I took a deep breath, feeling the magic inside me surge in response. I focused on the flames, imagining them hotter, brighter, more intense. I could feel the energy building, a roaring inferno just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.
With a shout, I released it all at once.
The blue flames exploded from my hands, hotter and more powerful than anything I'd ever conjured before. They shot toward Seraphina like a tidal wave, consuming everything in their path.
For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of panic in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant as she called upon her wind magic to try and push back the flames.
But this time, the wind wasn't enough. My flames tore through her defenses, the intense heat forcing her to retreat. She stumbled back, her illusions flickering and fading as she struggled to regain control.