Hard threats and soft stories

Ceinwyn looked at Tel'eria, one of the headwizards at the college, and then at Tri'lanna, whose eyes were downcast and tired. 'What did they expect me to do about all of this?' Ceinwyn asked herself. "Thank you," She said eventually, "But we'll be fine."

"My first and only obligation is to my students and the other wizards of the Second Circle. If war breaks out, you're on your own." Tel'eria made to walk away, but as if possessed by the spirit of suspicion, she then turned back to speak again, "And if you think about joining the Seven and face against us, we'll eliminate you too."

Tri'lanna turned to look at Tel'eria for the first time, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Was that supposed to be a threat, Ma'arin?"

Tri'lanna strode towards Tel'eria, until she was almost nose-to-nose with her, "You and your little classroom of cantrips are not the only spellcasters on the Isle. My friend is a Druid, the very last. She has survived the very best of Vanarim's armies, do you think a few pubescent children can match her? And I? I have learned from some of the most dangerous sorcerers in the land, from the Isle all the way to the western continents."

"I have conjured burning clouds that harken back to the very elemental plane of fire. I've danced with arch-incubi and then bound them to my will with a single spoken word. I have summoned creatures from the Twisting Dark Nether that could rip your soul from your body and gnaw your flesh to crumbs with a single wail of its mouths." Tri'lanna said, "You may be the teacher, but it is YOU who will be schooled."

Ceinwyn watched the two elves stare each other down. She felt a small swelling of pride, to hear her friend speak about her in that way, but at the same time felt a writhing, shrinking feeling, knowing that those things about herself weren't true at all. What interested her the most, was Tri'lanna's declaration of being a mage. It was the same for Tel'eria too, it appeared, as she paled slightly.

"Do what you will." Tel'eria mutters, turning away, "But consider yourselves warned." She storms off down the corridor, a black scowl painting her face.

"You never told me you could use magic, Tri'lanna." Ceinwyn said later.

"I told you I belonged to a group of sorcerers. It's natural to assume that I would be a sorceress myself. But I suppose common sense has never been part of your 'nature'. What kind of druid are you?" Tri'lanna derisively chided Ceinwyn, but she immediately looked regretful about the comment, "No. I'm sorry, Ceinwyn. You didn't deserve that. It has been a long, trying day and, with everything that has happened, it seems I am not in control of my emotions anymore. You are my only friend, and I never meant to speak so harshly. Can you forgive me?"

Ceinwyn had to smile at that comment. "Yes, Tri'lanna! Of course I forgive you, and call me 'Winnie', it's what everyone called me back at home. Since we're friends now, after all." The druid smiled warmly at her and Tri'lanna smiled back, relieved, "Who taught you to wield magic?"

The elfmaid's face froze at the question, and then very slowly replied, "...Vanarim. There were other teachers in our group, but he was the primary."

"So...it's true." Ceinwyn didn't know how to act, "You really are with the demon overlord."

"No!" She replied instantly, "I am not with that monster! I am not and never was! I swear it! I would swear it on my mother and my sisters, but that wouldn't have meant much. I tried to tell Hans that, but he wouldn't hear it." Tri'lanna fumed, "If he would have just pulled his head out of his arse for two moments and listen, I would have been able to explain!"

"Explain what, Tri'lanna? You keep saying that, in your home, at the bridge, and right now....but just what is it?"

The elfmaid's lips go ashen and she claws at her forearm, leaving small, red gouges in her skin.

"In my very first lesson, Vanarim told me that magic was the highest point a man can reach for, rising even above that of Gods, and the price for that power was life. My first step to being a sorceress was to renounce my life, leave behind all ties to my family and friends." Tri'lanna chuckled wanly, "Thankfully, that wasn't a difficult task. In doing so, I became one of Vanarim's many students. I never saw the others, but they were there, in the dark caverns where we studied. I am certain that the black magic being cast in the Druid's valley were from my peers."

"You will never know how sorry I am about what happened, Ceinwyn. Maybe I could have done something about it, but I was too busy strolling around like a lackwit. It seems no matter what choice I make, I hurt the only ones I care for."

"Have you ever wanted to be strong, Ceinwyn? To prove something to yourself and to silence the mouths of all the people who told you that you'll never grow up to become anything. Have you ever wanted it so badly that you would take step after step into the darkness, into its walls, plastered thick with blood and sin?" Tri'lanna's voice became haunted, "And then one day, you realize you have walked too far. So you try to run back to the light, only to realize that the darkness has followed you home and it poisons everything you touch."

"What are you trying to say, Tri?" The young woman asked.

"Ceinwyn, no, Winnie, what you don't know," Tri'lanna looked away, both bitterly angry and sad at once, "Is that Hans and I have met once before. May the Gods forgive me for it."