as a bloody human inexplicably launched himself on the Elvish ship, twin blades swinging. What in the heavens? Crazy humans. She cursed, and then switched to a blessing as she saw her chance. Seize the day, darlings, seize the day. She smiled, and deftly leaped side-ways to avoid his swinging blades, and the rolling of the ship carried her right off the edge exactly according to plan. Her momentum carried her beautifully; it might have been the hair - when properly unwound it reached nearly to her knees. She had not worn it down for long time though - hardly practical on a battleship. Besides it was currently braided and piled in the official arrangement for her rank as a Fire Mage in the Glorious Navy of the Elves. Regardless of whatever emotional weight it carried, it was heavy physically heavy, and it was really weighing her down as she struggled to right herself as she fell into the freezing water. She splashed down and began to sink rapidly. Her Fire Gem maintaining her internal body temperature, she kicked her way to the surface and reoriented herself. There! The shore. The blessed, beautiful land. With a fire! Turning her back on that prison of a warship, she began swimming toward the bonfire as fast as possible, relying on the increased stamina of her people and her magic to keep her going through the icy water.

Mtrlindr was tired, but elated when she finally reached the beach, and threw herself down rather happily on the sand next to the roaring flames without a pause. The heat felt wonderful on her cold, wet skin, and her Gem needed to recharge as well. She could do magic without it, but it would take more effort. She planned to discard everything issued to her by either the Navy or the Mage's Academy except the Fire Gem. The uniform, the hairstyle, the short sword scabbard (the sword itself was currently sinking to the bottom of the Sea of Blood), the leather armor ... it was all going the moment she found something to replace it with. The Fire Gem was too useful though. And it was inconspicuous - a carved red stone about the size of a fingernail on a long chain around her neck and tucked under her shirt. Far too precious to be worn out in the open. Oh, the Academy would be so furious. And her father... rolling over onto her back, she laughed softly to herself. She was free! FREE!