Ember Academy
Kessler's face tightened at that, some flicker of real irritation breaking through his easy performance, and the third gust came at her not like a test at all but like something meant to actually hurt, a hard sharp blast that staggered her back a full step and sent the practice ring's loose sand whipping up around them both.
Sera's flame guttered, flared, and steadied, smaller now but still burning, still hers.
Kessler's didn't fare as well. The force of his own gust, thrown that hard, that fast, spun back on him in a way he clearly hadn't planned for, knocking him hard onto the sand of the ring in front of half the assembled class.
Silence, then laughter, quick and sharp, spreading through