A brief flare of power manifested in magnificent wings spreading from Meril's back. With one gentle flap, they vanished, leaving the Valkyrie clad in armor, her fingers still dancing over the keys. Twin shields coalesced a moment later, hovering before and behind her.

Little of true magic clung to her, but in this moment, Lenneth Valkyrie was fantastically solid and real in a way normal solid and real things were not. Chooser of the Slain, Battle-Maiden, a goddess in the most raw and literal use of the term. To challenge her was to challenge the divine.

But she was to keep playing, right up until that became impossible.