his attempt to face her on.

Lumi took his challenge, he never had the honor of being her training dummy before. He never crossed her path. She kicked off the wall so hard this time, it cause some parts of it to crumble in the force. She was condescending her mana this time for the full duration of her flight. Honing and tempering it until it felt volatile and hard to hold within herself. The sensation was delicious. This time as she darted for them, she didn't flip her body until she was much closer. Her form became visible from the light of his sword giving way to the sight of the Daemon covered in shadow, six wings, talons, and piercing purple eyes. They hardly had time to react as she twisted her body to stomp the ground again. Stalagmites more fierce than any she mustered before. The sheer force of their creation cause the ground to crumble and give way. Rupturing the floor beneath their feet as they were succumbed to her spell and its destructive levels. She pulled herself back and marveled at her actions. Her face in a menacing grin until she looked over to her Uncle, immediately softening her features and smiling sweetly. Darting for him and tackling him in a hug. "I made this spell for ye!"

Raging Axe God learned (1288/2000 wc -50% wcr due to int)

Though the men were able to spot the silhouette of Lumikki, neither of their blades landed a hit. "She has wings!" one of the men shouted, fear in his words. They tried to keep their line together as they did their best to try and spot her in the dark, but the cold chill she was able to summon blew out the light from the lanterns and the flaming sword. They were all cast in darkness.

When the next strike was made, none of them were able to see it coming. The only true spectator was Brone, who was able to see the beauty of his niece's dance. He couldn't help but grin widely as he was amazed by how Lumikki was able to move the darkness and cold with her with such ease. The beauty of her art had distracted him from the reality that his men were in serious danger.

"How is she doing?" Gnicholas asked as he tried to find his student's silhouette in the darkness.

"She's blessed by the primal elements" Brone kept his eyes on the battle. As for the gnome, he sucked his teeth, annoyed that the dwarf wasn't giving him proper detailing to training. He began to feel around the floor for one of the lanterns, but the moment Raphael lit up his sword again, Gnicholas locked his eyes on the scene again. "Oh!" he was excited to see the black ice shards that were jutting from the ground. He quickly calculated the damaged area, the form of the ice and the difficulty the men were having so he could properly grade Lumikki's formation, power output, and her tactics.

As the gnome the wrote down his numbers, Brone watched as Lumikki dove through the darkness seeming to resemble the shadow of a Roc, the mighty wings resemblance of the night sky. She collided with the ground and large stalagmites of black ice erupted from the ground, causing it to open up, swallowing up the night patrol and causing the gnome, though out of the range of the spell, to topple over.

"Yeah! Look at ye!" Brone's hands were thrown into the air in excitement. The moment Lumikki ran to him, he returned the embrace; leaning back so he could lift her off her feet and twirl her around before setting her back down, "Ah, Opal Eyes! You're as wonderful as an Angel... a fallen angel with wings as dark as the night sky!" his excitement was still ringing in words. He looked over to the destruction of the gym, "And ye fell hard!" he laughed.

Gnicholas found a lantern and lit it so he could inspect the stalagmites. He gave a low whistle, impressed by the conjuration, "This creation and power..." he quickly wrote a few equations.

'Ye think she can fight her first dragon?" Brone asked the gnome, finally turning his attention to him.

Gnicholas was quiet for a moment, looking as if he didn't want to entertain Brone's joking nature... but he then nodded, "She may be able to face off again her first dragon" the gnome answered as he was nibbling on the end of his pen, going over the equations over and over to make sure his calculations were correct, "Tactical movement, pass; Formation and creation, pass; and of course offensive power, pass. That's an A+" Gnicholas finally faced Lumikki with a smile on his face.

Brone cheered, giving a small jump into the air, though his head still didn't surpass Lumikki's height.

"Now I need to your supplementary ability" Gnicholas said, which made Brone fall silent and confused, not sure what the gnome meant.

* * *

After Brone helped the Night Patrolmen out of the pit. He laid them on yoga mats. They were all groaning in pain, some were bleeding, though not heavily, while the rest were heavily bruised.

"Call forth your magic from the shadows, but not with aggression, but compassion; remember that the darkness can be fearing, but also a comfort, for most animals, especially of my height and smaller use the darkness for safety" Gnicholas explained as he raised a hand, showing Lumikki how a bit of the darkness slowly crawled, curled and uncurl around his hand like smoke. He then walked over to Raphael and placed his hand upon an open wound on the abdomen. The shadow caressed the wound, causing it to quickly close up, "Don't solidify your magic, but allow it to pulsate over the wound like giving small exhales" He would gesture to the other patrolmen, encouraging her to practice.

"O-oh! N-no!" Dante began to panic but one look from Brone had shut him up from speaking further.

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"What's wrong mate. Wanna still take 'em sick days of yours. Promise I won't bite this time, I don't reeeally aim ta kill ya." She pulled back her lips in a smile that showed off her fangs, giving a chilling glare at Raphael on the floor before looking back over to Dante in a more sweet manner. She was only teasing him, though she was hardly playing with Raphael. She could only hope he picks up her malicious intent, least to knock his grandiose facade.

She looked Dante over, thinking hard about the comfort her teacher had mention to her. She herself found tremendous comfort in both the primordial forces. As if they enveloped her in their comforting embrace, suspending her like one whose dove within the ocean. The sensation would be just about the same. The rocking motion of the endless essence moving you gently and without intention as you resided within its domain. Suspending your senses as you let it take you, the near quiet and minimal light mixing with the feeling of the element rocking you into a mediation. Even in the turbulence of the ocean currents, the helplessness it grants you when it makes you feel so small in its overwhelming presence would bring her comfort. As she enjoyed the sensations of the innate power her elements commanded.

She would think over the stories her Nan would tell her about how they all derive from the primordial frost. Her whole family are but descendants with enough of the old ways still within them that they could maintain their gift of commanding the frost. A gift the old mother had granted some of her children but long ago. Lumikki would also grow to understand how the frost and dark were entangled in the other. Ever existing together. Her Nan only knew of the frost but from her new found gift she felt complete as she felt the two forced tangle with her as well. Learning what she could of the Darkness that preceded all along side her sister. It was a desire of hers to deliver all those she fought back to the mothers, bring them peace in their passing or the dread of realizing how small they always were. Even deep within she knew that when the moment came and she become a Demon, this would be her driving force. To return all to as it was when it all began. She was but the primordial taken form in one to remind the world of its presence. That the warmth and light they had ran to for all this time was but temporary and small compared to their existence. She would feel the echos at times as the magic of the two sisters would pulse in her. Their feelings made known as they surged within her. Lumikki loved to feel their intensity as she would try and hone in on it and compress it as much as she could, feeling the ache from the power and the boundaries it had within her.

Lumikki sunk back in within herself, thinking about the comfort that the darkness around them was giving her. The air around her began to chill as well, if her eyes were opened she would even be able to see their breathe. She let the primordial wash over her as she put her hands together in a prayer. Hoping that they would reveal their influence in her even more, pushing what she thought she was capable of that much more. She knew she would harm, hinder, and create; but could she heal as well? She didn't quite know.

She open her eyes when she felt the peak of the energy within surging throughout her, making her almost feel jittery as she tried to contain it. She placed her hand on the wound visible on Dante, he winced from the cold of her hands and the pain of her touch; but he know better than to move away. As she took a deep breath and a hard exhale, her dark frost would creep along her skin. Black flowers would sprout and bloom withing the confides of his wound, mending his flesh ask it was in encased by her frost. When she was done exerting her magic, the flowers would crumble and fade away leaving his wound sealed and healed. The pain would leave him too.

"Tha..that didn't hurt... It was surprisingly cool and refreshing. Like icing of an ache." Dante would manage to muster through his bewilderment. He never would of expected that the demon could heal. Especially with just seeing the terror that she just was.

The lanterns were returned to there appropriate spots to produce enough light for everyone to see... or at least for Gnicholas so he can provide proper feedback on what he inspects. After allowed Lumikki to train her new healing spell upon the Night Patrolmen, except for Raphael, Gnicholas suggested to Brone to dismiss his men since they had sustained too much injury. The dwarf was going to deny it, having too much trust in his men, but as he looked at the night patrol, he saw how exhausted they were, regardless of the healing they had received. So he agreed, and the moment he gave the word to dismiss them, the entire squad rushed out of the gymnasium as quickly as their bodies could take them.

"I suppose this should end the training since we don't have any other volunteers" The gnome sighed as he continued to pen down his evaluation.

Brone didn't like the idea. He was already too excited to see more of what Lumikki could do. Looking her over, he assumed she seem to be fine, but he dared not push her too far, "Lass! I'll be yer next training dummy!" He happily said as he crossed his arms, smiling with confidence.

"I don't want to test her fighting prowess on you yet, Brone, I need her to focus on developing her magic without worry of your axes flying everywhere" Gnicholas looked up from his notepad, trying to shoo the dwarf away.

"Then I won't move; I'm called the Shield of Dawn for a reason" The dwarf gave the gnome a wink before he stepped over to a clear area where enough light was shining upon him so the gnome could properly observe, "Whenever yer ready lass! Go all out and show me what yer can forge from yer furnace!" he yelled out, activating his armor which sprouted ice that spread throughout his body like a second skin.

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A large grin would creep along Lumi's face as her Uncle decided to step in to help her practice more spells. She was jumping in place from excitement, her black wings materializing in an instant from all the surrounding darkness present.

She crouch for a moment, getting herself ready to set out again, then jumped toward the air behind her as she entered her element of darkness once more. She knew it did nothing against the dwarf's sight, he could pierce the darkness as fine as she could, doesn't change how euphoric it made her to be submerged within it though.

She continued her dance around them, flying in circles and picking up speeds, she could even see with crisp clarity, her Uncle following her movement seamlessly with is eyes. She grinned back even harder, eyes glowing brightly purple. With her momentum, she directed her wings in angles that would make her spin in place, pointing out her arm in her Uncle's direction. Lose black shards formed and shot over. Though there were nothing to his armor. As she stopped her spin, she looked him over. An opponent to practice on with no worries that she could break him. She could not waste this and throw out pitiful attacks. He deserved all of her. How else would she face him with the ferocity and grit that the Guild Master commands. One of the few that she has heard from stories told that could best her precious Uncle. Forge, Lumi thought over. Pondering his words in relation to all her spells, to be a force to drive even the shield of dawn to flinch.

She pulled her arm back, ice forming and building around her. Taking on the various form of weapons. Sculpting frost to her whims was a skill she learned at the start of her frost practice. Her Nan taught her how to craft the most beautiful things in ice and snow. Thinking it would be hardy in the need of a moment or a good outlet for whimsy. Nan would use the frost to illustrate her tales in a flourish of dancing warriors and flying dragons. And Lumi thought fondly of the things she made with her Nan, and all the stories of the heroes of great she was told. She would picture them all now in her mind. Every fantastical and fanciful detail forming clearly within her mind and just as clearly in the air. Black weapons forged of her dark frost were becoming tangible in the just around her. Only just a few formed before her eagerness compelled her to test the grit of her Uncle before her. They sung in the sky as they flew toward Brone. Threatening to pierce all that stood by the fires. As the weapons flew out, she could only think of her Nan and all the things that Lumi had held dear. Hoping to mix those dreams with the danger that was her Guild Master, so that all who would feel her spell knew she was just as deadly. The weapons of the greats before her were but just a catalyst for her journey to pave the way and slay her own monsters. But for now she must prove she could even meet her Uncle before she could face any Seraphin, any Demons, or even the Gods.

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Seeing the smile upon her face gave him confirmation that she was happy to train with her uncle. Brone chuckled as he slipped on his blue helmet. The temperature dropping to the point Gnicholas had to draw a small blanket from his bag to wrap himself in. He was sure to be prepared now, given that two fearsome beings from the frozen lands were testing their might against one another. Though Brone wasn't planning on attacking, this may still be disastrous from Lumikki's side.

The moment Lumikkie's wings unfurled, Brone got himself ready, spreading his legs and tightening his posture, "Alright, lass! Let's see what ye got!" He yelled, his muscles tightening as he crossed his arms before him. He watched as his niece shot into the air, moving, twirling, as if dancing. The performance was like a melody, almost entrancing the dwarf, causing him to nearly missing the shards that pelted him.

Though Brone had thick skin, strong enough to handle the frozen north he was trained in since he was a child, the strength behind the shards had impressed him. The hailstorm ended up subsiding soon after. "Good storm, good storm! Ye got anything else-" The dwarf was in mid chuckle when he moved his arms away from his face to see an armada of weapons made of black ice levitating about the flying ice witch. Before he could say another word, Lumikki released the full force, practically throwing an entire armory at the dwarf.

Brone braced himself as the weapons struck him in a barrage. He thought back to when he was in his last battlefield where a war was right outside the city of Rush Valley. Weapons of many kinds had struck him as he fought against platoons after platoons. He couldn't dodge all of them, so he decided to bare the brunt of their attacks while he struck back. This was so familiar, Brone would argue that Lumikki would be able to revival an army with her power.

Gnicholas was standing with a blanket wrapped around him, mouth hanging open as he witnessed the creativity and the quantity of the assault. When he finally gained his composure, he quickly marked down the measurements of the spell.

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More, she could be so much more. And yet, she could give more, she needed to give more. Brone had slipped his helm prior to her dance, she hardly noticed the cold before in her excitement and movement. Though she welcomed it now and quite greatly as she inhaled deeply. Lumi let the cold and frost pour into her, drinking it hungrily. The pulse of the magic only feeding her manic desire to be more. To prove she has changed since she step foot within the guild and meet her Uncle again for the first time in ages.

He swore he wouldn't move, she thought. He would prove the validity of name and his pride of the shield of dawn. She wondered, as she began to condense the mana within her again, what name would she earn as she kept climbing. Would it be one so beloved like her Uncle Brone's? Or would she be described something more akin to the monster she knew that she risked becoming. Perhaps the dawn would finally need a dusk. Another side to the day that would do what was needed in more monstruous ways. Part of her from deep within mourned she would never shine or be as valiant as him. She soothed the pain and drew her hand back once more, it hung just behind her head.
The frost and dark withing the air materialized the black weapons even faster than before. Multiple lavender circles would appear for a moment as the weapons formed. Ribbons of darkness swirling and wrapping around the small shards forming in the air, rapidly piecing themselves together as the dark swirls warped and brandished them.

As the bases of her black arsenal formed, Lumi would think to herself. The stories of old? Of heroes? Would she ever get one of her own? The malice of her thoughts only shaped and pushed her weapons further, adding her remorse withing their dark shells as the frost would compact further, becoming denser. She would think off in her head quickly all the stories she's been told, all the warriors of legends with their great weapons. Axes began to form right beside her as her thoughts would think over her Uncle as well and the greatness he brought to this world. They materialize into the arsenal he was known to carry, even matching their likeness one for one, albeit in an obsidian shine. She thought further and further, with her cursed being, would she ever be as loved and revered as he? Would she too be a pillar of the dawns?

In her daze as she was lost in her thoughts, The entire wall's length was filled by her arsenal. It would seem she would make even more materialize, spanning more meters easily. Both the ice and air was dense from her spell. Each weapon masterfully recreated from her love of the stories and her obsession to remember even the tiniest of details. Every ornament, every ribbon, every carving showed lovingly in every weapon that hovered around her.

If I can't make them love me, as my Uncle could in his tales. Maybe I could make them fear me instead, she thought. May they not forget me....

She quickly sends her arm forward. The weapons that hovered and softly twirling in place, shot forward instantly, their passive twirling warping some to spinning missiles. They carved and pierced the air humming an eerie melody. Lumikki could only stand back and watch the hoard of weapon fly in the air and crash over Brone. Proud of the work she had mustered and wondering would it be enough to make him flinch.

For all the love she had for her precious Uncle, the more the Obscura cut into her as she desperately wanted to measure up to a great.

Once the barrage stopped, Brone peeked from over his forearms again. The weapons that scattered around him were more detailed and solid than the previous barrage. He grasped the hilt of a black axe embedded in his armor and pulled it out before inspecting the make. Though it was made of black ice, the make of the weapon was smooth and took on the shape well. He had seen ice-mages use such magic to create sculptures, but such magic required several minutes to make at best. A testament to his nieces ability; an artist in her own right.

"Alright, another go!" He said as he braced himself once more; this time his secondary arms were pulled out from his sash, crossed before him to brace for impact of the next barrage that was already building up. A wall of weapons were conjured. And soon enough, they sailed towards him too.

This assault was more powerful than the last. Axes, swords, spears, were all raining down upon the dwarf and around him. Several blades slammed against his armor, others hit his open body, tearing at his clothing and marking his helmet too. Then he began to hear cracks. Something heavy and quick hit the center of his forehead, strong enough to cause him to stumble back a few steps.

When the storm was done. He reached up to pull out the spear that was longed into his damaged helmet. The detailing on the spear was perfect. There were even etchings ranging from runic to elven-like swirls. Brone wasn't sure how mages were able to do such things, but his own niece cause conjure this in seconds.

"I think ye got this perfectly, lass!" He called to Lumikki.

One of his helm's horns had suddenly fallen off.

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"In Lumikki's barrage, she iced over. Lost with her thoughts and worries of inadequacy. She rained her might on the one person she thought could take it, the one she needed to at least flinch. To move, even if it was just a little. This absorbed Lumi as she feel into a complete daze, all she could do is bask in the beauty and power of her spell. But then...but then, one of her stray spears had hit the mark of his helm and the dwarf, he not only flinched for her but he stepped back... Even the might of his frost armor and four arms...he was driven back.

Lumikki, fell to her feet as the haze wore off, almost stumbling to the ground as her soles hit the floor. She took a moment to gather herself, pulling every fiber of her being toward her core. Pulsing and doing so as quicky as she could in her random burst of anxiety, then icing herself over for good measure. A tundra of her own choice and will as she smiled to herself for her victory, it was hers indeed, and worth the celebration. At least she reasoned this with herself over and over again as she ran over to inspect her Uncle carefully. Looking over the cuts and wounds.

She inhaled and pulled back within her mind as quick as she could, her comfort is her Uncle safe and healed. She gripped his arms with both of her hands, her black frost racing along his skin. The black flowers budded and blossomed in seconds compared to before, withering and giving way to healed wounds in an instant."Ah much better, no? Ye feel good as stone now yea?"

When her fret was over, she was back at peace. The dark within slipped and snatched her in a moment of vulnerability. Though the power and craft were truly hers and within her grasp, the thought to point them at her Uncle so maliciously even for a moment shook her. She hugged him deeply, poured all her affection and humanity into her embrace. As she did, she held a flower charm in her hand. Clutched tightly as she reminded herself that she was above the abyss. The inverted darkness.

In her dissociations, she hardly got to marvel at her work. She looked over the frost spear her Uncle had in his hand and traced her fingers on the runes and studied the detail. She couldn't believe she crafted this. So perfectly? And in and instant? She didn't realize just how much she burned within her mind. Done to the minuet flourished of something so obtuse and small. She didn't realize how much she loved and cared so deeply. "Perhaps I really could forge....though I never thought I had it in me Uncle. What do ye think of me work?"

She took a pause to take the moment in before reciting the tale of this piece. Its origin and legend. As all deserve.

"The spear of Ríkruisce. An elf with the force of a rushing tide and the patience to wear down any foe. He was an Athlas Elf tasked by the great tree Yesan-Qaphas to hunt those that betrayed the high elves and endangered their mother. There were not many green elves to commit this offense, but many found no mercy from  Ríkruisce. He took his duty to the heart and used the spear to poke at all his opponents defenses. With every weak point, he would break away a piece of their armor. Washing away their defenses until they were laid bare before him. At that point, they would begin to plead for their lives, but as a current doesn't mind dragging ye under Ríkruisce did not mind taking 'em swiftly. It did not take long before he hunted all the exiled, and in his time was peace. For as long as Ríkruisce lived, no green elf thought it best to cross him. His spear named wǣg kept by his side til his end." Lumikki finally looked back over to her Uncle after reciting the small tale. She read it weeks ago as she visited the library.

"Teacher, did I do well with this spell too?"

Brone relaxed his muscles as he see Lumikki descending to the ground, but the moment she stumbled, he rushed over to meet her. But as always, she assured him that she was tougher than she looked. He wanted to congratulate her on her spells, but the sudden grasp of his hands caused him to remain silent. The cold chill ran up his arms and traveled throughout his body; memories flooded him of when he surfaced to the snowy mountain tops after a long day at the forge. The moment he broke through the surface, he felt the cool chill of the tundra, washing over him and cleaning him of the forge's heat. He wasn't even two decades old then, such a memory will always stay with him.

He came back to the present to see that his wounds were fully healed, "I should fire Vivian and just hire ye, with how good ye are with healing" Brone chuckled, remembering he had a check up with the head nurse Vivian back at the medical wing in a few weeks. Problem was that the dwarf didn't like being poked or prodded during his check-ups, finding it tedious and annoying.

He continued to inspect his arms, amazed by how the wounds were gone when he heard Lumikki reciting a story. Brone looked up to watch his niece lightly trace the detailed etchings on the spear she grabbed. The story seemed so heroic. Many dwarves enjoyed such tales, allowing it to fuel their fire for adventure.

Brone pulled up one of the black axes from the ground and checked the handy work. He looked over to a nearby wall of standard swords that were mounted for combat practice. With one good throw, the axe flew across the way and slammed into one of the swords, snapping it in two while the axe was intact and imbedded in the wall, "Each of yer makings are stronger than most of the weapons in the armory, lass... that speaks volumes" Brone's voice was calm with a hint of pride. He would then look over to Lumikki with a bright smile.

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