Fire exploded into smoke and green sparks drawing gasps from the crowd. Spell slammed against the protective barrier around the ring as the two combatants faced off in a contest of skill and arcane might. All around the stone walled field, rings were erected for the Annual Magi Trials. The Tower of Storms loomed over the Trials, its brother and sister Towers busy with their own.

People milled about in small groups or gathered to watch favored pairs of combatants in the rings marked out in the grass. Spells fired at one another hit combatants or the invisible barriers, splashing green light across the onlookers. Protectors in their green three-quarter plate armor patrolled in pairs through the crowds and along the stone wall; keeping a keen eye on the higher level magi observing their hopeful lesser.

A grey wolf Protector with a black streak down his back grinned down at the contestants and their superior acting judges. Everyone had someone to impress or suck up to he mused, even the top of the castes. He scratched the black tip of one of his ears and stretched. The sun was baking down on him and even his magically lightened green armor was getting annoying. Suddenly a brown furred hand slammed onto his shoulder.

“Eyes up Marcus, your girl is up!” the owner shouted; a tall stag in Protector’s armor with his antlers still in velvet. Marcus flicked an ear in response to his partner and friend. His eyes moved to one of the rings in the outlying area, far from the middle of the testing field, thankfully close to his position. A mass of blue robed individuals were massing around a ring. The protective field dropped to allow two more contestants. One of them was a young male of mustela decent. The other was feline with a long runner’s body and orange fur. Yards apart, the two faced each other wearing simple cotton pants; the female had a wrap around her chest. A supervisor called orders and rules and the contestants made ready.

“Ka-muit’s been training hard for today. You’d think they’d give her the rank just on that alone.” Arden said offhanded to Marcus. “Wonder how many times she can cast before passing out.”

“You know how much the Magi love tradition.” Marcus replied, rolling his eyes. “Still, I hope the weasel can put up with it long enough for her to show what she can really do.” Arden smiled and made to make a comment, but a large shadow covered them briefly. The Protectors looked to the sky in alarm and saw a great dragon glide over the testing grounds. Murmurs and gasps drifted up from the Magi but the trials continued. A Dragon Lord was witnessing the trials personally.

Ka-muit squared off with her weasel opponent, her stance wide, arms up, her hands held in basic defense and attack forms. Speed is my ally, defense and move. Attack in close range, speed is my ally. She could do this, she was ready. The ground rocked and her thoughts were blow away by a great explosion and a flash of light. Screams followed and all eyes turned to the source; a great cloud of smoke and dust billowed from the side of one of the Towers of Magic, the Tower of Storms.

Ka-muit froze, her blood stopped in her veins and her heart was gripped in an iron vice of fear. She cried out in a rage of impotency; dozens of people where in that tower, she knew them all, and could not help them. All around the field Protectors swarmed the Magi, putting themselves between their charges and any apparent danger. Ka-muit was grabbed by a large bull she barely knew, her mind numb from the scene before her.

A great roar drowned out all of the screams and orders. The masses looked up to see the dragon attacker circle the Tower and soared off to the south.