Spell 5

[allnaturalmagic]

Nina and Balthier... They're both gone without a trace. Their names have disappeared from the apartment list. Is this what others mean by people vanishing? Have they gone back home? I hope they're both safe and happy, wherever they are. It was so sudden, but I suppose that's how it always is. I would have liked to see them both one last time, to

Comments

[frumpyface]

Sweet Elimine, everyone's losing someone these days.

[allnaturalmagic]

It seems so...

[frumpyface]

Do you... will you be alright?

[allnaturalmagic]

Yes. I'm sad, and I'll miss them both... but I'm not the only one that this has happened to. I'll be fine. Thank you for asking.

Oh, may I ask you a question?

[frumpyface]

Eh? Ah, sure.

[allnaturalmagic]

I've been trying to find out more about these strange crystals that I arrived with. No books here seem to have anything like them, and I was about to resign myself to waiting for my memories to return before I learned anything about them.

One of the teachers here was talking about magic, and when I asked him about the crystals, he said that they're definitely magical. I thought that was odd, since you told me that there was nothing out of the ordinary about them. I'm... not sure what to think now.

[frumpyface]

Dammit.

[allnaturalmagic]

Excuse me?

[frumpyface]

I was hoping you'd wait for memories as opposed to asking.

[allnaturalmagic]

Why's that? Isn't it natural to want to know more about your possessions, especially when they're so strange?

[frumpyface]

[She sighs.]

They're magical, alright. Pretty powerful too, from the feel of them.

[allnaturalmagic]

You knew all along? I thought perhaps you didn't sense anything...

Why did you lie to me?

[frumpyface]

When I first came here, I had two books in my possession in a language I couldn't read. Back then, there were two people who knew me on sight and immediately told me I was a mage, and apparently a rather good one at that.

For two long months, I studied those books relentlessly. They didn't make an ounce of sense until one night, I just knew how to cast. That night put an end to two months of misery and frustration at being told I was a competent mage when I couldn't even cast the most basic of spells.

I wished to spare you the same feelings of misery of knowing what you have and being able to do nothing about it.

[allnaturalmagic]

*is silent for a moment*

So you did it out of kindness. I think I understand now. After going through what you did, you wanted to spare me going through a similar situation.

*smiles a true, genuine smile*

Thank you, Erk.

[frumpyface]

Well, I tried. If I had known how to use it, I would have told you immediately.

I... milady, I don't deserve your thanks.

[allnaturalmagic]

I don't doubt that.

Yes, you do. You tried to keep me from going through what you did. You're very kind.