The sand sprite planted her bare feet in the cracked, sun-bleached stone at the statue's base, shoulders squared, chin high, voice dripping with menace.
"You really shouldn't underestimate someone like me," she said, hands weaving in strange, fluid motions. Glittering streams of magic trailed from her fingers, curling through the dry air like tiny constellations.
Vuvi watched with all the enthusiasm of someone seeing a street magician pull a rabbit out of a hat for the fifteenth time. "Mm-hm. Yes. Very sparkly. Does it come in 'impressive'?"
Veena yawned, inspecting her nails. "I've seen more threatening magic in a child's birthday cake."
Pip, standing beside them, tilted his head. Beep? His tone was curious, almost polite, as if asking whether they should clap or not.
Sera slid a hand to her sword, steel whispering halfway free from its sheath. "If she even twitches wrong, I'm ending her."
