[IRP] As Firm as a Mountain

[Lavi]

Ray's performance as a mage was revolting. Cecily watched as he misfired, and then blast a hole over the bed that she rested on the minute before. Surely no self-respecting tutor would have allowed him to travel using magecraft that was that heavily unrefined. It is almost sinful to let such an amateur defend her, a student of esteemed Etruscan mages and priests, from these assailants.

"," Cecily rasped.

No good. She could barely meld the power into her voice. Amateurish. Her tutor would tell her that it's unforgiveable to let a cold get the better of her. Although her condition is a little more serious than a cold, he wouldn't be wrong. Although everyone could clearly hear her song, Cecily only had the strength to direct the potency of her words at the sniper, being the easiest to target without accidentally affecting Satsume or Ray.

", ," she felt her body screaming against her will. By all rights, she should not be casting magic, particularly magic that uses her own body as the medium. Even so, she stilled the shakiness in her voice.

"…"

As she sang, the sniper fell to his knees with a blank expression. Unknown to Satsume or Ray, the song made him recall moments of his past: essentially reliving his blissful memories in the final moments before someone can end his life. Cecily learned about this particular spell from her research in Etruria. With those final lyrics, her consciousness faded.

The remaining conscious assassin lunged forward at Satsume. His first move as a feint as the assassin maneuvered his way to place Ray in the middle of himself and Satsume. The wounded mage would make for a convenient shield and he felt confident that he could remove Ray if the situation required it.

The assassin slashed at Ray with impressive speed, but kept his blades close to prevent any lethal harm to the mage. The attacks should keep Ray on his toes as Satsume responded to the assassin's tactics.