“So, that’s a fire-resistance ward placed on gloves?” Rebecca asked with a hint of surprise. “I have a ring of fire-resistance though, these scars are from when I first discovered my magic…”

Lily frowned slightly, but explained her plan, “This resistance would be applied to the fabric though, not you. Your ring protects you, but your clothes can still burn.”

“Ah, so the point of the gloves is to hide my burns while still allowing me to use fire magic. If I wore normal gloves, they’d just catch fire.”

“Exactly!” Lily said with a smile.

“But I could wear wyvern leather, that would work too,”

“Sure but do you really want to wear leather gloves all the time? These would be more comfortable, and you can wear them to social events,” Lily replied.

Lily was sitting at the smaller workstation Jason had prepared for her in his workshop, Rebecca was looming behind her, looking down over her shoulder as the smaller girl worked.

“Hmmm, ok not bad, I like the idea,” Rebecca grinned. “So you stitched that pattern from the book,” gesturing at one of the textbooks on enchanting Jason had given Lily, “Amazing job by the way, you really drew all those lines perfectly with a needle and thread…”

“I did spend the last six years as a seamstress,” Lily pointed out.

Rebecca continued, “But do you have enough control of your mana to actually create an enchantment?”

Lily shook her head, “Nope, not yet. I can barely make a thread turn hard, something like this is way beyond me. Which is why you’ll be the one feeding it mana.” Lily explained.

“It’ll burn, my mana is basically only good for burning stuff,” Rebecca said doubtfully.

“But you can control it fine right? Just pour it into the threads, and the little crystals at the edges, and the runes should do the rest.” Lily said.

“While trying to visualize something fire resistant?” Rebecca asked, “The intent and will behind the spell matters too.” Rebecca explained, then continued, sounding a little lost. “There’s something in me that just loves seeing things burn,” she confessed, “It taints my magic, I doubt I can use my will to prevent fires.”

Lily looked puzzled, “It’s not just the runes and the patterns?”

Rebecca shook her head, “How long have you been an apprentice?” She asks.

“Four days, but other than some reading assignments and a few lectures, haven’t really gotten much tutoring. Jason’s been pretty busy,” Lily admitted.

“You should start with the basic exercises, light a candle, lift a rock, conjure some water, etc. It would allow you to discover what your affinity is,” Rebecca suggested.

“Jason and Blackwing seem to think I should be able to obtain enchanting affinity if I focus on learning this,” Lily explained.

“Hmmm, is that really possible?”

“It’s possible,” A voice cawed.

Both girls looked up to see two ravens sitting on a windowsill.

“Difficult, yes, but necessary. Compete with wizard enchanters, need affinity. Make up for less training.” Blackwing explained.

Blackwing disliked explaining things. Even after all these years, she still spoke in short bursts, her tiny lungs unable to speak longer sentences. Other bird species with better mimicry skills could manage it, because they had better control over their vocal cords. But she was limited by her body. It had made her reluctant to speak much, as it took more effort for her to do so than it would if she were human. She only bothered if she liked a human, which was rare.

“Oh, Blackwing, and … a friend.” Lily exclaimed in surprise.

“I’m Idlewing. Blackwing my mother.” Idlewing introduced himself with a short bob of his head.

“Another familiar?” Rebecca asked, “Who do you belong to?”

“I belong no one,” Idlewing explained. “Looking for partner. You want familiar?” He asked, deciding to get straight to the point. He could see the girl’s juicy mana core with his soul sight, and it looked like a scrumptious buffet. He knew he’d not be able to eat all of it, only the scraps that bled off unused, but so much mana was like a clear freshwater lake to a man dying of thirst. Idlewing was very thirsty for mana.

Rebecca looked surprised, then her expression turned cautious. “Um, no offense, but why should I bond with a familiar? I don’t need help, in eight months I’ll pass my exams and go to the academy. Why do you want to be my partner? What's in it for you?”

Rebecca had grown up as a lesser noble. Her family had been a very minor branch of a more powerful family, and had she not manifested magic at a young age, she’d probably not have amounted to much. But her uncle had taken her in, brought her to the capital and given her a job that paid well enough that she could live comfortably and respectable enough that she wasn’t looked down on. But her life hadn’t been easy, and she’d learned harsh lessons about trust. Rebecca wondered; what need did she have for a talking bird?

The two familiars exchanged glances. “Explain,” Idlewing asked his mother.

“Don’t want to,” Blackwing replied with a snort. “Don’t be lazy,” She chided her offspring.

“I feed on your mana. Give soul sight. Teach you soul magic.” Idlewing explained.

“Feed on my mana? That sounds horrible,” Rebecca said.

“Mana core leaks mana, I eat that leak. Will barely notice,” Idlewing said.

“Still though, it sounds gross.” Rebecca folded her arms and looked skeptical. “Why should I want to learn soul magic?”

“Soul magic useful. Enchant made with soul, last longer, more stable, stronger.” Idlewing was talking as fast as he could, but he was getting a little winded. He hadn’t expected to have to put this much effort into convincing a human to accept him. Usually they were more than willing.

“I’m not an enchanter, though,” Rebecca observed.

Blackwing cawed softly in amusement. What a short-sighted child, she thought to herself, what did she think she’d do in the academy if she got accepted? They would teach her a wide range of skills.

Idlewing looked perplexed. “All magic, better with soul. Persuasion spell last longer, like geis or charm.”

Rebecca shuddered, “I’m pretty sure I can’t learn to be a mental mage either.”

“She’s pyromancer,” Blackwing explained helpfully, amused that her offspring hadn’t already figured it out. Idlewing was being too lazy if he hadn’t examined her closely enough to figure that out.

Idlewing perked up. “Oh! I teach you hellfire.”

Blackwing snorted, “This will end well,” she muttered sarcastically, too softly to be heard.

“Hellfire?” Rebecca sounded appalled, “Like the same hellfire demons use?”

“It's easy. Soul magic and fire magic, make hellfire. Hellfire lasts longer, harder to extinguish, burns hotter. Burn your soul for fuel.” Idlewing explained happily. He was certain she would accept.

“Burn my soul?!” Rebecca was seriously horrified.

“Doesn’t hurt,” Idlewing said placatingly. “Your soul too big. Burn a third, still be fine. Will heal.”

“She doesn't want you,” Blackwing observed with a shrug. “I try help you. Go find someone else. On your own,” she told her offspring. She didn’t care about one dumb human girl, nor, to be honest, any of her dozens of offspring. They were all pretty annoying, in her opinion. They kept coming to her for help and to complain about their human partners, most of whom were inquisitors. Though if pressed, she would have to admit that she did usually agree to help them.

“Wait…” Rebecca bit her lip, “I didn’t say no. Tell me more about this… hellfire.”