life-is-but-a-shadow

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I cuddle with my partners the rest of the day.) -Ema

Your partners seem very pleased with this fact.

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I nod, heading home.) -Ema

Mira and Sylo nuzzle you as you walk, Fang following not far behind.

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I nod.) Thank you. -Ema

Leah nods. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I nod.) -Ema

Leah hums. “If you wish to go more advanced, consider trying to find a way to emulate some wind moves with your flames. The attack styles are quite different.”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

Evasion. Redirection. Waiting for mistakes and taking advantage of it. -Ema

Leah nods. “Correct. That’s why flying is such an important skill.”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I try to think.) -Ema

Leah just waits patiently as you think about how most of Wind fighting is about evasion and redirection, trying to lead their opponent into making a mistake and then taking advantage of it.

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I wave.) I got the flying down. Is there anything else? -Ema

Leah hums. “Well, what else do you think of when fighting a wind user?”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I hum. I should find Leah.) -Ema

As you wander out of the building, you happen to come across her walking down one of the paths. She nods in greeting.

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I nod.) Go enjoy the rest of your day. (I get up and head out, humming.) -Ema

Quinn waves as you leave. “You too!”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I shake my head.) It's fine. If I was that worried, I'd have paid more attention to the clock. -Ema

Quinn nods. “I think it’s probably a good idea if I stop for the day, though. Don’t want to overdo it.”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

You can keep practicing if you want, but class has technically ended. I just didn't notice. -Ema

Quinn blinks. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to make you stay longer.”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I hum checking the time.) -Ema

You find that time for lessons actually ended a few minutes ago and neither of you noticed.

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I just keep an eye on her.) -Ema

Eventually she seems to have reached the maximum distance her hands can go apart and starts focusing on projecting it forward instead.

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I nod.) Hence the "distance". Take as long as you need, okay? -Ema

Quinn nods, not immediately going over to the torch circle. Instead, she focuses on in front of her, conjuring a flame between her hands before slowly working on spreading them further apart.

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I gesture to the torch with the circle.) Your goal is to light the torch from outside the circle. It's all about heat, focus, and honestly? Determination. -Ema

Quinn nods. “Ok...I gathered I’m not allowed to just shoot fire at it.”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

(I nod.) Which means you're on distance summoning, right? -Ema

Quinn nods. “I think so. I’m not really sure how that works.”

[life-is-but-a-shadow]

Pretty good. You? -Ema

Quinn nods. “Pretty good too. Learning from all the other instructors was kind of hard, but I got through it.”