[h3][color=black][b]Earthland - Phoenix Wing Guild Hall[/b]
Rutger Artz[/color][/h3]
"Ah, so it's a bit like elemental Metal magic I guess?" Rutger said as Damien explained and demonstrated his magic. "Except instead of other forms of metal, you're just using various types of blades? Is it only swords and knives, or could you make things like axe and spear heads, or the kind of spinning buzz saw like in a woodshop?" 

Vincent was the next to display his magic, and while Rutger was impressed, he tried to keep himself from rolling his eyes when Vincent bragged about creating it himself and mastering it.

"Can't a lot of elemental-type mages learn to transform their bodies into the element they control?" he said, somewhat dismissively. "Your magic doesn't seem like something "original" as it does just like a focused branch of Lightning magic. I think I read somewhere once that Laxus Dreyar of Fairy Tail was able to transform into a lightning bolt and move in that manner. And even if you stumbled on it on your own instead of learning from someone, isn't saying you're a master of it a little...presumptuous?"

Master Jamie had similar things to say, and mentioned that the magic xe could use was capable of changing environmental properties. Rutger thought that, if his assumption was correct and the master also used transformation magic to give xemself that strange, ever shifting appearance, that the two magics were probably a very potent combination. 

He felt a little bashful and nervous now, as he held up a hand to demonstrate his own magic. He concentrated only on using just enough to show them, and on keeping it tightly contained. In his palm, a black flame, tinged with purple and dark red, bloomed about the size of a flower. It pulsed and thrummed, crackling at its edges as if it were seeking a route to break free of the mage's control.

"My magic is the Flame type God Slayer magic...I learned it from an enchanted tome that I got my hands on by sheer chance. I don't think even the fellow I bought it from knew what it was, because I couldn't even read it until I figured out the spell on it. At first I wanted to learn it just out of idle curiosity...but now, before I can put it to any real use, I've got to control it. It got away from me once...and I can't let it happen ever again." He clenched his fist, smothering the flame. "It doesn't just burn...it's like a halberd of destruction that obliterates anything in its path."

When Damien challenged him and Vincent to a test of their skills without their magic, Rutger again looked somewhat embarrassed, and scratched the back of his head.

"Um, I...can't really fight, I don't think. I've never been trained in martial arts or anything. Back home I tried the folk wrestling games we had in the village festivals a few times, but I never won first place."

They all turned as someone new entered the guild, asking questions about someone they were looking for. The Master and Damien were instantly suspicious, but this person didn't seem all that threatening at first glance. Then again, Rutger knew from personal experience that you couldn't judge books by their covers. He sat quietly and let the others do the talking, more than content to observe. He hoped things wouldn't escalate too much.