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Firecat Alley’s temperature has always been at least a little uncomfortable to most, and its position at the edge of Wizard City makes it more prone to strong winds. Both of these are more than enough reasons why no one is ever found meditating there.
It is for exactly these reasons that Regina Flametalon saw fit to investigate the orange-haired girl meditating at the base of the firecat statue opposite the Forlorn Tower.
Someone is coming. She can feel it. A pyromancer she only somewhat recognises based on the warm tone and feel of their aura. She opens her eyes the moment their name comes to mind.
“Regina!” Stella squeaked. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here, Stella. I’m the one who should be asking that question.”
“Oh, right… I suppose living is a good reason for being. Being here that is. Anyway! If you have to know, I’m trying to work on my pyromancy basics. I finished all the fire safety stuff so I’m ready to start casting, but…”
“But…?” Regina asked slowly with a tilt of her head.
Stella turned her head to the side, a little more embarrassed than she probably should have been. “But I’m running into the tiny little hurdle of… I can’t even get a fire to start! A pyromancer without the pyro is just a romancer!”
“Actually you’d just be a mancer—”
“That’s worse!”
“Okay okay, calm down.” Regina waved her hand, not to be dismissive, but someone has to remain calm in the face of Stella. “If that’s your issue, then why the meditation?”
“Because that always helps me to feel more connected to nature and the Song of Creation! And it usually helps when I feel bad. It’s a type of healing all on its own!”
Regina took only a moment to ponder, then shook her head like this was all something she’d heard before. “There’s your problem. You’re thinking of this like a theurgist, not a pyromancer. You’re right that fire does come from inside you, but it’s not like all that spiritual junk you’re into. It’s hard to explain, but it’s more like… an extension of yourself.”
“But doesn’t all magic come from inside you because your mana—”
“Not what I mean, Stella.” Regina cut in. “Pyromancy is an elemental school, it’s more physical than what you’re used to. It shouldn’t have to be something you think about and feel nearly as much as life magic.”
“So I’m doomed to be a mancer for the rest of my life…?”
“No— Okay, try thinking about it again. Just a flame and nothing else.”
“Uh… okay.” Stella obliged, closing her eyes again to better focus.
“When dealing with fire magic, you’re drawing up a lot of energy from yourself, more than ice or storm even.”
Stella did not respond, but furrowing her brow in confusion was more than enough to get her feelings across.
“Just envision that tiny flame in your hands, try to focus your mana into a point there.”
Deep breaths. She has a feeling they might help but she’s still not getting more than a tingle in her fingertips.
“Maybe you already know this, but pyromancers don’t just control fire with such precision through mastery and training alone.” Regina’s voice almost seemed like it was swirling around Stella’s head despite her not hearing any footsteps. “In order to control fire like that, you have to understand, respect and even fear it too.”
Still nothing.
“Without fear, you risk the flame growing wild and out of control. And when it does, the first thing it’ll consume is you.”
Stella faintly felt the warmth of her breath on her hands, gently receding with every inhale and returning with every exhale.
“Master pyromancers have to temper this fear along with their control, that’s how they’re able to stand amidst so much fire and heat without getting burned.”
The warmth seemed to persist on Stella’s hands longer and longer with each breath she took.
“And uh… did you know that pyromancers aren’t just hot physically, but figuratively too?”
“Dang it Regina— I thought you were onto something there!” Despite completely losing her focus, Stella still felt that warmth more strongly now than ever before.
“Stella. I think you should open your eyes.”
“What? Why—”
Upon opening her eyes, Stella was entirely interrupted by a small burst of fire projected from her mouth when she spoke. That only served to spook Stella, her kneejerk reaction being to jump up in a startle and almost fall backwards onto the statue behind her.
“WHAT!? I KNOW YOU SAID IT CAME FROM INSIDE ME BUT I DIDN’T THINK YOU MEANT LITERALLY!”
With her voice now raised, the flames grew more intense, prompting Regina to finally stop holding back her laughter.
“Well I guess you’ve got being afraid of the fire sufficiently covered—”
“This isn’t funny! I’m a walking fire hazard now!”
“Welcome to the school of pyromancy!”
“Tell me how to make it stop!”
“Believe in yourself.”
Stella in all her panic and frustration, gripped Regina’s arms and screamed directly at her. Whether it was truly a belief in herself or a desire to not genuinely hurt her classmate, the flames ceased entirely.
“Are you done with your little tantrum?” Regina couldn’t help the smug little smirk as she asked.
“No! You didn’t do anything! All you taught me was fear!”
“You mean one of the founding principles of pyromancy?”
“I—” Stella paused. Thought about everything that just happened and the odd lecture she had received. “I guess you’re right actually… I’m sorry for yelling at you. Scream revoked.”
“You can’t unscream at a person.”
“But what if I believe in myself?”
“Stella. Go home. Shouldn’t you be having dinner or something?”
“Woah! You’re right! Thanks for caring about my nutrition, Regina!”
“It’s all in a day's work… apparently.”