As the fire giant appears next to Libarius, the students all stop what they’re doing to look at it. They’re shocked stiff, again reminded of the absurdity of their teacher, who, allegedly, cannot cast a spell of his own power. When the fire giant disappears, somewhat begrudgingly for some, they all return to their practice. All but one.

  One student, witnessing Libarius’ strength for the first time, continues to look towards him and Flamma. This boy, even with his slouched posture, stands out, what with his large frame and bright blond hair that covers one eye. He was lackadaisical before, seemingly disengaged with the proceedings of the class, but now he’s openly not doing anything.

  He watches as Libarius stands over her and puts his cane beside her head. The student suddenly charges forward. His body transforms from flesh to pure electricity. He steps forward with a crash of thunder and weaves through his classmates. His movements are jagged, like an arc of lightning in the sky. Callidus begins to laugh as he gets passed by. Gracia turns, unconcerned, as the student reaches the long straight between Libarius and himself.

  In a matter of moments he is right near Libarius. As this student, body made of pure lightning, comes near, Libarius twitches, and with a quick flick of his wrist, not even bothering to look back, cuts through the student’s body with a sweep of his cane. It does nothing, however, a fact LIbarius realizes quickly. On his down swing, Libarius forces his cane into the ground, then pivots about it, slamming his gloved palm into the face of the student. Libarius’ hand passes into the boy’s face without issue. Libarius is unflinching, showing not even the slightest sign of pain even as his arm is plunged into the cloud of electricity. Libarius then pulls his hand back, the boy’s head reforming within his grasp, the spell having worn off. He’s glaring at Libarius with his bright green eyes, a single earring glinting in the sunlight. As he reforms, Flamma, still on the ground, chides him.

  “Ictus, what are you doing?” He responds quickly, his voice sounding bored.

  “You were in danger.”

  “I wasn’t. He’s our teacher, you know.” The whole time, Libarius has not loosened his grip, silently holding Ictus in place.

  “You expect me to trust somebody like this!?”

  “He’s…” Looking at Libarius holding Ictus in place, hardly blinking, looking at Ictus in a purely analytical sense, Flamma realizes she has no real reason to assume much of anything. “…probably not that bad.”

  “You don’t trust him either.”

  Libarius suddenly lets go of Ictus. As Ictus tries to stand straight, however, Libarius sweeps his legs with his cane and knocks him to the ground. He places his cane on Ictus’s chest and pushes him down.

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  “Stay there.” Flamma, meanwhile, sits up, which Libarius does not seem to mind. Libarius begins to circle around Ictus. “Very well then, as you so graciously arrived before me and displayed your magic, I shall begin my critique with you. Your magic converted your body, from bone to skin, into electricity. This conversion imbued you with several properties of lightning: most notable of them speed. However, weak as you are, that speed was too lackluster to have any purpose. It began with that booming thunder, yet you could not surpass it. You arrived after the sound, and as such, a quick approach became much less useful. And it came apart far too simply as well.”

  “You shoved your hand inside of me and didn’t even flinch. What was I supposed to do?” Libarius tilts his head at a question with such a simple answer.

  “Do not waver. Do not let yourself be denied. It was not as you believe it to be; you were not left no other option but to end your spell. I broke your image. You let fear creep into your mind, you wavered even slightly. You did not make a choice, I forced it upon you. All the most grave failings for a mage. And beyond just that most basic of failings, especially with it hampered by cloth, that electricity was dreadfully weak, hardly more than the slightest tingle against my skin. Lo, it was your weakness rather than my strength.”

  Ictus tries to sit up in his sullen temperament, but is again pinned to the ground by Libarius’s cane. He struggles against it, as of yet unaware of the monstrous physical strength Libarius possesses. However, despite how much larger Ictus is, he cannot move, and as he looks up at Libarius, he can tell that he is maintaining this hold without much in the way of effort. Ictus gives up and, taking Libarius’ advice to heart, rather than grow awed at Libarius’ strength, sulks over his own weakness. Libarius seems pleased with himself and begins to circle Flamma instead.

  “The major issue of your magic is a fundamental one. You have a weak, wavering image, and as such lose any conceivable boon in casting that spell rather than a simpler one that might better befit a mage of your skill. And it’s even more pathetic still, as convention would have it that a human figure would make the image much easier to maintain. And indeed, that spell was so lacking in strength that casting it is little more than a waste of time and energy.” Flamma seems downcast.

  “…yes sir.”

  Again Libarius seems pleased with himself. As Libarius basks in the seeds of growth he’s planted within them, another step towards his research, Flamma makes her way to Ictus. He still lays down, and Flamma sits hugging her knees beside him.

  “So you’ve finally come back.” His voice is still dispassionate as he responds.

  “I have.”

  “You’ve been gone for months.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Why’d you disappear like that?”

  “I went fishing.” Ictus turns on his side, facing away from Flamma. “I won’t go running off like that again. Promise.” Libarius appears, the clacking of his cane announcing his presence as he begins to speak.

  “When a mage gives his word he ought to keep it, anything to the contrary would wear down the fidelity of the image. If you intend to end your foolish bout in truancy, then I believe you shall make a powerful pawn in the coming battle.” Libarius walks away, leaving the baffled Ictus on the ground.

  “Huh? Battle? What? What battle?” Libarius walks away, leaving the baffled Ictus on the ground.