"No no no, that won't do at all!"

The back of the master's ornate staff struck Conquer squarely on his red rump. The demon seethed, teeth gritting at the unexpected, biting pain, but kept his attention focused on the kernel of flame nestled in his palm.

"I am sorry Master Ire, I will try harder."

"Damn right you will! You won't get far only being able to summon a paltry little match flame like that. Especially with ambitions as grand as yours, eh?"

If you only knew, Conquer thought with irritation. Yet for all his blustering and lecturing, Conquer acknowledged that old man Ire was the best at what he did. He was a sorcerer without peer and, when he spoke, the land listened. Conquer desired such power for himself. And already, in the few weeks he'd spent with the wizened old oni, had felt his own natural energies growing at a marvelous rate. It had been a wise idea to seek him out for training.

"Now look again into the flame. Into its very heart. Feel it's heat. A fire cannot burn without fuel. It's fuel is you, my young apprentice . . . Your passions, your hates, your lusts, the very essence which makes you, you."

"I am trying, master." Conquer focused his perception onto the flame in his hand, until it was all he saw. It's red and yellow soul, burning, consuming his mana even as it flickered and clung to life.

"Pah! I've seen larger flames from a baby dragon's belch! Perhaps I should set a fire of my own on these fine buttocks of yours to show you how it's done, eh?"

Conquer grimaced. Another spanking? "That won't be necessary, master."

"I'll be the judge of that! Now feed that little fire of yours. I want to see it grow until it can lick the top of this cliff face!"

Once more he narrowed his focus. The flame was all. There was nothing else. His entire world, burning. His entire self, burning. The ancient volcano that was his birthright, spewing and howling in his veins . . .

Only when Master Ire let out an audible gasp did Conquer open his eyes to see his little ember of a flame had grown to a veritable fireball, spanning at least eight feet in diameter. And it was under his complete control. The oni who would be king smiled, pleased that his skills were progressing as expected.

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A free sketch provided by  cbh. I love the introspective look Conquer is sporting. :3