Standing in front of the Major, as we both bowed to each other, my mind raced furiously.
I'd been thinking and preparing for this for weeks.
The usual strategy all mages use is the sword-and-shield: create a shield with both hands first and hold it with your weaker hand (usually the left). Although the shield will need to be modified in response to different attacks, it is easier to modify a spell than to create a new one. We use the right hand for the attack spells, with the left hand occasionally helping with the harder parts.
This strategy requires excellent hand-eye coordination, and hands that are nimble and flexible. And a lot of practice. I had to spend most of my energy and time focusing on maintaining the shield, barely able to attack. Of course, I developed the ability since t
