As the morning of the next day rose high into the sky, Fei clutched her staff; her ears twitched as she stood amongst a green field that stretched around her.
Her bandaged hands shook with every breath— even with Lucian encouraging her from the side, her heart was racing.
"You can do this!" Lucian exclaimed whilst raising his right hand high— his hand was giving one thumbs up.
What if I can't? Fei thought as she looked down at the staff in her hands. I don't know how to use this…
With one last glance at a supportive Lucian, she took a deep breath.
Without resistance, she called upon the mana in her body. A usual cold but comforting feeling came from her heart— it listened to her will, navigating up to her shoulder and snaked into her arms— finally reaching the palms of her hands.
Is- is this how you do it…? Subconsciously Fei averted her eyes to Lucian. Is…
Seconds later, her mana hit a barrier. In other words, the birch wood of the staff. With a slight push, it pierced through, and a connection was made between her and the staff.
I-I think I'm getting it…. A white cloud exuded from her hands; in addition to an icy layer forming onto the staff.
Now… now I just need to make it to the crystal…
Once inside the cyrstal, her mana became akin to a defiant child— it was barely listening to her command, yet it slowly pushed through. A minute passed, to her it felt like an eternity, but her mana poked the crystal on top.
A bright, white glow formed from underneath— quickly, it grew till it enveloped the inside.
"U-Um what should I do?"
"Do what comes to your mind!" Lucian called out to her. A huge grin was plastered on his face whilst watching her.
With a slight nod, Fei closed her eyes. A few seconds later, chains of a deep blue ice popped in her mind.
Thus, her mana listened to her will; the glow fizzled, then something tugged at her tail— first, soft, then her legs collapsed underneath her.
"AH!"
Unfortunately, she didn't give an aim to her spell; promptly, the ice chains she manifested in her mind, wrapped around her tail. Crocodile tears formed in her ocean blue eyes as they stared at her crafted prison
Wound tight— and her heart pounding against her chest about ripping the fur off her tail; she gawked at the young man not far from her with pleading eyes. However, he only covered his face, slight chuckles resounded from his mouth.
He- help-! Fei cried inside her mind. The tightly woven chains on her tail caused a permanent chill to run up her spine.
"Alright! Alright!" Lucian let out as he set his hand on his knee. "Maybe you should be aiming… hahah…"
"Th-thanks…"
Contrary to her expectations, the chains holding her tail cracked at Lucian's fingers. Then the slightest tug shattered them; even his mouth had to gape at this sight.
"Did you make these weaker?"
"N-no…"
"You sure?"
"Y-Yes…"
After Fei got to her feet, her body glowed a pure white— outlining her head to toe. Where her eyes met with the grass, a deep blue chain, with locks as thick as her arms sprang forth.
"Th-This… is what- I- I tried to make…"
"Hm?"
Without thinking Lucian parked his finger right on top, and immediately retracted them. He sucked in his breath whilst saving his hand around.
"Yeah… I believe you…." He said whilst rubbing his hands together.
From a mere nanosecond in contact with the chain, it sent a piercing cold shot from his finger all the way up to his shoulder.
"A-Are you okay?"
"Yeah! I wasn't thinking that was that cold!" Lucian exclaimed, eventually the cold disappeared from his body allowing him to give a smirk. "Keep practicing, I think you'll get better."
"O-Okay…"
Her partner took a seat right back where he was. Whilst she held her staff tighter to her chest, she continued her small practice. This time she kept her eyes open and willed her mana on the spots her eyes focused upon.
At first, her spells were like defiant children; accidentally yanking her tail down two more times; forming to the side or to her right and left. By the sixth chain, it formed right where her eyes stayed.
I-I did it! Fei mentally exclaimed, this time her heart beating in a hastened yet excited way. A small smile formed on her lips, and her eyes were glued on the cloudy crystal of her staff.
That excitement that jolted her heart ceased as she continued.
"Hm, Fei, why don't you try something else?" By her eighth chain, Lucian spoke out with his right arm raised.
"O-Okay…"
Despite a sluggish feeling beginning in her body, she listened to him. With arms raised, a clear and decently sized spike inside her mind, she released her mana.
Slowly, the base was crafted; just two inches in diameter, reaching an inch in height; it molded into the tip which was just double the height and a fourth of the diameter.
At the top was a sharp point that was brittle to the slightest breath.
I need to keep going…
From the rumors she had heard, a brittle ice spike won't hurt anything… Tales from adventures foretold beasts who could only get hurt by swords, maces, flails…
As her thoughts clouded her head, Lucian's voice entered her ears.
"Why don't we stop for the day?" Lucian suggested whilst in her vision. He had a rigid frown and knitted eyebrows. "You're using too much mana again."
"I'-I'll be okay…"
"No you won't."
"I'-"
"Fei, those cracks are appearing again." Lucian's words cut her off, and caused her eyes to widen. "They're going up your neck, you need to take a break."
Just as Lucian said, there were deep black marks, similar to lightning jaggedly running up her neck; she raised her hand and traced her fingers there— rough, rougher than sandpaper. Despite them appearing deep into her skin, they were surface level.
"I'-I'll stop…" Fei blubbered out as she started to breathe faster. "I'm s-so, sorry…"
Lucian merely smiled.
Many times in the past Fei had used her mana for simple things; holding items up, cooling drinks, or grabbing objects. Unfortunately, her mana tank seemed small, just barely using them for tasks caused cracks to run up her chest, then to the rest of her body.
Paired with the tired look she gained, Lucian always stopped it before it got too late. Such as now, Fei tried to take a step and stumbled. Before she fell to the ground, Lucian stuck his arm out and caught her by wrapping his arm around her.
"Well…"
Before she could let out a peep, she was swept off her feet; Lucian held her back up, and his other arm behind her knees.
"No walking for you." His words caused her face to turn beet red in addition to her ears vibrating in embarrassment. 'Cute…'
"I-I can- can walk!"
"Nope, until you look fine, I'll carry you."
"Th- then…"
"Nope, let's get going!"