10-19-2013, 09:43 AM
Curiosity rather than concern danced behind the intensity of his gaze. Alric's struggle was well-contained, but the man dawdled long enough to spike a sense of doubt in his teacher. Nikolai's gracious instruction was not born from the kindness of his soul but from the angle of strategy. If Alric let himself die at the first challenge, Nikolai was going to be gravely disappointed.
In the end, a web of faint color tangled through the cloth and wrenched the fire away. The task was accomplished decently enough, though the delay ruined Alric's pants until there was nothing but singed highwaters remaining.
More interesting than the successful dissipation, was being in the presence of another of his own kind. The menace lurked like a shadow drawn far afield from its source. Yet Nikolai knew its directionality and strength, and judged both clearly. Indeed, he had felt the sensation before.
Perhaps more interesting than the sheer volume of power Alric was capable of controlling, was the smug cast to his expression at doing so. Although he was still pinned to the wall, it was almost as if the man was daring Nikolai to deal him another challenge. He would not win praise so easily from Nikolai, who found congratulations given for a job one was expected to do anyway to be unmerited. Instead, Nik relinquished his captive and Alric dropped unceremoniously to the floor. By the time he'd reached his footing, splintered tendrils of razor sharp whips were snapping the air all around him, caging him in. They struck the wall around his shoulders and lashed around the rim of his boots. Nik aimed each blow to barely miss Alric, but the thunderous cracking of the air inches from his ears grew ever closer with each round like some spray of bullets barely missing their mark.
Above the sound of splintering air, Nikolai divided an effortless corner of his powers to amplify the sound of his voice without the need to strain. Yelling was an unbecoming behavior he did not condone, even to broadcast his commands.
"Again,"
he ordered expectantly, voice supernaturally rising above the din of noise. "Save yourself."
Upon that second command, a snake-like strike bit into Alric's arm, ripping the cloth of his shirt with scalpel-like precision. A thin red line welled beneath, shallow but likely stinging sharp as a paper cut. The blows continued to cage him in, and every once in a while a random snap found flesh, continually urging Alric to defend himself. Nikolai, meanwhile, sat back unconcerned, yet he offered a single hint for this newly adopted son of his, "Listen to instinct."
In the end, a web of faint color tangled through the cloth and wrenched the fire away. The task was accomplished decently enough, though the delay ruined Alric's pants until there was nothing but singed highwaters remaining.
More interesting than the successful dissipation, was being in the presence of another of his own kind. The menace lurked like a shadow drawn far afield from its source. Yet Nikolai knew its directionality and strength, and judged both clearly. Indeed, he had felt the sensation before.
Perhaps more interesting than the sheer volume of power Alric was capable of controlling, was the smug cast to his expression at doing so. Although he was still pinned to the wall, it was almost as if the man was daring Nikolai to deal him another challenge. He would not win praise so easily from Nikolai, who found congratulations given for a job one was expected to do anyway to be unmerited. Instead, Nik relinquished his captive and Alric dropped unceremoniously to the floor. By the time he'd reached his footing, splintered tendrils of razor sharp whips were snapping the air all around him, caging him in. They struck the wall around his shoulders and lashed around the rim of his boots. Nik aimed each blow to barely miss Alric, but the thunderous cracking of the air inches from his ears grew ever closer with each round like some spray of bullets barely missing their mark.
Above the sound of splintering air, Nikolai divided an effortless corner of his powers to amplify the sound of his voice without the need to strain. Yelling was an unbecoming behavior he did not condone, even to broadcast his commands.
"Again,"
he ordered expectantly, voice supernaturally rising above the din of noise. "Save yourself."
Upon that second command, a snake-like strike bit into Alric's arm, ripping the cloth of his shirt with scalpel-like precision. A thin red line welled beneath, shallow but likely stinging sharp as a paper cut. The blows continued to cage him in, and every once in a while a random snap found flesh, continually urging Alric to defend himself. Nikolai, meanwhile, sat back unconcerned, yet he offered a single hint for this newly adopted son of his, "Listen to instinct."