Chapter 386: Hidden Power of Magic Arts
A clear, melodious peal split the air when Korra’s fist collided with the Aegis. The note penetrated every sparring battle and training session with ease, drawing the attention of soldiers, onlookers, and camp followers alike. Even the sixth-level mages paused their spells and glanced over, attention set on the unusual noise.
When the haze of water and fog generated by her attack cleared, Korra stepped back with awe on her face. A single hairline crack ran through the Aegis, but even as we watched, it rapidly knit together, drawing only a fraction of mana from my soul for the repairs.
Murmured whispers rose and fell like waves, sweeping through the training grounds as soldiers inquired as to the source and those nearby explained it to them. Korra approached the ball again and tapped it lightly with her finger, making sure it was actually still there and not some illusion.
"Just what did you do to that spell?" she asked, gaping at me.
I shrugged, growing a bit flustered at all the attention. A tinge of red crept over my face as my tail twitched, and I shrank back closer to Fable. "I-it’s just something I’ve been working on," I stammered.
"Like hell it is," she said with a shake of her head. "And what’s up with you? I just...oh."
For the first time, she noticed the response her display had garnered. We’d gotten a small crowd by now, especially from the more experienced soldiers who had been able to sense the full power of her attack. Just as they were growing bold enough to approach me directly, a loud, commanding voice startled them back.
"That’s enough gawking, get back to work!" Orion shouted. He pushed through a small cluster of mages with an angry snarl, stepping directly up to my side. "Orders just came down and we march tomorrow! Get your new powers sorted out before then, or they’ll be hell to pay!"
The crowd of onlookers dispersed immediately, or, at the very least, gave us some distance. The fifth and sixth-level soldiers returned to their practice, but the weaker ones remained close by, eying us with eager expectation. Orion ignored most of those, probably because they couldn’t train anyway, and if not here they’d probably get into trouble somewhere else. That was the danger of camp life.
"Now then," he said, looking between me and Korra. "What’s all this about?"
Korra pointed at the floating Aegis, and Orion raised an eyebrow.