Xeric’s eyes sought for something, or someone, in particular. The young, hot headed student Zaad and Samuel had mentioned from the infirmary, one that seemed to have potential yet it took gloating from the Demon to make her stay. Something the Esyire found to be a pity as from what the healer had said, the young Elf had decent raw talent and would’ve otherwise be wasted. Not something the Pyromancer teacher liked in the least but she had a feeling, a faint one, that if the Elf saw her own potential then she might actually work to master it. Not just linger within the College. 
 
Noting where the Elf was, the Pyromancer teacher’s eyes followed the student’s path to retrieve her dagger. It was firmly embedded into the table’s end of the teacher’s table. A small distance from the Esyire herself, which for Xeric was a convenience, as she watched the Wood Elf struggle to pull it out. Gingerly, the white scaled teacher walked towards the student while her tail shifted the helm of her skirt until she stopped just beside the Wood Elf. Her arms folded behind her, she glance towards the chaos left behind in Serge’s wake, the others either picked themselves off the ground or gathered items scattered about seemed to need a few moments. Plenty of time for her to coax the young woman into her demonstration, Xeric believed. 
 
“Ahem… I believe you’re the young Pyromancer that was in the infirmary. I have a request of you, if you’re up to,” Xeric asked, her tone serious and firm. “Then again, you’re recovering and it might be rather much for you to attempt. I don’t want you to exhaust yourself assisting me after all in the demo.” 

Auriel looked up from her failing attempt to pull her dagger from the table when the Pyromancy teacher addressed her. She had a scowl on her face, partially due to the stubborn dagger, and partially because the Esyire seemed to be acting like Zaad. She thought she'd gotten rid of him and his insults, but she couldn't help but feel that there was more fun to be had with that attitude tonight. She took a break from the dagger for a moment, not wanting to make herself look weak with her failure to pull it from the wood, then sarcastically said to the teacher. "What, did Zaad put you up to this?"

"No, if that pile of ashes had then it's unlikely he would've been able to move for long, long time. I merely overheard him mention to Khan about a bedridden...Doll Face, I think. Samuel, the healer told me about a Wood Elf that was a Pyromancer. So afterwards, with being in medical wing, I assumed it meant you would've been in worse condition then I see you in now." Her head looked over Auriel as if noting her current action as indicating otherwise. 

"Bloody Inferno, he did put you up to this." She'd had enough of being called Doll Face, but it occurred to her then that she'd never actually given her name to anyone but Althalus. It wouldn't make a difference with Zaad, but at least the others might bother using it. "I do have a name you know, so you can stop calling me Doll Face if you like looking so pretty. Call me Auriel." 

"Auriel, then. At least now I know who crystallized his face, about time. However, I think you could've done much more. Raw talent does need refinement but not all students are cut out to learn the true power a Pyromancer can obtain. Only those who are brave enough and sadly many lack such qualities." Xeric sighed a little and then turned, her eyes looked over the crowd. "It seems he might've been correct then and I rather not have you collapse after all. It won't do well if the one assisting in performance collapse, would it? I'll find someone else then and inform the Headmaster you might need more time to recover in the infirmary then." 

She was definitely not going to go back to the infirmary, and even though she could tell the words that came from Xerics mouth were probably put there by Zaad, she wouldn't just back down now. "I'll be damned if I go back to [i]bedrest[/i]. You've found your volunteer, I'm right here. I doubt any of these others have the stomach for it. So whats going to happen anyway? You should know I tend to burn things that aren't meant to be burned."

Xeric didn't smile, outwardly, as her words were blunt. "I won't worry about that. Pyromancy has many aspects, the one I need you for is to demonstrate how a Pyromancer can boost another's energy. You'll have more power and I'll also aid you in manipulating it into a shape, even moving the flame around. However, most the effort as well as the designed object is from you alone. I look forward to what you aim to create." 

The Eysire then moved forward and tightened around the handle. It started to glow a bit, just a slight heat pulsed though, while the wood that lodge the steel blade began to sizzle and scorch a bit. Xeric held it there for a moment, then ceased and easily ripped the weapon from the table leaving behind a burnt mark. "One more thing, Auriel. For Novices to inflict damage and even crystallize a certain pest, I suggest focusing your magic into this and slice. It tends to have...effective results on contact." 

With those words she placed the now cooled blade back upon the table for the student to pick up. 

"I can do that." She said confidently, replying to both statements at once. She was a little annoyed at having the Esyire pull the dagger free for her, charity wasn't really something she appreciated if it made her look weak. That was all drowned in other emotions though. She wasn't really sure she could do what Xeric asked despite the confident appearance she was projecting. She was incredibly worried she'd set the building on fire. She didn't really know what to make either, especially since it'd be seen by so many people. Nonetheless, once she had replaced the dagger in its sheath she followed Xeric to the teachers table with the same subtle nonchalant swagger she usually used in social situations.

"New and old students will come to know me as Xeric Firestone, the Pryomancy teacher. Pyromancy is the manipulation of fire and aspects related to it. Currently, I've asked a new student, Auriel, to assist me in displaying one of the rarely known elements. The ability to boost another's Mage blood effect." She motioned for the Wood Elf to step forward as pointed where she wanted her, slight in front and to the right. Auriel walked to where the teacher indicated and Xeric gently rested her hand upon Auriel's shoulder. 

When the tingling raced up and down, edged from the center point where it gently warmed Auriel's body, the Pyromancer teacher quietly spoke. "Hold out your hand while I transfer the flame into it. Then keep it there, focused on the center and remain calm. Flames grow power from extreme emotions. Once you feel confident enough then picture an image within your mind of anything you would like and see it in the flame." 

Auriel could feel all the eyes of the room on her as Xeric gave instructions. Not quite the attention level she was looking for at the start of the night, but it wasn't anything to frighten her either. She held out her hand, and a sliver of flame from each of the nearby torches shot towards the space above it, forming into a ball. Auriel focused hard on keeping it there, creasing her brow a little as she did so. She didn't want to set anything on fire here.

It took half a minute for her to become confident that it wasn't going to end up catastrophically failing. Once she did, she began to focus on the feeling of freedom she had while running through the woods in Ghannos, the exhilaration of being chased through those same woods. Days of fun and enjoyment long passed. The flame in her hand began to grow, roiling about with speed as if trying to escape. Auriel wasn't really sure what to do at that point, she didn't have any image in mind, but she wouldn't look back at Xeric for advice.

Xeric easily keep her eyes upon the flames. They danced and flickered within the student's palm while she kept there rather well by herself. The Pyromancer teacher was a little impressed, a uncommon thing even among older and more experienced students. But she didn't let an ounce spill out into her face. It won't help the student and likely risk making Auriel more smug, something Xeric hated within her students. It made bigger fools in the end. 

"Now, you might want to give a shape. An animal would be ideal as you can move and manipulate it. Not to mention gives you a feel for the flame's essence. Is there animal you're fond of or remember best?" Xeric asked, trying to stay firm yet gentle so not to draw away Auriel's focus. "I'll keep the flame small but you have to give it the shape." 

That was more useful for Auriel. She knew a few animals in Ghannos, and the forest was filled with birds. One bird in particular she'd seen quite often, and she pictured it in her mind. It was one of her favourites, and one she'd spent a lot of time watching when she wasn't being chased or doing something to get people to chase her. The fire began to take shape, following the image in her mind, stretching out to create a [url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vzdE7xuYvXU/T_fw9FNi-2I/AAAAAAAAADg/LVz3qvndw6c/s1600/Fractal_Phoenix_by_aceman67.jpg]colossal construct[/url] with a wingspan almost as wide as the room.

The moment it was fully shaped, it leapt into the air and swooped down at the crowd just like the real bird did back in Ghannos. Auriel was barely in control of the roiling bird-shaped conflagration and was hoping against hope that Xeric would make sure it wouldn't hurt anyone. 

Xeric had a vague notion of what was about to happen, herself done something similar during her school years and with much more painful intentions. The young man from her youth did deserve his rump roasted when he commented on her 'ugly' mug. A fire bird, beautiful and graceful as the flames that made it, took off. Immediately when the bird was in mid flight towards someone in the crowd, it's path unchanged, her hand rose right at it. The size quickly shrank within moments until it was merely a palm size of what it had been. It's figure glided around others on it's path towards the man that had earlier been well on his way to the roof during Serge's earlier magnetizing and now had made a dive for his face! At first Xeric thought it would certainly burn him, her face glanced at Auriel to see the Wood Elf intently focused. The girl was up to something (a familiar display in her body of exhilaration and fun, something Xeric could easily tell) or at least had the sense not lose her control yet. The bird had nearly been close to clipping the man's face, it's wings pulled up at the last moment only to fade. That was when Xeric noticed Auriel's face cracked into a smile. 

"Did you have fun?" Xeric couldn't help but ask, her eyebrow inquired. "If you're done, I think we should take a bow." 

Auriel had enjoyed the experience rather more than she would admit. Magic, when controlled, seemed to be rather the amazing experience. She didn't let her surprise show though. Instead, she did as Xeric suggested and bowed for the audience, not as low as she could of, but enough. With that, she jumped off the raised platform that the teachers table rested on and walked casually back into the crowd of students, making her way back to the barrels. She was having trouble believing she'd just done what she did while sober. It was probably for the better, but she really wanted to fix that now.