Taking the Stage

Beneath the arena, Heila settled her hat in place and gave the rest of her tools a cursory examination while she waited for the match before hers to conclude. 

The hat itself had been a project that she could never have completed without help from Jacques. Her 'War Hat' had been made from the leathery hide of the Giant Thornback Alligator that she and Ashlynn hunted for their 'graduation assignment.' Not only did the alligator skin give it an imposing look, but Jacques had also used a bit of his own thorny magic to empower a ring of bony thorns around the center cone of the hat, giving the hat's protective aura a sharp edge. 

At her hip, she wore a long, coiled willow whip on one side, balanced by her wand, and a slender small sword on the other. The sword, named Snow Fang, had been carved from the horn of Elder Paulus, the traitorous Frost Walker who schemed against young lord Hauke, Lady Ashlynn, and everyone else in their group.