Dread Mage

“Where do you have your strength from? What have you been doing the past few months?” Inure asked. “You seem too young to have undergone any training, as you have not yet reached adolescence.”

“I trained with the simerians,” Sonder replied. “Vell claimed they are the best fighters in the world, and I spent a few months there learning their strength's secrets.”

“I’m unfamiliar with these 'simerians.’ Now the Dread Mage has brought you here to train. It makes me wonder what he stands to gain from this,” Inure mused, taking a seat. “So, what have you learned? What is the Simerian secret to strength?”

“I don’t think there is a secret. If there ever was, I didn’t figure it out. They both live a very hard life in the place where they live and train to harden their bodies day and night. They also don’t seem to be influenced by magic. I don’t know where that comes from. The woman who trained me told me a story about their gods, and to them, they have the protection of their god against it, and that’s the only answer I can give.”

Inure admitted, “That’s not a particularly satisfying answer.”

“Sometimes the answers we seek aren’t the ones we want,” Sonder reflected, recalling her past.

“Not knowing at all can sometimes be better,” Inure suggested.

“I disagree,” Sonder replied. “I usually prefer to know, regardless of how grim the truth may be.”

“I understand,” Inure said, his expression thoughtful. He noticed a hint of sadness etched on the young girl's face and pondered what had transpired in her past to leave such an imprint.

He considered asking her about it but hesitated. Should he? Why not?

“Why do you pursue strength?” he asked. “As a companion of the Dread Mage, you should possess all the power you desire, yet you still choose to train.”

“She doesn’t have to answer that,” a voice suddenly interrupted, revealing Vell. “You seem quite interested in her.”

Inure shifted his focus to Vell, narrowing his eyes slightly. “Interest? Not particularly. I find it curious that someone so young, a companion of the Dread Mage, would willingly engage in such demanding training.”

Vell stepped closer, maintaining eye contact with Inure. “Everyone harbors secrets, Inure, including Sonder. Her decision to train is entirely her own; she is not my puppet. I merely provide her with opportunities.”

Sonder felt a wave of unease wash over her as she listened to the two men discuss her. She was accustomed to scrutiny, but being talked about as if she were invisible was discomforting.

“I want to be stronger,” she finally interjected, meeting Inure's gaze. “I want to protect myself and those I consider friends and family.”

Vell smiled softly at her. “And there you have it, Inure. She trains because she wants to.”

“If you think I implied that you’re coercing her, I never said anything of the sort.”