Chapter 19
Fire magic, despite being opposed to both ground and water, held an unexpected kinship with lightning and wind. Fire was destructive yet caring, chaotic yet controlled. Its dual nature resonated with me deeply, much more than ice ever had. While ice had remained elusive and difficult, the fire felt like a bridge between two elements I already had control over—lightning’s destructive force and water’s gentle, nurturing flow. It was as though fire rested in the balance between those two extremes, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I was truly progressing.
Learning fire magic had been far more intuitive than I’d expected. In many ways, it was simpler than lightning, which demanded an almost ruthless control over its raw power. Lightning was absolute in its destruction, whereas fire could be tempered, controlled to nurture as well as destroy. It burned when necessary but could also warm and protect. The more I practiced, the more I realized that fire required a delicate combination of focus and intent, something I could easily grasp by aligning my experience with water’s caring nature and lightning’s ferocity.
Over the past few weeks, I’d managed to learn a few fire spells. **Blaze**, a simple but effective burst of fire that could be summoned instantly, was one of the first spells I had mastered. Following that, I had worked on **Ember Spear**, a more focused attack where I condensed flames into a sharp point before launching it at my target. **Flame Cloak**, another favorite, allowed me to wrap myself in protective fire, which burned anything that dared to approach. But there was still much to learn, and the more I discovered about the element, the more I craved knowledge. Fire, despite its simplicity, had a depth that intrigued me.
After reviewing my progress, I decided it was time to ask the kobolds if they had any more fire spellbooks. I was certain that the tribe had a few more tucked away in their collection, perhaps alongside the numerous lightning and storm-based tomes. Fire magic wasn’t the natural affinity of the Blue Kobolds, but their reach for knowledge often extended beyond their primary affinities, especially when it came to serving dragons.
Leaving the warmth of my cave, I headed toward the kobold encampment. The air outside was heavy with humidity, a constant feature of our clan’s beach. Even now, as the sun began its descent toward the horizon, the heat remained thick and oppressive. Perfect conditions for using fire mana, I mused. It wasn’t just the weather that made the beach ideal for fire magic—the energy of the environment was balanced in a way that allowed me to more easily draw upon the elemental forces around me. I had already made much progress in fire magic. Much more than in ice. Despite beaing a variant dragon, ice magic and blue dragons don't get along, and I still am a blue dragon after all.
As I approached the kobold camp, Azark Stormclaw, the blue kobold chieftain, greeted me with his usual bow. His ever-watchful advisors and warriors stood nearby, but today I wasn’t interested in a full meeting. I was here for something specific.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. How may we serve you today?” Azark asked, his sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“I’ve come to ask if you have any more spellbooks on fire magic,” I replied, not wasting any time with pleasantries. “I’ve made significant progress with the element, and I’m looking to expand my knowledge.”
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Azark nodded, clearly pleased by my request. “Of course, Your Majesty. While fire is not our primary focus, we do have a few more tomes on the subject. I will have them brought to you immediately.”
While I waited, I allowed my eyes to wander over the camp. The kobolds were busy as ever, constructing new structures and tending to their beasts. Among the tasks at hand, I noticed several of the younger kobolds training under the watchful eye of an elder mage. They were practicing lightning spells, their affinity with the element evident in the ease with which they summoned crackling bolts of electricity.
Soon enough, Azark returned with three more books. “These should prove useful, Your Majesty,” he said, handing them over carefully. “One is on fire elemental summoning, another is on intermediate fire combat spells, and the last is a more advanced study on combining fire with other elements.”
Ah, elemental beings are creatures that are made up of one type of mana that has gained intelligence. The intelligence of an element depends on its creature level. Usually, they live in an outer elemental plane of their element each elemental plan has usually 1 or 2 mana types. I accept the books, intrigued by the contents. The idea of combining fire with other elements piqued my interest. I had already started experimenting with such combinations on my own, but having formal guidance on the subject would likely help refine my techniques.
“Thank you, Azark. These will be most useful.”
Azark bowed again, his wings fluttering slightly. “It is our honor to assist Your Majesty in any way we can. If you need anything else, do not hesitate to ask.”
With the books in hand, I returned to my cave, eager to dive into my studies. I had a feeling that these books would unlock new depths of fire magic, and perhaps even reveal techniques I hadn’t considered before.
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Later that evening, after skimming through the books, I decided to try summoning a fire elemental. I had never summoned a elemental before, the book Azark had given me described an advanced ritual, one that would allow me to summon a quite intelligent and powerful fire entity.
I gathered my mana the book described two ways to summon it. One way was to use magical fire gems. Which I did not have and would not have used even if I had them. They would be quite good-looking in my hoard. The other way was to use your fire mana in a specific way and use an incarnation.
As I began the incantation, the air around me grew hotter, and I could feel the presence of the fire elemental starting to manifest. Flames swirled inside the circle, taking on a vaguely humanoid shape. As it was summoned I saw its eyes flicker with intelligence in a way a normal basic fire elemental would never.
The elemental stood before me, awaiting my command. I could feel the bond between us, a tenuous connection forged by the magic I had summoned. Unlike other lesser elementals, this one wasn’t just a mindless servant—it had a will of its own, albeit bound to my power.
“Serve me,” I commanded, testing the strength of the connection.
The fire elemental bowed, its form shifting and crackling as it acknowledged my authority. It was clear that this creature would be quite useful in teaching me fire magic that simple magic books could not, and when it was done teaching me I would send it back to wherever it came from.
As I acknowledged the elemental, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of excitement. Fire magic was proving to be far more versatile and powerful than I had originally anticipated. With the knowledge I had gained from the kobold spellbooks and my own growing experience, I was beginning to see the full potential of the element.
This was only the beginning. There was still much to learn, and I was determined to master every aspect of fire magic, just as I was doing with lightning. And who knew—perhaps fire would even give me the edge I needed to finally overcome my struggles with ice.