*The light soars into Vanitri and...*
[SBLOCK=Vanitri]Vanitri's breath comes in and out rapidly, her chest rising and falling but her lips pursed to cause the sound to be as quiet as possible, her face held in a neutral position of calm by careful practise and diligent concentration--well, at least she thinks she's still looking calm. Can't be sure without a mirror, but she can see her face in her mind's eye, and if it looks anything like that, she's doing fine. She isn't a little girl, and looking scared like a little girl at a time like this would be absolutely unacceptable.
'Ice,' she tells herself, 'My eyes must be cool and keen, solid like ice, not all melty like water. This is important--focus! Breathe in...and out...'
Vanitri's breath slows, and she tries to maintain complete control. She focuses her gaze on the painting on the far wall, as the stern visage of Anoura Valanise gazes down as if in disapproval. Now that is just a flight of fancy. She closes her eyes on focuses on the arcane formulae and energies. She could use Magic Missile, but he would expect that--he'd have a Shield up. Scorching Ray might work, if she could get off a shot...at least for an opening move. Her own defenses should last while she determined his strategy. Jaedyn was a worthy foe, but Vanitri was better, and she had been meticulous. She wouldn't lose--she would prove that she had every right to be here.
At the sound of the start, Vanitri spins rapidly in one smooth motion, her lithe hands dextrously weaving through the spell's formula. There he is over there--my does he look handsome! But now he is her opponent, at least for the moment. Once she impressed him, well...who knows.
The Scorching Ray blasts off perfectly...too perfectly. It flies straight into him and burns...badly, a critical blow. He wasn't protected against it at all?! What was he thinking!? Vanitri... [/SBLOCK]
*And with that, he is back. His eyes flash open. Everything is back to normal but he feels disconcerted.*
(OOC: Vanitri also gains 10 XP)
