Master

It didn't take a genius to notice the change in Mariella. She had always been on the more quite side, but now she bearly spoke at all. She just sat in the herb garden behind the hut and stared at the ground in intense thought.

Her face was in an almost permanent frown, her thoughts clearly showing through.

With a nearby stick she had found, her hand solemnly drew what looked like a boys face in the dirt infront of her. She was no artist, so it was hard to make out clearly but it was definitely the face of a boy.

[Where could he of disappeared to?]

She felt depressed with herself because she couldn't remember anything that would make it any easier to look for him. She couldn't remember the entirety of her past yet, but that didn't mean she couldn't clearly remember the feelings she felt back in her memory.

This boy was incredibly important to her. More important than anything else in her life at the time. She just wanted to see if he was still alive after all this time or not. Even if he was an old man by now and didn't remember her at all, she still wanted to see him safe and sound.

She could leave behind everything else in her past but him.

But where could she even began to start looking? Even if she had a clear destination to go to, how would she even get there with how weak she was right now? She couldn't even protect herself, and there was no way an half-elf would beable travel freely across the continent by herself.

She would be prosecuted against, hunted down and sold as soon as she stepped out into the world. This world was made for the strong, and had no place for the weak.

She had to find a way to gain more power, or finding Killian would be nothing but a pipe dream she'd never be able to realize. But how..?

[The old lady taught Colin magic. Maybe she would be willing to teach me as well? She had magic that was unheard of. If anyone can help me, it would be her.]

After finding her resolve, she slowly stood up, brushed the dust off her dress, and started to walk her way back inside the hut.

She found the old lady sitting peacefully at the table sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea. Her seasoned eyes looked up from her cup and smiled warmly toward Mariella.

"I like that look in your eyes. Have you decided on something, child?"

Mariella smiled back at her, warmth filling her face. She calmly walked to the table and sat across from the old woman, her eyes bright and clear.

"In fact, I did. I decided that I don't want to repeat the past I went through, and I want to become stronger in order to overcome it. I'd like you to teach me magic, if your willing." She didn't feel the need to beat around the bush. This old woman was not as simple as she seemed. In fact, Mariella had the suspicion that she all ready knew what she was going to ask anyway.

The old woman sat there for several seconds before she answered coldly.

"Is that what you really want, Child? I'm nothing but an old apostate mage. Nothing I could teach you would bring you any safety. The templars would hunt you down for using illegal magic the moment it's discovered."

"Even so.. I want you to teach me. If I go to the Tower then they will have control over everything I do. I need to find someone, so I can't have the tower restricting my movements." Her eyes became slightly darker, filled with absolute resolve.

The old woman studied her serious expression and then let out a small chuckle. This child reminded her of herself back in her youth. She also chose such a life in exchange for her freedom, so if anyone could understand her feelings it would be her.

"Very well, if it's like that then I understand. I will teach you all that I know, and help you cultivate your powers."

"Thank you! Thank you, Master! I promise I won't disappoint you."

A rare and beautiful smile bloomed across her face. It felt as if everything that had happened to her had led her to this point and to this woman. Her life was at a standstill, but now she finally had a goal to pursue.

She would be more than her past, and build a future she could be proud of. All she had to do is work hard for it, and the power she desperately wanted would finally be hers. No one would look down on her for her race, and no one would beable to misuse her any longer.

After she was strong enough, then she would finally start her search for a certain handsome dark haired man, and no one was going to be able to stop her.