she is fire.

                 ❝  it is the last barrier, before ALL is revealed, inquisitor.  ❞

        gods, he had promised to talk to her after this was all over. then he just... left.

        you were right to be angry. i hope, in time, you will understand.

        briefly she remembers what a friend told her about channeling her fire magic. use your rage. well, now she has something more personal to be angry about, right? something that’ll be with her for a long time, possibly until the end of her days.

        “That’s the idea, but try something more personal. Something that puts you in a rage,” She has spirit, and a quick study. Most would falter and barely bring up a spark worthy of a seasoned pyromancer. Straw targets are hardly as satisfying as living, breathing ones – and as the dumbie goes up in flames, Valeriu can’t help but anticipate when the both of them can really wreak havoc on the Hinderlands. 

       “Here –,” Once Iselan settled, Valeriu grasped her hands lightly, holding onto the stave with her. A slow but powerful energy courses through him to her, not unlike a cascade of shared emotion and magic. Like tapping into one’s energy reserve, Valeriu allowed her to feel the flame within him, natural and primal. Rage and anger isn’t the only emotions that lays there, but all others, intertwined and connected. Wrath is the easiest to tap into, but perhaps he can show her what he means by example. “Not base annoyances or every day angers, I mean the energy inside you. The source of the flame, the wrath, whatever you want to call it,” Carefully, Valeriu releases her from his grasp, effectively severing the connection. “Do you understand better now?”

        THE PHYSICAL CONTACT---not quite what she was expecting. it makes her tense, even though he takes it slowly. yet the energy that courses through her is better than any elfroot she could smoke, makes her rise up on her toes and makes her skin tingle with exhilaration. a sharp breath is taken and she nods, swallows hard.

        iselan closes her eyes, breathes in, breathes out. they are only practicing now. in battle she would have to channel her energy immediately, she could not take her time. yet he says to think of something more personal. something that sends her into a blind fury.

        a burning feeling fills her. makes her breath catch in her throat and makes a tightness form within her breast. she knows what she needs to think about whether she wants to remember or not. she has to.

        before she knows it, the dummy before her is exploding into pieces, tiny embers and bits of cloth and burnt straw fluttering down to the ground. it isn’t long before fatigue takes her, but iselan is proud of herself. even as a talented mage, she knows there is still much for her to learn. she’s been asking solas to help her understand the fade more to help with her rift magic, and valeriu could easily help with her fire magic.

         That brought a bright smile to Vali’s visage, and as he sheathed his blade, approached the Inquisitor. They would need a training ground devoid of frees and – well, anything that burns. The Tevinter inspected her staff, feeling the energy pulse from it, half from the stave itself, half from it’s wielder. On the battle field, she was a hurricane – and wit h the two of them, they were truly a force to be reckoned with. “Of course! You don’t know how many times I’ve heard ‘ Valeriu, will you tone down the flames? You’re ruining everything! ‘. It’s refreshing when it’s ‘ Valeriu, I want to ruin everything like you do! ‘” 

      “I know a perfect spot,” Without another word, Valeriu lead Iselan to the training grounds, past archers and warriors practicing and sparring. A few heads turned in their wake, elven mages caught many eyes, especially ones in pairs. Past the grass, they finally found a spot dry and barren, the ground simply dirt and not a tree or building in sight. He turned to Iselan, beckoning her with a cant of his head. “I’ve always found pyromancy is more effective when you learn to conjure and control the anger within you. Fire is raw power, it must be controlled lest it’s consumes everything, even you,” A ball of flame sparked to life within his palm, consuming his forearm as it rose to life. Turning from her, Valeriu sent the spell hurdling towards a target, exploding into sparks and embers in a loud boom. “– Also, don’t let your own fire touch you like I let it, not yet, anyway. A flame cloak takes practice, and it’s not worth the risk of messing up.”

        HEADS MAY TURN, but iselan is the inquisitor. they know better than to question her if they’re not her advisers. though, iselan is no tyrant. she will keep an open mind to any opinions about her leadership and how she can improve. a grin breaks out across her face when the fire lights up his arm, flames licking harmlessly at his robes and skin beneath. already, she can feel sweat beading up on her forehead from the heat.

        sparks and embers fly every which way upon the explosion, nothing but a scorch mark left on the ground where the target at been. iselan snickers, raises her staff and slams the end of it into the ground. flames leap from the blade, swirling around it.

       “ – Easy. A lot of skill, and a very good mind’s eye. All I did was imagine he was on fire, channeled my magic, and – well, the rest is ash, quite literally,” Once neutral expression now beamed, Valeriu chuckling. A glint of awe and excitement  and curiosity lit up Iselan’s blue eyes, and the mage couldn’t help but feel attached to the Inquisitor. He was happy to teach her, but he suspected that with her skill in the arcane, all he would have to do was direct her on the right path. 

      “I can also teach you to imbue your weapons with fire, and at the right moment,” In a quick movement, Vali unsheathed his sword, holding the steel to the light. The blade soon became etched with runic symbols, glowing bright as magma-like veins coursed through it. “A shallow stab wont do much on it’s own, but if you imbue it just as you pierce their flesh, they sizzle from the inside out. Fun, huh?”

        THE ENERGY AROUND her hums with her excitement. hands clap together as she inspects the glowing sword with amazement. yes, she had been taught in the many ways of magic, but storm and fade were her specialties. her skills with fire were okay, but nothing beyond that. valeriu is kind enough to show her, to explain, and every time they speak she’s happier that she recruited him.

        ` super fun! i got some... dragon-slaying rune on my staff, yeah? works well when you gotta kill the nasty things, ` iselan nods once, pulls her staff from her back and it lights up with electric energy, but along with the blue sparks there are green shocks that leap from it. she displays it proudly.

        and seeing was even better!

        they return to skyhold after a quest, iselan lavellan at the head of the group with blue eyes bright. their armor and robes are in need or reparations, wounds needing tended to, but they are in good shape. their journey bore fruit.