(click for DA version)

Once upon a time there was an arch mage who spent all his time refining the art of magical protection. He walked through fire and crossed a sea of lava without getting burnt. But the arch mage was not satisfied with these feats. He said, "Nothing can pierce my magic, and to prove it I shall find the hottest flame in the land and prove that it cannot hurt me."

And so the arch mage sought the the lair of the Great Grey dragon, whose breath weapon was said to shine like a blue sun. For three weeks and three days he traveled, to the top of the world where the ancient beast rested. The dragon was like a mountain, watching him approach in silence.

"Dragon!" called the mage, "Please hit me with your flame!"

"Why, O human?" asked the dragon, its voice shaking the mountain side. "There is little meat on your bones, and I have no quarrel with you."

"I will bet my life that my magic can resist your flame" boasted the mage, "and when it does, I shall be remembered for all time!"

But the dragon found this to be nothing but human arrogance and would not fulfill his wish. The mage got more and more frustrated until he finally said: "Hear this then, o great dragon: If you do not fulfill my desire, I swear that I shall go and train myself until I am as skilled in the art of attack as I am in defense. And when next I come back I will do so to destroy you!"

"Very well, foolish human" said the dragon and raised its head. "You shall get your wish. With this you has given me reason to destroy you." And at that, its flame burst forth and engulfed the mage. Never had he felt such power! He was surrounded by blue fire on all sides and had to use all his skills to surround himself with a bubble of safety. The dragon's blue flame kept coming, surrounding his magical sphere on all sides. But his defense held steady!

"Ha! I have bested you!" the arch mage cried in triumph. "I can feel it - not even your flame can reach me in my sphere of magic!"

"So it seems" the dragon answered calmly, not for a moment relenting in the inferno it was causing all around the mage. "Yet, there is not much air inside that magical sphere of yours, and all air outside it is now hotter than the sun.

You wished to bet your life. Do you now wish to bet as to which one of us has the bigger lungs?"
----------

"A bet of flames" is a quickie I did for this week's RAP.
.
Griatch

Yes, as they say...be careful what you wish for.