Mac had to be Malcolm, she thought. It seemed just like that strange man to have multiple names. She scanned his notes, taking in the runework and the sketches. It was not her kind of magic, though she could read it and it intrigued her. Likewise, the figure in the cage was eerie and curious. He seemed to be reconstructing something.
Markus went on and this time, Emily paused before answering. She could hear the quiet, vulnerable part of the question, and it seemed to her that Markus was questioning his decision to even do that first ritual. She wondered why he dove that far and if it had something to do with his sister.
Would she have followed someone she loved that closely? Into world where knowledge of it was both powerful and dangerous? Emily supposed she might, so she had no place to judge him from, if that were the case.
After a few heartbeats of thought, she started, “There are… parts of this that I would put back in the box if I could.” Back into Pandora’s Box, as it were. Right now, she knew arcanists in the Circle who’d never fought a hydra or golden cat that could scream with magic. Nobody talked about dancing with a fire elemental or spending long lazy days up in Northrop’s mountains with shifters. She could keep that last one but over all, her experiences made Emily think she got herself into far more trouble than strictly necessary. She smiled faintly, sharing, “I enjoy enchanting, problem solving, or crafting pretty things. The occasional monster… not as much. But I think…” Another pause, as she gave Markus’ question the best consideration she could. She chewed the inside of her lip, before leaning back in her chair and folding her hands in her lap as she decided, “Yes. You start to see patterns, it begins to get easier, though… not less dangerous. But yes. It’s worth it, when I can protect the people I love.”
Markus went on and this time, Emily paused before answering. She could hear the quiet, vulnerable part of the question, and it seemed to her that Markus was questioning his decision to even do that first ritual. She wondered why he dove that far and if it had something to do with his sister.
Would she have followed someone she loved that closely? Into world where knowledge of it was both powerful and dangerous? Emily supposed she might, so she had no place to judge him from, if that were the case.
After a few heartbeats of thought, she started, “There are… parts of this that I would put back in the box if I could.” Back into Pandora’s Box, as it were. Right now, she knew arcanists in the Circle who’d never fought a hydra or golden cat that could scream with magic. Nobody talked about dancing with a fire elemental or spending long lazy days up in Northrop’s mountains with shifters. She could keep that last one but over all, her experiences made Emily think she got herself into far more trouble than strictly necessary. She smiled faintly, sharing, “I enjoy enchanting, problem solving, or crafting pretty things. The occasional monster… not as much. But I think…” Another pause, as she gave Markus’ question the best consideration she could. She chewed the inside of her lip, before leaning back in her chair and folding her hands in her lap as she decided, “Yes. You start to see patterns, it begins to get easier, though… not less dangerous. But yes. It’s worth it, when I can protect the people I love.”