Merrion froze when he heard Altair screaming. What was he doing? That was just going to make the Mousse angry and attack Wil more and why was Altair climbing the tree--oh, but he couldn't stop casting now. Especially not now! But with Wil up close to the flan, Merrion didn't feel comfortable casting Fira straight on, though now he had the time to get it charged up--
--oh. Was that Altair's plan? It was a good plan if so!
Merrion quickly moved to an angle where he could cast fire spells at the flan without hitting Wil, but as the monster continued its barrage on the sky captain, Merrion knew that he really didn't have the time he thought he would.
Dare he try it?
He heard Ari's song, and he felt something stir within him. Yes, he could do this. He never put the theory into practice before but once, but it had been with water and wind and he had nearly destroyed Owena's room and all her clothes and books at the time. Merrion closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and when he opened them again, he first let Fire stream from his staff and then not a split second after, a simple spurt of Aero emerged to power up the fire.
The Mousse roared as it went up in flames; that was more powerful than Merrion had expected, and he knew to credit Ari, for he had heard of a bard's power before though it was the first time he experienced it for himself like this in battle. The Mousse was still not yet defeated, so Merrion allotted himself the time; as long as Ari sang, he could perhaps conjure Fira faster than usual.
Before too long, he had it prepared, and he swung his staff towards the flan. The creature's scream died off into a bubbly gloop as it melted into the forest floor, and Merrion fell to the ground with a huge sigh. His head spun; not only did dualcasting still take a lot out of him, but to follow it up with the most powerful spell he had was exhausting. Or had the Mousse manage to inflict him with something, too? Oh, why was his pack all the way over there!
But wait, was everyone okay? Maybe they needed the potions more! And Wil! He hadn't accidentally set Wil on fire, had he? Well, at least now if Merrion was going to die, it was by saving his friends, and there was never any shame in that!