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You had been warned that the more aggressive the angles of flight, the more strain that the caster would experience – from both the spell and the actual physical act of flying. You had intended to make a gradual ascent, but the spell had just activated so easily you had been in the air and climbing before you had even realized it, so you were not able to take the gentle upward approach that you should have.
But even with the unexpectedly abrupt and powerful start, you feel in control. The heat pouring off of the Glyphs and the strain at the sites of the control clauses is uncomfortable, through manageable. More importantly, you are not making any Noise, and while you can see some whisps of Miasma, even with your limited knowledge of magical matters, you are confident that you are not Feverous. Still, out of an abundance of caution, you taper down your ascent until the heat and strain subsides and you are flying parallel over the mirror surface of the lake. Looking down, you can actually see your reflection on the water. After a wheezy chuckle at the sight of your airborne body – nude, save for stockings and boots – you turn your attention to your surroundings.
As you continue out over the lake, you notice that by a small island straight ahead of you, there appears to be a small flock of ducks bobbing in and out of the water. On an impulse, you decide that the best test of this Glyph – and your ability to use it – would be to use it to catch one of those ducks for lunch. You take as deep of a breath as you can, and then you rise. The moment you start climbing again, the strain is back, though this time it does not seem as harsh as it was before, presumably because this time the angle of ascent is much more modest, and you are not trying to accelerate – not yet at least.
By the time you are sixty feet off of the surface of the lake in your estimation, you are positioned as well as you are going to be. Already, you can see some of the ducks reacting to your presence. In a matter of moments, they will all be in the air. For a split second, you consider letting them take flight, and then trying to chase them down, but you decide against it. Making a tight dive – while accelerating – will be a real test of your abilities, and your best bet for catch one ... though you do run the risk of seriously hurting yourself if something goes wrong.
