Sekiyan Viginettes #4

Bradlin spotted Miresa reading a book under a tree as he arrived at the top of the hill. Arune was present as well, trying to get a glimpse of what her Other was reading, only to be waved away. He knew well that when Miresa was not training at the mage's lodge, she would be at this hill, playing hypnotic melodies on a flute or whistle, daydreaming, and occassionally reading.

"What book is that?" he asked--usually the books he saw Miresa reading had titles pertaining to the rich amount of lore and legend on Sekiya, especially books about past Gemsingers. But the book she held now was not as thick as the ones she usually read, and contained Ruhar glyphs as well as words in the Alweld.

"It's a spellbook--the high mage requested I study these spells and try to cast one before day's end--but he knows full well what happens if I try to cast a spell." Miresa sighed as she set the book on the grass.

Bradlin balked at this. "You mean..."

"Yes--I can't seem to wield magia at all." Miresa sighed and brushed away a tear. "Isn't it funny? I dream of being a blademage, and yet I cannot wield magia at all."

"How do you know you can't? Have you had your heart opened by Gem's Knowing?" Bradlin asked.

"She has, Sir Dragoon--and no color of magia was found in her heart." Arune replied. "That either means she cannot wield it at all, or what power she does have is very small and not able to be detected at this time."

"If I could, I would open your heart to see for myself, but what if there is power in you, power you don't even know about yet?" Bradlin mused. "I may not be able to wield magia now, but when I receive the Dragon Star in two years' time, power wil awaken within me--magia that fits the dragon I bond with...and the abilty to open others' hearts with Gem's Knowing. That's the one spell every magia wielder knows, even if they otherwise can't wield the magia of the opal."

"Well, if you really want to see if Miresa has power within her, choose a spell from the book and have her cast it." Arune suggested as she brought the book to Bradlin. "If she can control it, she likely has a small amount of that magia. Or, ask her to open your heart with Gem's Knowing, even!"

Bradlin thumbed through the book for a moment, only pausing to note a spell depicted as an arrow made of ice crystals. "Try this one...the ice spell Frost Arrow."

"Okay..." Miresa picked up the small gold-colored flute that lay by her bag and took a few steps back--if something went wrong, at least Bradlin and Arune would not be frozen. "Ready?"

"Ready!" Bradlin called back as he dashed behind a tree for protection.

"Ready!" Arune agreed.

"Here goes..." Miresa lifted her instrument to her lips, but before her lips met the mouthpiece, she spoke the spell's name. "Frost Arrow." As if responding to her naming the spell, the whistle in her hands glowed a bluish purple akin to tanzanite. With that, Miresa started the reel known in Telrain as "The Shattered Tysal", conjuring a small bluish white arrow that immediately shot for the tree! Bradlin and Arune dove to the ground as the small arrow ricocheted off the tree, freezing the point of impact and burrowing through the grass, leaving a trail of snow in its wake before fizzling out on its own.

Arune watched as the magia-produced ice melted, leaving the grass as it was just seconds earlier. "See why Miresa is so frustrated about her task?"

"Well, she at least named the spell and cast it!" Bradlin protested. "Wasn't that what she was told to do?"

"But I also have to be able to control it." Miresa interjected. "That I didn't do."