Karas struggled to his feet as another explosion roared overhead, debris of rock and cinders scattering across the courtyard and marketplace. The smell of sulfur and roasting things invaded his nostrils,and he looked up to see the fire dragon slithering lithely across the rooftops and the battlements of the castle. In all but a minute the dragon had set fire to almost everything in sight, and now it was focused on the chaos in the town square as commoners and nobles alike scrambled to safety. To his left, Trevia readied another arrow, her lips moving in a silent incantation or prayer, her bow glistening in the evening light as she loosed volley after volley, but Karas knew the dragon's hide was thick, nigh impenetrable, even with her superior skills. The group of soldiers Varik had rallied now lie engulfed in swirling white hot flames, their screams had been horrible, agonizing wailing. The dragon breathed, almost a chuckle, as the screams of its victims died. Varik watched, eyes wide in desperation, as the dragon's chest billowed in preparation for more flames. Summoning all his strength, Karas reached out with tendrils of power, searching for what mana he could find. It was there, just under the land, hidden to most, its heartbeat faint, frail. He grabbed it and commanded it, jerking it like a master would a wild horse, its strength almost tangible as it flowed into him. He shaped it, changed the very nature of the magic to his desire with a tenuous hold. In a burst of brilliant blue light, he sent it forth. Just in time, the magic flowed before him in icy tendrils, and a wall of white shot up between his comrades and the dragon just as it bellowed a raging ball of flaming vitriol at them. The wall exploded, ice flying everywhere in tiny shards, but the shot was halted, and it fell to the ground, a ball of sizzling ash and embers. The dragon focused on Karas, intelligent eyes filled with deadly intent, as it picked out the only real threat. Ancient lore told of dragons of extreme cunning, and Karas knew the beast was no mere mindless animal. It leaped onto a nearby building, tail smashing the white stone of Morath's buildings with wild swings. Karas knew its coming attack was meant for him, and he grasped, clawed, at what little mana was left. His brow dripping with sweat from the exertion of wringing magic from a magic-less land, he prayed desperately that his years training in the college wouldn't fail him now. Sensing their comrade's power building, Trevia and Varik attacked again, though Karas knew Verik was useless as the dragon stayed high. The knight undoubtedly lamented being bereft of his crossbow now. The dragon roared and its muscles bunched, ready to leap on the mage and his friends, and Karas nearly screamed as he finally released his spell, magic nearly ripping his muscles as it rushed out, channeling into a spell before him. The icy tendrils curled and formed a giant spike, and it sang with a shriek as it shot towards the dragon. He prayed that it worked, for he was thoroughly drained, and he could feel the land was now empty of mana. Whatever had awakened the dragon had used up almost all the mana nearby. He fell to his knees and time seemed to stand still as two opposing forces of fire and ice rushed to meet. As darkness closed around him, Karas could hear his comrades screaming and the dragon roaring, but his last thought was of Arien, hoping he would see, one last time, the face he had so fallen in love with... So this is a scene I really enjoyed making, though it's been sitting on the shelf for about three months. I had rendered it then decided the magic I wanted to create was beyond my photoshop skills at the time. I finally stumbled upon a neat trick that allowed me to get around some artistic blocks, and here is the result. Still not quite what I wanted, but I hope you guys enjoy and don't critique me too harshly!