Forged Destiny [Book 5: Ch. 15]

The Mage backed away as I leapt in. He twisted and waved his staff before him and a wave of heat washed over me. I clenched my eyes shut to pass through it, taking some damage but knowing I could bring it through thanks to my high Constitution. He seemed surprised, especially when I tore through and brought my sword down over his head.

And then he smiled.

A shimmering ring burst into life behind him and he stepped back into it. It closed before my sword cut down, and I had the barest moment to hear and feel a rush of heat toward my back before the fire exploded against me.

[...]

As I lunged for him again, this time I saw the shimmer of light behind more clearly, and through it, into a scene which seemed to show my own back. He stepped in. It closed, but I dove to the left, narrowly dodging an attack that would have impacted on me and thrown me into the earlier summoned wall of fire.

—Forged Destiny [Book 5: Ch. 15]