Chapter X
On a pedestal of pure obsidian lay the shattered remains of a pure white crystal. A chain of white gold lay coiled next to the shards. Where there had once been a sense of life in the jewel there was now only the dull glow from what little light could find its way into the chamber. Out from the shadows a gnarled and clawed hand reached out from the shadows, a dull glow came from it and the shards began to glow with life and reform. However the gem soon reshattered, the cause being that a single shard was not among the remains. The hand withdrew to the shadowed figure to whom it belonged.
***
Meanwhile
Wintrin watched as Magda taught Mia several ways to use her newfound power. At the moment she was learning the art of forming a weapon from her magic. After several attempts the end result was a fine katana that appeared to have a thin layer of glass holding the flames inside. Ofcourse there was no glass, the blade was pure flame. With how easily the power came to her he realized that she would reach the other half of her source with similar ease. But would she be able to combine them?
Suddenly he began to feel a very familiar pain in his left arm, right below the elbow. He tried to ignore it at first but it soon became impossible to ignore. He instictivly grabbed his arm and lifted a crude but strong sheild around it.
'No, I won't allow you to have it, the crystal must not be restored!' he thought, the pain soon left but so did the remainder of his strength. The sheild vanished with his loss of consciousness and the only proof of the encounter was a bright red mark that lay directly over the embedded shard.
"Wintrin!" yelled Mia as she hurried to the fallen Mage's side.
Magda turned to see what had happened, "Mia, are any of your companions healers?"
"Yes. I'll go get him," she said as she hurried to get Sage's assistance. Soon Sage, Calisto, and Kayura joined them.
"Blood and Fire, not again!" swore Calisto as she recognized what had happened.
