"Who are you calling an idiot?" Amberine snapped, her voice laced with indignation. "I'm the one who summoned you, remember? Show some respect!"
Ignis folded his tiny arms and gave her a withering look. "Respect? For you? You can barely control your own magic, let alone me."
Amberine's cheeks flushed with anger. "I control my magic just fine, thank you very much! And I don't need some little flame sprite telling me what to do!"
Ignis's eyes glowed brighter, and suddenly, a small but intense flame burst forth, filling the room with an intense heat. Amberine yelped and stumbled back, her heart pounding in her chest. The flames danced dangerously close to her precious notes and artifacts.
"Stop it! You'll burn everything!" Amberine shouted, her voice high-pitched with panic.
"I'll stop when you start listening," Ignis retorted, his voice as hot as the flames he controlled.
Amberine's mind raced. She needed to douse the fire, but water wasn't her specialty—fire was. She frantically tried to summon water, her hands shaking as she muttered the incantations. A few pitiful droplets appeared, sizzling as they evaporated almost instantly in the intense heat.
"No, no, no! This isn't working!" Amberine wailed. "I don't have money to cover damages! I'd be dead if anything breaks!"
Ignis snorted, the flames receding slightly but still flickering menacingly. "Pathetic. Can't even summon a decent amount of water. What kind of mage are you?"
Amberine glared at him, her frustration boiling over. "A better one than you think! If you don't stop this, I'll—"
"You'll what?" Ignis interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Set me on fire? Oh, wait—you can't even manage that."
Amberine clenched her fists, feeling the heat of her own magic building within her. "I'll find a way to deal with you, Ignis. Just watch."
"Deal with me?" Ignis scoffed. "You can't even handle basic elemental control. You need me more than I need you."
Amberine's eyes narrowed. "What do you want from me, Ignis? Why are you here if all you're going to do is criticize?"
Ignis floated closer, his flames flickering ominously. "I'm here because your summoning spell connected us. But you clearly don't understand the power you've tapped into. You need guidance."
"I don't need guidance from a rude, condescending fire spirit," Amberine shot back. "I can handle this on my own."
Ignis's flames flared up again, making Amberine take another step back. "You think you can handle it? Prove it. Show me you can control your magic without causing a disaster."
Amberine felt a surge of determination. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to steady her nerves. She focused on the calm, steady flame Ignis had mentioned earlier, imagining it in her mind. Slowly, she extended her hand and muttered the incantation for water once more. This time, a small but steady stream of water formed, enough to extinguish the flames that Ignis had conjured.
Ignis watched, his expression unreadable. "Not bad," he admitted grudgingly. "But you've got a long way to go."
Amberine opened her eyes, relief washing over her as the immediate danger passed. "So, you'll help me then? Teach me how to control my magic properly?"
Ignis crossed his arms again, his flames dimming slightly. "I'll consider it. But you need to show me that you're willing to learn and respect the power you wield."
Amberine nodded, her earlier anger giving way to determination. "I'll prove it to you. I'll show you that I can be a great mage."
Their argument escalated, each word laced with more heat and fury than the last. Amberine's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Who did this spirit think he was, coming in here and acting all high and mighty? But as the argument raged on, Ignis revealed something that made her stop in her tracks.
Their argument escalated, each word laced with more heat and fury than the last. Amberine's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Who did this spirit think he was, coming in here and acting all high and mighty? But as the argument raged on, Ignis revealed something that made her stop in her tracks.
"I was summoned due to a calling," Ignis said, his tone more serious now. "And thanks to your harmonization of the elements, the connection between me and you was made easier. I've been waiting for you to notice me since your first attempt at harmonizing the magic circles."
Amberine blinked, her anger momentarily forgotten. "The first time? But... that was a long time ago!"
"Exactly!" Ignis exploded, tiny sparks flying from his fiery form. "Do you have any idea how annoying it is to be stuck here, waiting for you to figure it out?"
Amberine bit her lip, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I... I didn't know."
"Clearly," Ignis muttered, rolling his eyes.
Despite their clashes, a thought began to form in Amberine's mind. If this spirit had been summoned due to her magic, and he had knowledge about the magic circles and the cosmic energies they harnessed, then maybe... just maybe... he could be useful. She'd heard stories of mages forming contracts with spirits, gaining immense power and prestige as a result.
If she could do the same, she might finally surpass Elara, take her revenge on Draven, and earn the respect she craved. Riches, power, fame—it all seemed within reach.
She tried to keep her excitement in check, not wanting to give Ignis any more reasons to mock her. "So... if you're here because of the magic circles, does that mean you know how they work?"
Ignis raised an eyebrow, or at least gave the impression of doing so. "Of course I do. I have knowledge of the elements and the cosmic energies that you can only dream of."
Amberine's eyes lit up, her earlier anger forgotten. "Then teach me! We can form a contract, and—"
"No," Ignis cut her off, his tone flat.
Amberine's enthusiasm deflated like a punctured balloon. "What? Why not?"
"Because I'm not making a contract with a brat," Ignis replied, his eyes narrowing. "You need to prove yourself worthy of my guidance. Respect me and my knowledge, and maybe then we'll talk about a contract."
Amberine bristled at being called a brat but forced herself to calm down. This spirit had the power and knowledge she needed. She couldn't let her pride get in the way. "Fine. We'll do it your way. I'll respect your guidance, but you have to teach me everything."
Ignis studied her for a moment, as if weighing her sincerity. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. We have a deal. But remember, I'm not your tool. I'm your mentor."
Amberine nodded eagerly, her mind already racing ahead to all the possibilities. "So, what's first?"
Ignis's fiery form seemed to grow a little brighter. "Now, lesson one..."
Amberine stared at Ignis, the flickering flames around him casting dancing shadows on the walls of her room. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for. She couldn't mess this up. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus.
"Lesson one," Ignis repeated, his tone more measured now. "Control. You lack it. Your magic is all over the place, and that's why you can't summon water properly. You need to learn how to channel your energy more efficiently."
Amberine nodded, feeling a mix of determination and frustration. She knew he was right, but it was hard to hear. "Okay, so how do I do that?"
Ignis floated closer, his fiery form radiating heat. "First, you need to calm your mind. Your emotions are like fuel for your magic, but if you let them run wild, they consume you. Close your eyes."
Amberine did as she was told, closing her eyes and trying to steady her breathing. She could still feel the heat from Ignis, a constant reminder of his presence.
"Now," Ignis continued, his voice softer. "Imagine a flame. Not a wild, uncontrollable blaze, but a steady, calm flame. It burns brightly, but it doesn't waver."
Amberine pictured the flame in her mind, trying to block out the distractions around her. She focused on its steady glow, feeling her heartbeat slow down.
"Good," Ignis said. "Now, take that calmness and extend it to your entire being. Let it flow through you, steady and strong."
Amberine tried to do as he instructed, feeling the calmness spread through her body. It was a strange sensation, like she was becoming one with the flame she had imagined.
"Now," Ignis's voice broke through her concentration. "Summon water again. But this time, don't force it. Let it flow naturally, like the calm flame inside you."
Amberine opened her eyes, feeling a newfound sense of control. She held out her hand and muttered the incantation, focusing on the calmness within her. This time, the water didn't come out in pitiful droplets. A steady stream flowed from her hand, cool and refreshing.
"I did it!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise and delight.
Ignis nodded, a small smile playing on his fiery lips. "Yes, you did. See what happens when you have control?"
Amberine grinned, feeling a surge of pride. "Thank you, Ignis. That really helped."
"Don't thank me yet," Ignis said, his tone serious again. "That was just the first step. There's still much to learn. You need to master each element and their harmonization. Only then can you truly unlock the power of the magic circles."
Amberine's eyes sparkled with determination. "I'm ready. Teach me everything."