All Questions, No Answers

“I have never heard that one before...”, Ifran trails off filling the silence for a moment before it builds up once again.

“Why would Lexon do that?”, Ifran asks breaking the silence once more. “I had a few classes with him and went on even more hunts with him.”, The medic explains putting a webbed hand behind his head in confusion, “He has always been a stickler for rules and regulations. He wouldn’t just perform a dangerous or deadly spell on someone for no reason. Especially an anti-magic one.”

“Journeyman,”, Nir begins before pausing with a finger raised. “I’m sorry, what is your name?”, He asks the Lautanese.

“Journeyman Thaltia Ifran, sir.”, Ifran answers with some kind of salute. Or at least that is what I assume a hand with the fingers kept straight at a perpendicular angle to the palm against the chest would be.

“Journeyman Thaltia.”, Nir begins again. “Thank you for that information.”, The burly master says with a nod.

“He healed me afterwards.”, I state resting my head on my knees. “Why would he do that?”, I inquire as my gaze moves to Ifran.

“So he nearly killed you and immediately after healed you?”, Nir asks me clearly very confused with this new information.

“That is very strange.”, The medic says in agreement.

“Could he have been possessed?”, I ask before another silence builds. I have no idea if that is even a thing in this world but I have to know.

“Why would something possess a Dwarf mage for the applicant’s exams?”, Ifran responds clearly not even entertaining the idea. “Applicants’ affinities and potential aren’t known until the exams are already underway.”, The Journeyman explains as a counter argument. That all sounds far more sensible. Unfortunately, I do not think sense matters in this situation.

“The only thing that could have possessed someone without leaving a trace is a god.”, Nir says with his fingers together, hands resting in his lap like a father. “And if that’s the case. You have way bigger problems than what actually happened.”, He adds with a bellow of a laugh.

“I almost died, what would be a bigger problem?”, I question with a shocked expression. I doubt I would be given a third chance at life. Dying scared me in my first life too.

“You’re too resilient now for that to have killed you.”, I hear the words of the female voice in my head once again, “Well for anything to kill you really.” Anything? Can I even die now?

“Well that’s the thing.”, Nir replies to my vocalized question. “If you have even one god’s attention it usually ends poorly for the mortal. They usually think of us as nothing but pieces in their games after all.”, He explains with a furrowed brow.

“That didn’t really answer my question.”, I mumble into my knees not really caring if either of them heard me.

-- -- --

“Are you okay!?”, Birta asks me while she runs over to me at the doorway to our room. “I heard something happened to you but not what.”, She adds beginning to look me over for any injuries.

“I’m fine now.”, I tell the older Ogre with a fake smile. I have far too many questions and no solid lead to find even a single answer. “I just had an adverse reaction to something I guess.”, I fib to the teen hoping to end the line of inquiries before it begins.

“Oh, alright.”, The ogre says still worried but clearly able to tell I do not want to talk about it. She gives me a smile as she speaks, “So how do you think you did with all the tests?”

I shuffle over to my bed with a groan.

“I don’t know.”, I finally answer with a flop onto the small bed. “The one in charge of my group was a total asshole though.”, I add.

“I don’t think that has any bearing on the results.”, Birta replies. “I think I did pretty well for the physical combat part.”, She adds. I turn my head to see that she is beaming with pride.

“How’d the magic go for you?”, I inquire as I shift.

“Not good enough to be a mage.”, She answers while walking to her bed. “I have higher potential than I thought I would have though!”, She continues with a smile as she sits on her bed. “How about you?”, She inquires again.

“Well for the physical, I learned I have no skills with a sword.”, I say shifting onto my back. “As for the magic…”, I trail off as the memory of the anti-magic spell makes my stomach churn in pain. I put a hand on my gut in response.

“Are you alright?”, The teen asks me again. “What happened in your magic exam?”, She presses the matter once again. She has good instincts, no wonder she wanted to become a Slayer.

“I’m alright now.”, I answer her letting go of my gut. “The exam was fine overall.”, I begin while moving my hands to behind my head. “I have an affinity with all the elements and a very high potential in all of them.”, I explain rather blase. It has not even been a day and I am already acting like it just is what it is, strange. Maybe it is just the exhaustion hitting me.

“How is that possible?”, Birta asks not allowing me to get lost in thought.

“No idea.”, I respond, “But that’s what the results say.” I turn on my side, my gaze meeting the teen’s own.

“If that’s true.”, She begins with a smile. “Then you would make an amazing mage, right!?”, She says with pride like that of an older sister.

“Probably.”, I mutter discouraged. I look down at the floor as I continue, “My examiner then cast an anti-magic spell on me.”

“A what?”, Birta asks nearly yelling the question.

“Keep it down.”, I say quickly standing to my feet in response. “He’s already being dealt with.”, I add before I sit down next to Birta.

“So what is an anti-magic spell?”, She asks. Before I say anything she puts her strong arm around me. It feels nice. Gentle yet reassuring.

“Painful.”, I respond sarcastically. “But seriously,”, I answer with a stoic tone, “It’s strange. It apparently can cut off your affinity to the elements I have to guess.” I lean on Birta’s shoulder before I add, “No one’s actually told me specifics.”

Before we can continue the conversation, a loud grumbling sound fills the small room. My stomach?

“Have you eaten at all today?”, The teen inquires with a smile.

“No.”, I answer with a frown. I really thought I would not have an appetite after all that happened but it is a pleasant surprise. My stomach grumbles again.