Learning to Love (Tinder and Saren)

[Tinder]

The following day, Cisa found that very little had changed about her situation. She awoke shortly after sunrise to a growling stomach. Though she'd hoped to avoid seeing the man again until he came to her, she knew she would not survive long without food. She returned to the wizard's room and asked where she could find food. The wizard remained with her only long enough to show her to where he kept his food stores before disappearing again. She hadn't even had time to ask him what he'd like to eat. In order to avoid angering him, she found some simple bread and cheese, taking only enough to satisfy herself. Once that was tended to she returned to her room for the day and spent her time cleaning it. She began by dusting, but eventually moved on to scrubbing, using old scraps of cloth she'd found in the abandon dresser. Before the evening arrived, she'd clean the room from top to bottom. The candles from the previous night were tucked away in the drawer and her cleaning rag was hung to dry in the washroom. She returned to the storeroom for more food before heading off to bed.

The rest of the week was just as quiet. She'd ventured out the second day, bringing the map with her as she began to explore. She had no destination in mind, but rather chose to orient herself and see as much of the castle as she could. She saw little of the wizard during that time and she dared not disturb him. If he wanted her, she had no doubt he'd find her. The most she could do for him was stay out of his way. To avoid disturbing him, she stayed out of the rooms. The halls were complicated enough to learn. By the fourth day, she finally felt that she understood the basic layout of the castle.

It was about that same time that the boredom began to set in. She hadn't had this much free time since she was a child. As soon as she was old enough, she gone to help her father in his forge. Since that day she'd spend her days working alongside him and her evenings with her stepmother doing the housework. She continued to wander the halls, but she could only wander down the same dark halls so many times before she began to feel she was wasting her time. Before long she began peeking in rooms. She never entered them for fear that something within would alert the wizard to her snooping, but she looked long enough to get a clearer picture of the contents of the rooms. Most were dusty with items scattered about them like a strong wind had blown through them. She saw little of interest and soon her snooping grew just as dull as her wandering.

By the seventh day, she was sure she was going to go stir crazy. Hard labor would have been preferable to this. That day she'd woken up, had a bit of breakfast and then began wandering again. However instead of heading down a random hall, she was drawn towards the wizard's chambers. She'd done all she could to avoid bothering him, but now even scolding was preferable to this boredom. She need to do something constructive or at least talk to another human being. The silent halls had been her only company since the second day. She headed down the hall, slowing her pace as she neared his rooms. Perhaps he'd be finished with his gem now and have something for her to do. Just as she reached his door, the sound of the wizard's voice came through the door followed by the clang of steel. She stopped, uncertain if it was wise to continue. She knew she was bored, but catching the wizard in a bad mood would hardly be better.

She turned to leave when a second clang brought her to a halt. She glanced back at the door, her curiosity and concern getting the better of her. As much as she liked to pretend she could ignore the needs of someone as cold as the wizard, she couldn't turn away. She approached the door, steeling her nerves. The least she could do was check on him. She'd leave the moment he commanded it. She took a breath to steady herself and then knocked, "Wizard?" She waited a moment before opening the door to investigate. The wizard sat in a chair on the far side of the room, the broken gem sitting half pieced together on the table. She glanced around for the source of the noise and found her eyes drawn to the sword at his feet. "Oh," she said, surprised by the broken blade, "I suppose that explains the noises." She looked between the pieces, evaluating the damage. A smile crossed her lips as she looked back to the wizard, "I could fix that for you if you'd like." Something to do at last.

 

[Saren]

As if his current state wasn't bad enough, a soft knock at his door had him trying to glare holes right through the wood. "Enter," he said, teeth grinding in anger. He watched her enter, though he could see her far better than she could see him. She'd taken advantage of the running water in his house, courtesy of Telasorin. It truly was a luxury, though he rarely made any attempts to use it. He wasn't dirty, but being away from his work made him antsy, like he couldn't stand to be doing nothing. Cisa still appeared to be wearing her dirty clothes from before, and while the Dark Wizard didn't get fabric in his monthly shipments, he always had the Earth Mage at his fingertips. She always enjoyed spinning and weaving clothing for everyone.

Cisa's mention of the noise had him scowling at her, though his hood was drawn over his head once more, and the expression was invisible. Only his lightning-colored eyes could be seen in the shadows. He could have struck her down for a comment like that, but it was just a waste of energy he didn't have. He was too busy focusing on bringing the darkness where it belonged and trying to fix his broken jewel to be concerned about what his servant said to him.

Shoving himself from his chair, the Dark Wizard only gave the sword a heated glance before he whipped around to his table. Cisa had a tendency to not touch stuff, as far as he could tell. He knew she had opened some of the rooms, but the worst were near him. She hadn't disturbed his items, and she'd even found his room all on her own. If he thought he could still feel something, he almost might have been impressed.

Cisa spoke again, but he didn't keep his back turned to her. Instead, he shifted, yellow eyes giving her a now curious look. He almost had the appearance of a ghost, given that it was so dim inside his room. "You have prior experience as a blacksmith?" he asked. It explained the dirt on her clothes when he'd first looked at her, since the other girl hadn't been as roughed up. "Follow me then." Walking to the only bare wall in the tower, the Dark Wizard dragged his finger up along the stones, leaving a wispy trail of darkness behind. When he moved his hand away from the wall, the shadows crept out from the line and fashioned a circle upon the stones. The middle of the circle brightened, revealing a room beyond the darkness, though it was hard to tell exactly what it was, or if it was even safe to traverse.

"Step inside and walk all the way forward. The portal will not harm you. It is only taking you to a different part of my home. If you do not feel safe, we will go the long way." It didn't seem to strain him in the slightest to hold the portal open, because he could talk and pick up the broken pieces of his sword at the same time. It didn't seem right that a man of his talent skill should be hidden away, but there he was, even hiding his face from his new indentured servant.

 

[Tinder]

It was clear that the wizard wasn't in the best of moods. She couldn't see his face, he wore his full cloak again, but she could practically feel his frustration when he turned to her. Those eyes were enough to send chills down a grown man's spine. She doubted she ever get used to them. The moment she offered to fix his sword, however, he almost seemed to brighten…if a dark wizard could brighten. She nearly jumped when he turned back. He was almost more unnerving when he was happy. At least if he was angry she knew what he'd do.

When he asked her about her experience, she nodded, "I worked in my father's forge before…" There was no need to continue that sentence. He beckoned for her to follow him, leading her to a wall before performing some trick on the surface. The darkness came together and formed some kind of hole, a magic hole by the looks of it.

She took a step back, uncertain she wanted to be close while he worked his magic. She'd told herself she didn't believe Sofia's nonsense, but now wasn't so sure. Could ordinary people touch "portals" without any ill effect? Had the wizard even tested this before? She glanced between the wizard and portal, her nerves a little too obvious for her liking. What surprised her most of all was his second offer. He was willing to walk around just for her benefit? She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was the same man who'd scolded her for getting blood on his processions, blood from wounds she'd gotten retrieving the blasted thing for him. The same man who then left her to fend for herself for a week straight in a place she knew little to nothing about. She looked back at the portal and took a deep breath. If he was willing to go out of his way for her, the least she could do in return was have a little faith in him. She walked forward before she could change her mind, closing her eyes as she went through the portal.

It felt…like walking through a door. She opened her eyes, the tension leaving her limbs when she realized she was in a physical room and not floating in a vast space of nothing. Seeing no damage to herself, she began to look around the room, walking forward to examine the contents. It looked like a forge; a very old forge, but working. It was a small room with a chimney to keep the smoke from gathering in the room. A door stood to the side, closed like all the others, but from the location she could guess it led outside to the courtyard. A smith needed fire for forging and judging by the lack of fuel in the room, there was likely a stock pile somewhere outside or there had been when the forge was in use. She wandered around the room, examining the equipment to get a better idea of what she was dealing with. Everything appeared to be in working order, save for a few of the tools that had rusted with age. She could work with it, though it would take a while to bring this place back to life. Heating a forge took hours and this one didn't even have the coals to work with. It would be hard work, but it almost felt like coming home to find a place so familiar to her.

She turned to the wizard once he'd come through the portal, "It will take some time to get a hot enough fire going, but this place will be fine. Where do you keep your fire wood?"

 

[Saren]

Judging from the look on Cisa's face as she moved forward, she was mystified by both her short travel and his indoor forge. It was a dusty old room for certain. He'd never had a reason to use it, as he'd assumed his silver sword was unbreakable. Given that he'd cracked off the tip, that fact was no longer true. However, it seemed he had gotten lucky with his new servant, for she had the knowledge to repair his weapon. Her tools... Not so much. There were some working hammers and tongs, and the anvil still remained strong. The forge hadn't had usable coals in it for years, and sooty dirt clung to every nook and cranny. Hardly any light shone though the single door in the corner of the room, but with one wave of his hand, the darkness receded and crawled toward him. The torches on the wall flared to life, giving the room the brightness it needed. He winced at the fiery lights, but Cisa wasn't like him. She, unfortunately, needed every speck of light.

At her inquiry, he walked to one of the walls lined with shelves. There were all manners of ores and ingots resting there, though with the layers of dust coating the metals, it was hard to tell what they were. Beneath the shelves was a metal drawer, and when he pulled it open, there was still a healthy supply of wood, though some parts of the pieces seemed to be rotting. It didn't seem to matter to him though, as he picked up a piece and inspected it. Satisfied that it would burn, he dropped it back into the drawer, but it didn't land among the other pieces. A shadowy hand caught the piece; the Dark Wizard moved a few paces forward, and his shadow lengthened and straightened, transforming into another version of himself. It was the same height and build, but the shadow was completely black, save for its eyes, which were the same bright yellow as its master's eyes. The shadow did the menial work of picking up wood and throwing them into the stone forge, saving Cisa's time and strength.

When enough wood had been piled in, the Dark Wizard peered at the shadow's handiwork. When he looked back at the black version of himself, the shadow melted back into the ground, like it had never been tangible at all. "Stand back," he ordered Cisa. He rubbed the tips of his fingers together, creating a small shower of sparks. The sparks were a myriad of blues and yellows, unlike natural lightning. As they fell onto the wood, the pieces immediately lit up in an azure blaze. It steadily glowed into reds and oranges like a normal fire, but the initial flare was only a byproduct of his lightning magic.

"This should suffice, but if it does not, inform me of what you require and I will find it," he explained, leaning the broken sword against the wall. He twirled the sharp tip in between his fingers before he held it out to her. "I shall be in my room. If you wish to speak with me, put out the torches. I will know." With the cryptic message hanging in the air, the Dark Wizard drew his dark line up the wall. The portal opened with little more than a whisper, and then he was gone, as he himself were made of the same shadows he controlled.

 

[Tinder]

The wizard banished the inky darkness that covered the room, forcing Cisa to blink as the light appeared. It was brighter than the little bubble that surrounded her, though she wasn't certain she needed all the light. She found herself growing accustomed to the darkness of the wizard's home. The light was quickly forgotten however as the wizard began to work his magic again. This time he created a shadow creature in order to stoke the fire. It looked humanoid in shape, constructed from shadows save for the eyes which glowed just like the wizard's. Cisa took a step back when the creature began to move, unnerved by its appearance. Every time the eyes flashed back in her direction, a shiver went down her spine. She was never going to get used to this.

Once the work was done, the creature vanished and Cisa felt some of the tension leave her body. She moved away as the wizard instructed, perfectly happy to give him plenty of room. He snapped and a shower of sparks spilled from his hand onto the wood. She was both amazed by the display and wary of the unnatural color of the sparks. More magic; could this wizard not even bring himself to start a fire normally? Soon the flames began to glow orange as they ought to, though she still found herself watching the blaze.

The wizard, seemingly content with the situation, told her how to contact him and then melted into the wall again. She sighed to herself after he left, rubbing the back of her head as she walked over to check the fire. It was going, though it would be some time before it was hot enough for work. She found a nearby stick and poked the fire with it, noting that the fire seemed perfectly ordinary now. She'd half-expected it to reach up and grab the stick or melt it in her hand. 'Yes, because he'd leave you alive this long only to melt you in a forge while trying to help,' she muttered to herself. The wizard may not have been the warmest person she'd ever met, but she knew one thing after a week of wandering around his home, he didn't have the patience for a scheme like that. If he wanted her dead, she'd have died long ago.

Turning her attention to the problem at hand, she picked up the sword and began to examine it more closely. The break was a few inched down the blade. Were it any other case, she'd recommend tossing the broken piece and reshaping the remaining blade, but she was hesitant in this case. This blade was magical, even her untrained eye could see that. She couldn't just reshape it without doing some kind of damage, she was certain. Considering the last artifact of his that had been touched was still in a state of disrepair, she needed to be careful with this one or her death was all but guaranteed.

She set the sword down with a sigh and began looking around the forge, examining the shelves to see if anything there would help her. There was plenty of metal making new things, but nothing that told her what to do about this blade. She continued searching, looking through the wood pile as well to be safe. Nothing jumped out at her. She glanced up at the top shelves, her eyes stopping on a shelf to the far left. A paper sticking out of the top. It was far beyond her reach and she could not see what was on it, but anything would help at the moment. She checked the fire to be sure it was burning well before returning to the wall. The shelves looked ancient; stable, but ancient. There was nothing around she could use to give herself a boost up other than the shelves however. Taking a deep breath, she began climbing the shelves. A loud creek caused her to flinched, but she pressed on. The wood groaned with every little movement, but eventually she arrived at the top. She tugged at the paper, noting something heavy was on top. Probably another stack of ore. Whoever worked here last must have had a least a foot on her in terms of height. She slowly pulled it free, keep her right hand on the shelf to steady herself. It came loose after one last tug, but flew from her hand. It began to drift down, heading toward the open fire. Her eyes widened as she leapt after the paper, snatching it midair before crashing down to the ground.

She land on her left arm, cradling the paper to her chest. Sitting up, she rubbed her arm with her right hand. Nothing was broken, only bruised. She lay the paper down and examined it. There was a schematic on the paper depicting what looked like the wizard's sword. Lines were drawn down the center of the blade and there were several notes pointing to different points on the sword as well. Cisa cursed under her breath. She could not read a single word on the page. Perfect. The solution to her probably was right in front of her and she understood nothing. She thought about calling the wizard, but then reconsidered. She'd have to admit she couldn't read and that…was not something she felt ready to share.

Perhaps the picture could help her. The lines looked important, perhaps they would do something. She looked at the sword again. There were no lines on the metal. Perhaps this wasn't the plans for the wizard's sword after all. She set the blade down, but took one last look the paper to sure. The blade was red around the lines like it had been in a forge. Perhaps they only appeared when it was heated up.

Seeing no other alternative, Cisa decided to give it a try. She focused her attention on the fire, adding wood and tending the smoldering coals until they heated the whole room to the same boiling heat she'd felt every day in her father's forge. Once the coals were prepared, she place the sword within them, along with the broken tip. She continued tending the fire, watching the blade as the metal heated to a glow. Once it was red hot, she pulled it from the fire and set the pieces on the anvil. Once exposed to the air, lines began to glow within the metal. She pushed the pieces together with the tongs and waited. It took a few moments, but the lines drew the pieces together, reconnecting them and knitting the metal together. A moment later, it was as though the sword had never been broken. She plunged the blade into a nearby barrel of water, causing as loud hiss to erupt from the rapidly heated water. The blade returned to its original color and the lines faded away.

As far as she could tell, the blade was fixed. Seeing nothing else to do, she dug through the tools and found a whetstone. She spent the next hour honing the sword's edge until it cut clean marks into the table. She laid the blade down and found an old rag among the tools. She wet it in the barrel and then went around to the various torches to extinguish them. It felt like she was summoning a patron of evil as she put out the light, but she ignore the chills that ran down her spine. At least this patron of evil was going to be happy with this summons. It would be a nice change considering his usual reaction to her presence was annoyance.

 

[Saren]

The Dark Wizard had spent more time trying to repair his broken sapphire, but the lack of any real binding magic only made the jewel fall to pieces again. Really, it seemed like a poor waste of his energy to keep working on the damned thing, but he was stubborn about it. It was the one piece of his childhood that he couldn't let go of. It represented a simpler time, when his magic had only just started to bloom. Now that he was a full blown Wizard, there was hardly any time to think back on the innocence he once had.

As Cisa doused the torches, he could feel the darkness returning to his ancient forge. It called him, whispered to him in a way no one would understand, telling him that the light had faded and that it was safe to return. He'd always found comfort in the shadows, and with the forge being cloaked in blackness once more, he knew he could find solace there. And his sword, and his new servant, he supposed. He still had yet to trust her, but if she'd truly repaired his blade, then perhaps she was unlike the other humans.

A line of darkness burned into both sides of the walls as the shadowy portal opened back up to receive him. He found Cisa easily in the dark, especially since his sword had a brighter sheen to it than normal. On top of that, it appeared as though it had never broken in the first place, and the blade had been sharpened to a deadly point. "May I?" he asked, yellow-gold eyes studying the sword in the dark. There was just enough light to see by to find that the Dark Wizard had removed his hood while he'd been away, and he wore no gloves. His robes appeared to be the same as the week before, though there was hardly any dirt or wrinkles in the fabric for his clothing to be considered dirty. It seemed strange that he wore the same clothing, but he rather liked the flowing sleeves and the lack of tight fabric around any part of his body.

Once Cisa had given him the sword, he gave the weapon an experimental swing. The sword felt like it could slice through the very air itself, which was a pleasing thought. Vatanax would have something to say about that one, he thought, watching the blade dart through the air. "Remarkable," he commented, inspecting the sword at a closer angle. "I assume you have little knowledge of magic of any kind, and to fix a sword of this caliber is... very good. What exactly did you to to repair it?" He seemed mystified that his servant, just a simple blacksmithing apprentice, could repair such a weapon, but he had the evidence right in front of him. He rarely gave compliments, but it seemed a good a time as any to give her one.

 

[Tinder]

The wizard reappeared, this time with his face visible. The faint glow of the coals in the forge allowed her to see his face in the dark. She was once again struck by just how human he looked. She expected him to look monstrous as he did with the hood over his face, but his face was so ordinary. 'Not entirely ordinary,' she thought as she watched him, 'His face is fairer than most of the women in the village.' There was nothing ordinary about this man. He asked for the sword and she complied, offering him the hilt. She was careful to remove her hands once he had grasped the hilt. One artifact had been ruined by her blood already.

She took a step back as he examined the sword. It seemed to please him which was gratifying. Whatever she'd done to the blade had evidently righted it. The satisfaction of a job well done filled her as she watched him. It had been so long since she'd been able to do anything other than wander, she thought she'd go crazy in the dark halls. Truth be told, it wasn't the first job she'd been entrusted with as a blacksmith. Her father had let her handle several jobs in his name while she'd worked with him. She'd fixed a few swords in her day and glowed when the owners praised her father for the work. Even he had allowed himself to show a little pride.

The wizard took her from her thoughts when he asked her about the process. She indicated the plans which sat behind her on the bench still unrolled. "I found these sitting on a shelf," she explained, unconsciously rubbing her sore arm. There would probably be a bruise there by the morning. "When I examined them I realized they were for your sword so I simply followed them. All it took was heating up the metal and then the sword healed itself," she swept her fingers through her hair in an attempt to brush off the feat, "The pictures made it easy to understand. I'm sure anyone could have done it." She glanced at the strange characters on the paper and prayed they were in the common tongue. For all she knew they could have been written in a foreign tongue that only the wizard ought to know.

After a moment, she looked back to the sword and tried to change the subject, "It's a magnificent weapon, by the way. I've never seen its equal, though that's not much coming from someone who's never been far beyond this forest. You're lucky to have it." She knew only a little about sword craft, but even her untrained eyes could see the blade was a high caliber. Judging by the plans for its creation and the magic infused in the metal, even great knights would be jealous of it.

 

[Saren]

At her words, he glanced up from the sword, following her pointing to the the papers on the bench. He sheathed the sword, scooping up the papers. He thumbed through each scroll, reading the words on the page. They were poorly written, as if someone had been rushing in the wake of an experiment to record their findings. It certainly wasn't his own handwriting, but given that the sword had belonged to his master at some point, maybe he had written it. Not that it mattered what the writing said; the pictures described the process better than the prose on the page.

"Hm. I have never seen these. I suppose Malkore never did tell me every secret to this place." He rolled the papers up, settling them into a pocket in the folds of his robe. Malkore had been the Dark Wizard prior to himself, but he'd never been keen on having an apprentice beyond forcing the laws of magic upon him. Their relationships had been based on work and that was all, and so it would be the same way he treated Cisa, for he knew nothing better.

"Thank you," he said, and his voice had softened just enough so the words felt like a real compliment. "And yes, I am. My previous master did not like weapons, but magic, contrary to what you normal people may believe, is not good for everything. He passed it to me without a second thought, and I've kept it since then." It was perhaps one of the longest strings of speech he'd said around his new servant, but the sword was more than just a weapon in this case. It broke the nervous tension between them, sparking a conversation where there hadn't been one before.

"Come." He turned, and for a brief moment, she could clearly see that one eye was not nearly as bright or golden as the other. He had never mentioned regarding it, but it was obvious something was different about that one orb. "You should eat something. I must return to my study. I have no other obligations for you at this time." Dragging his finger along the length of the wall again, the shadows opened at his command and formed the portal once more. Trusting that she would follow, the Dark Wizard stepped inside to emerge in his room. The papers were still strewn about like before, and the jagged pieces of sapphire were still scattered, broken as ever. Little had changed except that the massive book on the podium was filled with more swirling scribbles.

 

[Tinder]

Cisa held her breath as she watched him examine the paper. Every movement made her heart beat faster. Any moment now he would turn and ask how she knew what was written there. Any moment she would be forced to reveal her secret. The moment hung in the air on a precipice. But then he rolled the paper up and muttered something about someone named Malkore and secrets. She breathed a silent sigh of relief, covering her reaction the moment he glanced back.

When he spoke of magic, she did not know how to respond. She didn't want to admit it, but she'd always thought wizards used their magic for everything. Though considering how the wizard had been acting thus far, she wasn't entirely certain she was wrong. Even if the sword could be used ordinarily, it still contained magic. Had she not thought better of it, she would have questioned the supposed worldliness of the wizard, but she lacked the confidence to do so. Still it was nice to be appreciated and to hear another voice for a while. Even the wizard seemed companionable after so many days spent in the dark quiet of the castle.

He beckoned her into the portal again, this time entering ahead of her, but she paused for a moment before following. In that moment in the glow of the fire, his eyes seemed odd to her. At least one of them did. The color was off, cloudy almost yet she'd never noticed it before. She continued behind him, hesitating only a second before entering the inking portal again. Her eyes closed the moment she stepped through, only opening once she'd returned to the wizard's study. A chill passed over her as she made the crossing, but she was unsure if the magic was to blame or the temperature of the house. The study was undeniable colder than the forge had been. Goose prickles immediately appeared on her skin causing her to unconsciously bring up her hands to rub away some of the chill. Unfortunately her clothing offered her little protection against the sudden chill. Perhaps she ought to just go back to the forge for a while.

The wizard had a point however; she was starting to get hungry. She took a few steps away from the wall, heading towards the door. After the sudden conversation with the wizard, she was reluctant to leave without saying anything. She stopped for a moment and turned back to the wizard, "If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to call."

 

[Saren]

Cisa listened quickly, and it was something the Dark Wizard could appreciate. Not only had she repaired his sword in a timely manner, it had only taken her a day to understand what he did or did not want. He hadn't been vocal about either of those things, but Cisa understood. It was strange, really. Having never had a servant before, he didn't really know what to make of her, but he saw himself in her, of all people. Malkore had been the same way he was, expecting things of people even if they didn't understand. Studying under the man had been a trying experience, to say the least. It didn't seem right that he should put Cisa through the same situation. He'd forced her here; she'd not had a choice, much like himself over ten years ago.

As Cisa went to the door, he padded around to the front of his podium, picking up the feathered quill and tapping the fluffy end on the book. He'd written so much in regards to the spells of darkness he controlled, but the book still felt empty. He wanted to record everything he could about the world of magic, but that meant he would have to talk to even the most elusive of wizards. People like the Time and Space Wizards were hard to contact.

After Cisa spoke, he nodded, already beginning to engross himself in his work when he had a thought. She had done numerous things correctly, despite her slip up earlier in the week with his sapphire pieces. Perhaps it was time to try and treat her like a proper person. Malkore hadn't done that for him, and while Cisa wasn't his apprentice, she should at least enjoy her time under his employment. Well, at least, not despite it.

"If you would like, you may bring your food in here. Provided you don't spill on anything, of course."

 

[Tinder]

The wizard had his nose in his books again. Cisa knew she was no longer needed. The momentary distraction had been welcome. Now she would spend another dozen days wandering the halls, poking around until her boredom consumed her mind and drove her into one of the rooms. There she'd likely run into some ancient artifact and it would burst into dust. The wizard would appear and end her sentence in one swift blow. A week ago that would have terrified her. Now she wasn't so sure. She couldn't decide if a quick end would be preferable to the slow fall into insanity that she was currently experiencing.

She turned to go, but stopped when the wizard spoke again. He was inviting her to stay. She glanced over her shoulder, unsure how she ought to respond. No doubt he was trying to be civil; he'd expressed no interest in her thoughts or existence before. Perhaps it was his idea of a reward for her work on his sword. She wondered what would happen if she dared come back. The idea of company was more than welcomed, but their previous encounters had not ended well. She looked back at the door before replying softly, "If that is your wish, wizard."

She pushed the door open and disappeared down the dark hall. This would end horribly, she could feel it in her bones. She would say something to upset the wizard or do something to one of his papers and that would be the end of that. But she could not deny the offer had been kind. Even if this invitation was nothing more than a curtsey, it was still a chance to interact with someone other than herself. She had grown curious about the man since she'd entered his home. He was not at all what she had expected to find in the Dark Wizard of legend. She'd heard so many frightening tales of the monster shrouded in shadow who killed whole herds of cattle to fuel dark spells and enchanted men to walk to their deaths into the river. Now it all seemed silly. The man was unsettling, but human through and through as far as she could see.

The storeroom appeared on her right and she entered in. It was one of the only rooms she'd grown to recognize. She went directly to the stores of bread and cheese that she'd been eating from for most of the week. There were other food supplies, everything from grain to sugar to salted meats, but half of it was only good when cooked and she'd yet to find a kitchen in the castle. She tore off a bit of bread and cheese as she had grown accustomed to doing, turning to go back to the wizard.

She hesitated at the door, glancing back at the food. Had the wizard eaten yet? Nothing ever seemed to be moved when she came for her own dinner and she'd yet to run into the wizard in the hall. The portal may explain the latter, but the former seemed odd to her. Surely the wizard ate. No one could survive without food. She glanced back at the bread and cheese. Perhaps she could prove herself useful twice in one day. Or become a fool for presuming too much.

She left the storeroom with two portions in hand, bundled in a small canvas sack some of the bread had been previously stored in. It would keep the wizard's study clean at least and provide an easy way to transport the food back if he refused. She almost felt foolish carrying it. This wizard behaved so oddly. It was impossible to say whether her common sense would help or hinder her interactions with him. Still the wizard had offered her this chance to make amends. This would be a long eleven years if this cold silence persisted. There was no way for her to avoid offending him forever. She chose to follow her instincts and see where that led her.

At the door, she knocked lightly before reentering the room. "I'm back," she said, unsure how else to ease into conversation with him. It was now or never. Glancing the wizard's way, she attempted a smile, "I brought you back a little food as well. I wasn't sure if you ate-had eaten, I mean. Obviously you eat food." That sounded worse than she'd meant it to. Her face felt heated, something which had not happened to her in years. She cleared her throat, "It's just a bit of bread and cheese. If you rather not have anything I could take it back."

 

[Saren]

It wasn't exactly his wish, but she disappeared through the doorway before he really had the chance to say otherwise. He frightened her still, that much was clear. She had every right to be afraid. He knew the stories about himself and his home. People vanishing in the surrounding forest or wild animals attacking small villages. None of those things were true, though he'd never told anyone otherwise. Let them think their strange tales. It kept them out of his home so he could focus on his books and his magic. People were much too trifling to deal with.

And yet, here he was with a servant in his home. It wasn't the most ideal situation, but Cisa had kept the areas she used clean. The same could not be said for the other abandoned rooms of his castle, but he knew Cisa hadn't gone inside many of them. Perhaps she was just as scared of his home as she was of him. Her fear reminded him of himself when he'd first come under his previous master's care. Malkore hadn't been a kind man, choosing to push him to great lengths to perform magic not meant to be mastered at his age. He was just a boy to Malkore, never a confidant or a friend. And he was treating Cisa in a similar way. It had only been a week since she'd been with him, but part of him felt compelled to do more than Malkore had done for him.

He was quiet as she came, and only a flicker of his golden-yellow gaze signified that he noticed her. However, she came forward just a little farther than she had in the past. Setting his quill aside, he looked up as she held out the bread and cheese. She was nervous, and he didn't blame her. This was only the second time they'd interacted on neutral ground. He was sure she didn't count their first meeting as anything good.

"Thank you," he said as he took the small offering. If he was reduced to eating bread and cheese, it was likely his food stores had rotted or depleted. He normally didn't eat enough for it to matter, but with a second, busy mouth to feed, his normal rations would go faster. "It is fine. The supply caravan will be here in a few weeks time to replenish my supply, but for now, we'll make do. I hope that isn't an issue." He took the food to the other side of his podium, pulling a chunk off the bread as he looked down at his book. The page he was flipped open to had a detailed recreation of the sword from the scrolls Cisa had found, and the notes had been rewritten so he could more easily read them. He ate slowly, the end of the quill scratching another few words onto the page. He wasn't really sure what to say to Cisa. Asking about her previous life seemed too personal, and he wasn't forthcoming about himself. They were at an impasse, one that he wasn't sure he could remedy.

 

[Tinder]

When he reached out to take the food, Cisa felt relief flood through her. She had been sure he was going to refuse her just to spite her. The wizard had been far more amiable since she'd fixed his sword. He said little, but the words she managed to get out of him were mostly positive. It gave her confidence as she proceeded onward. Her situation was not ideal, but it was not as hopeless as it had been. Perhaps if she found a way to continue working and interacting with the wizard on a regular basis, she could keep her sanity mostly intact during her years of service. Serving a man she barely knew had not been a sort of a dream for her, but busy work was better than hours of mind-numbing boredom. Her skill set was small, but she knew enough to be of some service. The wizard had already shown her that he had no patience for the mundane things in life like cleaning or eating, if the store had anything to say about his habits.

When he mentioned the food supplies, she replied, "There was other food, but most of it needed to be prepared and I haven't…I didn't know where the kitchens would be." He comment gave her an idea. While most of her duties had been helping her father in forge, Cisa had also taken the time to assist Sophia with the meals. By doing so, she'd learned to cook a few different dishes. She was no chef, but she believed she could make edible food. Judging by the food supplies she'd seen, the wizard rarely took time to make himself anything resembling a proper meal. There was a chance he might appreciate someone else doing the work for him. She walked over to an empty stool sitting near one of the tables. After inspecting it briefly to be sure it was empty, she set her food down in order to free up her hands. She tore off a bit of the bread, choosing her next words carefully. She was unsure how the wizard would take her offer. She nibbled on her cheese, glancing over her shoulder at the wizard. He was scribbling in his book again. He was a dedicated man that much was plain.

She put the food down, crossing her arms over her chest. Her mouth opened and closed as she searched for the right words. "Wizard," she spoke quietly, turning to face him, "I…I feel we got off on the wrong foot with everything that happened." She felt no need to remind him of the mess that had occurred. She took a quick breath, "If I'm going to stay here with you to repay the damage done, I would rather be useful to you. Being idle is not something I can do for long. I worked with my father mostly, but I also helped his wife with most of the household chores. If it would make things easier for you, I could cook for you." She glanced away again, finding it difficult to look directly into the wizard's yellow eyes. "I know you're busy with…whatever it is you do. I can't say I have a lot of experience, but I know enough to make a hot meal." She ran her fingers through her hair, shifting her weight from right to left.

 

[Saren]

He caught every inch of her movements. He didn't have to look at her to know what she was doing. The shadows that engulfed the areas around him sensed the foreign person, calculating each step. There was hardly enough light to see by, but his vision was clear. Now that Cisa was here, the shadows hanging over the candles fluttered, lighting up the room just a little more. He couldn't keep her in the dark... At least in a physical sense. It was entirely possible that he could have gone the next eleven years without giving her any hints about his past, but knowing that Malkore had done the same to him, the Dark Wizard was loathe to copy his previous master.

As Cisa addressed him directly, he looked up, the quill paused at the end of a word. She hadn't done so since she got here, and it was enough to grab his attention. He listened in silence as she offered to cook for him. He hadn't had a properly cooked meal in years, and the thought was pleasing. He waited until she was done speaking to contemplate her request. Perhaps it would be good for both of them to sit down and have a proper meal together.

"It would be better than eating cheese and bread, I'm sure," he said, folding his book down on top of the quill to keep his place. Cisa hadn't shown interest in his books or his magic, but perhaps her fear still overrode her curiosity. In any event, she was at least interested in something, and it was something he couldn't do himself. "Follow me," he said, coming around his podium to the same wall where they'd walked through to get to his forge. Using the same spell as before, the shadows slid apart to reveal an image of a kitchen. He allowed Cisa to go first before he followed. Upon his entry, the candles and torches around the room flared up, though the light immediately cooled and wasn't as bright. It was still enough to see by, and it was certainly lit enough to see the layer of dust lining most of the place. There was a large oven built into one corner, but the coals were long dead. There was another fire pit to hang pots over as well as a few tables for preparing food. There were only two chairs and they were hardly in any condition to sit in. It was clear that the Dark Wizard had left this place alone for some time.

"It will take some cleaning before you are able to use this place." As if that really needed to be stated, but his sentence filled the room with something other than dust and silence. "You can find this place normally through the hallway near your room. If you follow it down to the end and take a left, a set of stairs will lead you here. The exit is behind us, and this door leads into another cellar, though as I understand, there is nothing down there. It may be of interest to move the food into here when the supply caravan arrives." He paused, glancing down at her. Though his eyes often seemed harsh due to the intense color, his gaze was soft, as if he was trying to be a little more open with her. "I hope it suits your needs. I will admit, my home is not something I have properly cared for over the years." He looked back up and around, suddenly saddened that he hadn't treated his home with any sort of care. He remembered running through the halls, hiding under anything he could to escape Malkore's occasional reprimanding. He'd been fond of the kitchen with all of its narrow hiding places and ways to escape.

 

[Tinder]

The wizard seemed content with her offer which pleased Cisa. It was getting easier to talk with him. He was more rational than she had given him credit for the first day she'd met him. After his reaction to the breaking of his crystal and sword, she'd been sure he would keep her at a distance until her sentence was up. She still felt a barrier between them, but it was weakening slowly. Perhaps the next eleven years wouldn't be so bad. He led her to the wall and reopened his portal. She walked through, still hesitating a moment and closing her eyes before she plunged onward. Cold air hit her skin as soon as she reached the other side. Goose prickles broke out over her skin, reminding her once again of the shabby clothing she wore. She opened her eyes, her hands going to her arms to try and warm herself.

The room lit up when the wizard came, drawing Cisa's attention from her shivers. This place was a dump. She walked over to the nearby counter, drawing a finger across the surface only to find a thick layer of dust settled. At the wizard's comment about cleaning, she gave a short, dry laugh, "Some cleaning?" She covered her mouth, realizing she'd spoken aloud. "I mean," she tried to cover her remark, "It won't take long."

She listened to him describe the room, walking around to inspect the outsides of the cupboard. It would be better to have the food close at hand. Otherwise she'd be running around the castle all day trying to get food together to make a proper meal. She felt his eyes on her and looked over to meet his gaze. His eyes were so intense, it difficult for her to continue staring into them for long. Her own dark gaze dropped away when his eyes moved on. A touch of regret appeared on his face as she spoke of his castle. This place needed some love and care that much was certain. Cisa peeked in a few of the cupboards, noting their contents. "This place is hardly a complete loss," she replied, turning back to the wizard, "I can get this place back into working order before tomorrow's evening meal, I believe. All it needs is a bit of scrubbing, really. Just leave it me." Well, perhaps a little more than that, she finished silently. She walked over and touched a crocked cupboard door. Repairs would need to be made, but nothing looked like it needed to be replaced completely.

A draft blew across her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. This began to wonder if this supply caravan would bring cloth with it. She would take the scratchiest wool in the forest if it meant she would be warm for a few hours. She chewed her cheek, wondering if she would be pushing her luck with such a request. He might be angry at her, but she was going to catch a chill at this rate and she doubted the wizard kept much medicine on hand. Did wizards even get sick?

There would not be another chance for her to ask for quite a while. She turned and looked him in the eyes again. "Wizard," she trailed off, her gaze shifting away uncomfortably, "I was wondering if this supple caravan would have cloth on it. When I left my home in a hurry the day…the day I came here. I don't normally wear men's clothing. I only have this set to help my father in his forge. If there were some way for me to get some inexpensive cloth, I would be grateful." I wouldn't know what to do with it after, but I could figure it out. Sewing was not a skill that had been passed down to her. She could hardly mend a tear let alone make a dress to wear. It couldn't be that hard though. Sofia had done it loads of times.

 

[Saren]

The Dark Wizard lifted a brow at her chuckled admission, but she assured him that she could have this place cleaned up. It was a wonder that she could at all, given how dirty and worn down it was. As she moved around, he stayed next to the portal, though it closed on its own accord. Sometimes the shadows were fickle and didn't always follow him. Not that he really had someone to talk to about his magic. He didn't converse with the other mages that much, and living alone meant that he only talked to himself and the shadows. Cisa still seemed too afraid of him to even think about talking about his magic, since she could barely hold his gaze.

Reaching up on the wall, he dragged his finger down, pulling a long trail of dust with the digit. He could see the stone underneath, some of them marked with the letters of spells or the unfortunate outcomes of those spells. The entire castle was marked with his archaic way of keeping track of his spells before his book, but many of them were worn or buried underneath layers of dust. With time, perhaps the whole place would be clean again, but for now, the kitchen would suffice.

He glanced down at Cisa as she spoke, but she didn't hold his gaze. She wanted new clothes, but that wasn't something he had. He only had things for himself, and while the supply caravan did bring worn fabrics, he had never paid the pieces any mind. But... He did know someone who would. "I see. I may have a possible solution, but it will take a few days." Turning back to the wall, he opened the portal again. "In the meantime, there is a water pump in the cellar, as well as everything you need to clean if you would like to get started." With that, he walked through the portal, but it remained open behind him. Cisa could come and go as she pleased, something that would remain true for a long time.

-

True to his word, the Dark Wizard did have a solution to Cisa's problem. In his spare time, he had contacted the Earth Mage. She was a younger woman, likely around Cisa's age, but she was already adept at controlling her element. She was in tune with nature and loved to care for everything, living or not. Always one to help, he knew she would be pleased to take up Cisa's request.

A week after their visit to the kitchen, a peculiar sound rang through the length of the main hallway. It was a knock, as if someone was actually visiting the Dark Wizard. As usual, he was working on adding more of the spells into his book when he heard the sound. He drew up a shadowy portal to the main door. Hefting it open, his bright gaze fell upon the Earth Mage.

"Hello, Sephanir," she greeted with a beaming smile. Her forest green eyes were full of joy, and that happiness seemed to make her glow. She was lovely with her long, wavy hair trussed up in a loose braid. Her locks had roses woven in, as well as a few leaves from her time outside. Her clothes were always simple browns and reds, matching the clay in the earth. This time, she wore a sleeveless, chestnut colored dress with a plain lace sewed into the skirt, though the ensemble was completed with a belt with a myriad of pockets on the hips. She also wore a leather pack over her shoulder, and there was a bit of movement on the inside. A small baby fox rested in the main pocket on the pack, black paws hanging over the side, and a robin nestled itself on top of her head.

"Cromdali," he said with a nod, stepping aside to let her through. "I see you've brought some of my forest with you."

"Oh, sorry," she giggled, looking up without moving her head. "Raja, do you mind? Go check around and see if there's any nesting material outside, dear. I'm sure you'll find something." The robin on her head chirped and fluttered outside, but Cromdali wasn't so quick to move the baby fox from her pack. "Scout won't bother us. Promise."

Sephanir closed the door behind them and together, they began to walk the main hall. "I'm sure you'll keep him in line if he wakes. I appreciate you coming from such a distance."

Cromdali flipped her hand with a smile. "It's no problem, I assure you. I haven't explored much of your home, and I'm sure there are things I have yet to see around here. So, tell me, how is it that you came by this... Cisa, is it?"

"Yes," was all he started with, but her question asked for much more. Biting back a sigh, he began to recount the story of how Cisa had come under his employment as they traversed his home. None of Cisa's shifting shadows alerted him to her presence, but he was sure she would make herself known soon.

 

[Tinder]

"Of course, wizard," Cisa replied, turning toward him as he stepped through the portal to add, "Thank…you." Blast it, she'd never been this tongue tied in her life. She watched the black portal, noting that it remained behind the wizard. She supposed that was his way of saying she was welcome to return to him without asking permission as before. She appreciated the gesture though she wasn't so sure that she would make use of the portal. It had been easier to talk with his this time, but causally dropping in for a chat seemed unlikely. With the wizard gone and the evening still before, Cisa turned back to her task, folding her arms before her. "Alright, kitchen," she addressed to the empty room, "I managed to fix a magical sword today. I will not be defeated by the likes of you." She headed off in the direction of the cellar, retrieving her supplies to begin the task of finding the actually castle beneath the layers of grim.

She was true to her word. By the next evening, she had managed to clean out and light the fireplace as well as clear off a section of table to prepare a meal. It was a simple stew, edible but bland. From that day on, she took to making two hot meals a day; usually porridge in the morning and some sort of meat dish in the evening. There was more than enough food to do so. She was a competent cook, though she knew it would take some practice before she could make anything that was actually tasty. The only food item she could make with any sort of skill was bread. Sofia had insisted Cisa wake with her every morning to make the small loaf of bread that their family would use that day. Cisa had been tasked with job of kneading the dough for Sofia, though she'd watched her mix the ingredients so many times she could recreate the recipe with ease. After the first few days, she had started to make a loaf of bread to accompany their meals throughout the day, supplementing the dwindling bread supplies that the wizard had.

It took roughly five days to finish cleaning the kitchen. She had started with the major areas, getting the oven, pans and tables back to a useful state. After that she'd worked on the floors and walls, finding the original color of the stone beneath the grim. There were several series of marks that refused to be scrubbed away. It looked like the writing from the wizard's book. She'd paused to examine them after uncovering the majority of the writing, wondering who had put them on the walls. The wizard had his book, but perhaps his predecessor had done something to the walls in his time. She'd chosen to avoid the marks after that, deciding the wizard could deal with them if he wished to.

After the room was free of grim, she turned her attention to the repairs that were needed. Almost all the tables wobbled and the chairs sitting next to them would need some suring up if they were going to be useful again. That had required going to the wizard for information about woodworking materials, but it had been easier to talk to him. They had been sharing meals for several days by that point. They still rarely spoke more than was needed, but Cisa felt more comfortable around him with each meeting. She'd found her supplies and repaired what she could. At the end of the five days, it hardly looked like the kitchen had ever been empty.

Seeing nothing better to do with her time, she asked the wizard if there were other areas of his home that could use the same treatment. He had mentioned her cleaning his home when she'd first arrived, which she knew would take quite a bit of time. He directed her to another room near the kitchens; a small storage room by the looks of it. At least it had been before some sort of natural disaster came through. The items there were spread out all over the ground with dust covering everything. Most of the shelving had seen better days as well. She sighed, taking a moment to assess the damage before starting in. This was going to be a long process if all the other rooms looked like this.

It was two days after that when knock at the front door came. Cisa heard it echo through the house, hearing sharper than it had been before her time here began. Silence was the norm in most of the house. Loud noises that disturbed the peace was easy even for her to pick up. She stopped humming that familiar tune she found herself humming whenever she worked, pausing with a book in her hand meant for the stack on the table next to her. It stopped after a few minutes, but she heard nothing else. The wizard hadn't mentioned that anyone was coming. She hadn't believed anyone would bother coming to visit him. No one in the village had ever dared to wander near his home let alone inside it and no travelers ever came in search of him. What sort of person would get involved with the Dark Wizard? She frowned, realizing that she no longer had the right to judge anyone in that respect. She was going to be involved with him for the next decade after all.

She headed back to the kitchen, stopping at the portal. The visitor might have been visiting the wizard on some sort of business. Perhaps she ought not to intrude. She paced over to the fireplace, coaxing the embers with a long stick she'd fashioned into a poker and adding a log. Not knowing what was happen would distract her all afternoon. She would just go in and check to be sure he didn't need her help…which was very unlikely but possible.

She went back to the portal, still hesitating a moment before passing through. She just knew that portal was going to do something odd someday. She'd end up in some other room of the house or half across the world without knowing how to get back. This was not that day however. She emerged in the wizard's room and found him standing there…with a woman beside him.

She was beautiful with flowing brown hair adorned with flowers and bright green eyes. Her clothes were finer than any Cisa had ever seen, yet she also wore what looked like a satchel on her back with a…fox in it? This woman was a strange sight to see. What were they be doing here in the wizard's study? She'd thought he kept other people out of his personal rooms for privacy's sake. Unless he'd meant to meet with her alone. Cisa did her best to keep the thought from showing on her face. Perhaps it would have been better to stay in the kitchen.

"I apologize for interrupting, wizard," Cisa said, a phrase she'd been starting many of their conversations with, "I came to see if you needed anything. I didn't realize you had company with you. I can come back if you're busy."

 

[Saren]

He heard her slip through the portal, sensed her presence before she actually showed up. Somehow, he was still surprised when she opened the door. He and Cromdali were hardly in any compromising position, as she knew better than to touch anything of his, and getting involved with the other Wizards was generally frowned upon. Not that he saw her like that anyway. Cromdali was far too pure and nice to see as anything other than a sister of sorts. Sephanir had never had siblings, and the few Wizards he did interact with were more like family to him more than anything.

"No, it is fine. Cisa, this is Cromdali, the Earth Wizard. She came a great distance to help you with your problem. She's quite good at crafting clothing," he explained, diffusing any other ideas Cisa might have had about them. Cromdali nodded at his explanation and smiled at Cisa. The girl was pretty in her own right, but she was a little rough around the edges. Her hair was wild and sticking up in a few places, as though she'd just gotten out of bed. Her clothes were clean, but worn and plain. It was clear Sephanir didn't have anything for her, but that would change soon enough.

"Hello, Cisa," she said with the same beaming smile she'd greeted Sephanir with. "Why don't we leave him to his business and we'll get you some new clothes, iyos?" she said, crossing the distance between them and linking her arm with Cisa's. Sephanir lifted an eyebrow at her behavior and her language slip, but he only picked up his quill and flipped open the book. He let them cross through the portal before it closed behind them, silently letting them know that he didn't want to be disturbed for a little while.

"A pleasant one, isn't he?" Cromdali giggled as she looked around the kitchen. "I do believe this is the cleanest I've ever seen his home." A shifting in her pack had her moving away from Cisa to bring the strap around to her front. Reaching inside, she lifted out the small fox and smiled as it blinked its eyes open and yawned. "This is Scout. I rescued him from a few hawks preying on him." The fox perked up at Cromdali's voice and his tail wagged. Cradling the animal to her chest, she turned her attention back to Cisa. "So, Sephanir tells me you've come under his... employment for the next eleven years. You were willing to sacrifice yourself for your sister? A rare and admirable trait, I would say."

 

[Tinder]

Even after the wizard's explanation, Cisa was somewhat suspicious. Back in the village, men and women were only left alone in one another's company when they were courting. Then again the wizard hardly seemed the courting type. Come to think of it, she'd never heard of wizard having a partner. Perhaps the wizards avoided all emotional entanglements to keep focused on their work.

When she heard the girl was a wizard, she could hardly believe it. She'd heard tales of the benevolent wizards growing up, though Sofia had still insisted that they were not to be trusted. Cisa glanced over the girl as the wizard spoke. She looked young and joyful, but she didn't looked dangerous. Was it really possible for someone so young to be a wizard? She'd even come all this way just to create new clothes for Cisa. It hardly seemed possible that anyone, a wizard no less, would go to such great lengths for someone they knew nothing about. Cisa didn't know how to respond.

Before she could think to thank her, Cromdali came forward and took Cisa by the arm to guide her out of the room back to the portal. Cisa followed, throwing a glance back at the wizard as he bent down to read through his book. Even with his fellow wizard visiting, the man could not keep his nose out of that book. They went back to the kitchen, the portal closing behind them. It seemed the wizard was leaving her in the hands of Cromdali for a while.

Cisa didn't mind. Cromdali's overflowing kindness quickly won her over. A genuine smile crossed her lips for the first time in nearly two weeks when she saw the little fox in Cromdali's pack. She was so distracted by the creature that she nearly missed what Cromdali said next.

"Sephanir?" Cisa asked, unsure who or what the girl was referring to. The name didn't sound familiar. That was until her mind processed the rest of statement. She was referring to the wizard. "Oh, ah, yes. That is very kind of you to say…ah, my lady?" Cisa was stunned. She knew the wizard's real name. She could hardly believe Cromdali had just said it. Not that asking it had never crossed her mind, but asking had seemed too personal considering their situation. But now she knew and he didn't know that she knew. It almost made her smirk. She would find a good use for that information later.

Realizing that she'd been oddly silent for nearly a minute, she quickly tried to come up with something to say. "Thank you for coming all this way just to help me. I hadn't meant to cause so much trouble with all of this."

 

[Saren]

"Oh, please, no titles for me," she said, one hand flustering to shake off Cisa's title. "Just Cromdali will do. Sephanir and Vatanax love their titles, but Telasorin and I... We're free spirits, as he puts it." At the mention of someone else, she laughed, and it was a sound that would have attracted animals and tickled the leaves of trees had they been near a forest. Scout's tail wagged as she talked, as if he were content to sit there in her arms for the rest of his days. "And really, it's no trouble at all. Sephanir knows I love to help people," she said with another one of her signature wide smiles. Even in Sephanir's old and sometimes foreboding castle, she was still happy and bright.

"I will say though... It didn't seem like you knew who I was talking about at first. Sephanir does like to be secretive. I'm sure he hasn't told you many things about himself. It took many years for any of us to get close to him. Zaphalore is likely the closest to him. This is the first time I've been with him without the other Wizards. Not that's something to worry about," she reassured, finding her way to the kitchen door. "I'd been meaning to come visit his home for some time. He has a lovely forest surrounding this place." There she went again, talking about her own love of nature.

"I'm sorry, I talk too much. Please, tell me about you!" Cromdali proffered as they walked through the door. "I want to know what you like. That will tell me what you should wear and what colors will look good on you." She beamed, but as she cast a forest green glance around them, she faltered. "And... you'll have to lead me. I'm afraid I'm not sure where to go!" The entire encounter felt like two friends talking to one another, as Cromdali seemed to possess an old soul with a fondness for just about everything, even Sephanir's dusty old home. "And if you would like to know anything about the Wizards, I'd be happy to tell you."