The waves rose and fell.
Ruger studied the longsword in his hand. Its blade was a little longer and wider than before, and flames flowed through it in a peculiar pattern. With a movement of his hand, he turned the blade before his eyes. From certain angles, the flames seemed motionless.
Ruger considered this, gauged how much the Spell Sword could withstand, and cast another fire-related spell. This time, it was a Second-Ring Spell, Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent-a wondrous spell capable of piercing enemies from a distance, though he mostly used its propulsion to speed up his travels.
He cast the spell with practiced ease, and once again, it did not manifest directly.
Instead, under his control, the wondrous Spell Sword contained it.
After Strength of the Savage Bull combined with Fireball Spell to fill the sword's wielder with warmth from the inside out, another effect beyond those of the original spells emerged.
The Spell Sword grew a little more, its blade lengthening and becoming even more crystalline.
Ruger raised his hand and swung, then thrust. The longsword seemed to pull him along with it. It did not merely increase his strength; as he slashed and thrust, the Spell Sword carried a forward-driving force, an invisible aid beyond the enhancement to his own body. This was one of the changes brought about by Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent.
The Spell Sword itself also grew stronger as spells were infused into it. Even the potential power of the shattering burst he had sensed after the flames drew inward increased along with it.
That potential shattering burst did not mean he had reached the limits of his control. Rather, drawing the flames inward had triggered a change brought about by Fireball Spell.
Until the Spell Sword truly reached the threshold of his control,