Prompt - Grinding Gains

Luceat made his way towards the mountain peak, his pace unhurried as snow flakes fell around him. Unfortunately for him all the snow had melted throughout the city, so if he really wanted to practice his abilities he’d need to trudge up one of the mountains to find some snow to work with. While it was possible for him to do frost magic in the otherwise snowless city, he was only able to do incredibly minor, and in his mind incredibly boring, feats. However if he had a fair bit of snow and ice to work with Luceat was able to make more grandiose displays of his magic.

Finally reaching the peak Luceat sighed, rather jealous of the hyros browbirds and their wings. The snow capped peak looked out over the city, blue green tiled buildings and the spire of the central palace glittering in the morning light. Turning his back towards it Luceat faced the far mountain ranges, one of his fantasies was to one day build ice bridges connecting the bitterly cold mountain peaks. Opening his palm, he watched snow flakes lazily drift downwards until they met its warmth, melting swiftly. Luceat stood this way for a while until a layer of ice had formed on his palm. Focusing his intent he felt the familiar pins and needles of casting as the layer of ice in his hand congealed, first into a shifting mass, then finally into a miniature mountain range perfectly mirroring the ones he faced. Letting the power go he admired the sculpture in his hand. Others were always amazed at his attention to detail, and ability to create nearly anything, but all Luceat saw was a party trick. Nothing actually useful. This wasn’t true of his other aspect, he was adept at utilizing shadows to confuse and disorient enemies, but somehow this didn’t satisfy him. Tossing the ice figurine into the snow the frustrated browbird huffed, bending to scoop up a large clump of snow, this time he let it condense and form itself into a single brilliantly sharp arrowhead. This would be useful, if he was able to use a bow, which he was not. Grumbling again he tossed his creation to the side and gathered up and new handful of snow, why, he thought to himself, did he care so damn much. He was able to not only defend himself but also perform well offensively with his other aspect but it would never satisfy him. No matter the feats he could achieve he’d always be thinking of the ice bridge he’d imagined as a browlet. Angrily hurling a snowball off into the distance Luceat was determined to make something that was at least interesting after bothering to hike all the way up here.

Hours had passed and despite the frigid temperatures sweat dropped off the browbirds chin. In the time he’s spent on the maintain that day he’d managed to sculpt a pair of grinning seasuns, a short staff that was too smooth to hold properly, a giant snowflake the size of his head, and finally a small dagger. While it’s size was nothing impressive, Luceat had managed to refine the daggers edge so perfectly that it could slice a single hair up its length. Passing it from hand to hand he smiled, finally something worth making, even if it would hardly last anywhere warmer then the mountain peak. Satisfied for now he made the decision to remake the dagger on his subsequent trips up the mountain to train, maybe one day he’d even be able to preserve it and carry down with him. For now he took one last long look at the frozen weapon, the sunset causing it to glitter like a gem. Today Luceat could make his way back down the mountain proud of the what he’d accomplished.