The sinking feeling become one of intense, twisting distress as he watched the column of smoke rise and billow over the city. As soon as Sheo and Atisha started moving, Magnus bolted after them, stuffing the unique amulet into a pouch on his waist as he ran. To say he was panicked would be an understatement. The adrenaline that was filling his veins kept him moving at a very quick pace, weaving through roads and alleys to shorten the journey to the fire's source. As he turned the corner into the square his family lived and worked in, he was met with a sight that filled him with dread. His shop, and by extension his home, completely engulfed in flame.<br/><br/>He rushed forward once more, passing by Sheo and Atisha in the process. He, in what was not the most reasonable act ever, ran onto the porch of the burning building and slammed his armoured shoulder into the door, cracking the door at its hinges due to the strength of the impact. It was blocked off from the other side by a piece of furniture, which kept him from opening it wider than just a crack. He tossed his hammer aside, letting it clank against the cobblestone ground outside, and ripped off his helmet to widen his field of view. He could barely see inside, and noticed nobody on the ground floor.<br/><br/>He backed away from the house, just in time. A section of the porch's wooden awning fell from its supports, engulfed in angry fire. The flames, at least, looked natural. They were following no direction, no magically-induced path for them to burn along. They were leaping out of their own volition, engulfing whatever was in their path without discrimination. Magnus cursed aloud; if they had been magical, he could have potentially stopped the blaze with an anti-magic miracle.<br/><br/>He did, however, detect a barrier of sorts put up in the house. One of focused soul energy, meant for protection. His mother's signature miracle, and the one she had taught him. She, at least, was still alive within. Magnus balled a fist, considering their options. There was simply not enough water around to douse the flames, and everything that wasn't made of metal inside had already been engulfed. However, if there was someone inside, then they couldn't bury the flames.<br/><br/>"Atisha," Magnus began, feeling the twisting in his stomach return. His next decision, provided it worked, was going to destroy the place he had always called home. It would wipe his house, his shop, and everything within from existence. Years' worth of memories gone, irrecoverable, reduced to nothing but ash.<br/><br/>But right now, his family's lives were more important. He continued, sealing the building's fate. "We need to get rid of the ground floor. Can you burn it faster than the fire that's already there?" Despite the direness of the situation, he spoke in a focused and absolutely sure tone of voice. "My family is still in there, I can feel a barrier. But that won't do them any good if they run out of air."