Mira's fire blazed brighter around her wounded form, pride and desperation mixing in equal measure as she processed Jack's casual question about her preferred method of execution.
"That's not possible," her voice carried false confidence that cracked at the edges. "You can't summon one of those three things here to kill us. The mana cost alone would drain you completely, and the time required for proper manifestation would give us more than enough opportunity to interrupt the ritual or escape."
Her words came faster than normal, the slight tremor in her voice betraying the fear she tried to mask.
She'd seen summoning rituals before.
She knew the circles required, the chants necessary, the vulnerability inherent in channeling that much power for extended periods.
But even as she spoke, doubt crept through her certainty like ice through warming flesh.
