Kynier caught on quickly. Vel could see it in his eyes. And the mage could see it too, in the Akalak. Of that he was sure. The greed of wanting to keep somebody close who could damage Aer’wyn’s mental state enough to relinquish all control of his body.
The conviction with which Kynier spoke of his own valour didn’t sell it to Vel. He simply couldn’t believe that any mage would ever toy with such things selflessly. He had seen, over the daces, two reckless mages do precisely the opposite. He had only the understanding of morphing and no other magics, however. And Morphing was selfish by design, to him. How could he ever understand selflessness knowing so little of mages in the first place? His prejudice was bountiful.
He kept his lips sealed, nodding but his eyes spoke of his suspicions louder than any words ever could.
The Akalak didn’t really understand why Kynier smiles as he so sorrowfully exclaimed about barely being able to protect his one home. Perhaps it was a sign of madness? Perhaps his power was what maddened him or maybe frustration and greed at not having amassed enough of it to sate his ego. Yes - those had to be the answers. In Vel’s mind there was no other explanations.
“Such questions are pointless.” He shook his head. He had spent much of his younger years mussing over this idealised alternative reality where his light brother never existed and he could instead taste the freedom so taken for granted by the humans. “The one thing I want out of my life is for damned Aer’wyn to be dead. I can’t begin to think about what else I could want because with him around I’d never get it. Foolish dreams bring nothing but disappointment. “
Unwilling to get into anything other than a verbal confrontation when disarmed and faced with the magical powers of the other, Vel walked a circle around Kynier as if he was plagued and towards the Gem. But there was something in that question that hadn’t quite allowed the Akalak to leave without answering at least some of it. He wasn’t sure why. Perhaps the evocation of some sort of sympathy had been his daily bread for so long that even in the presence of a mage he lacked the self control to spill his soul out into the air. With his back to Kynier and ears peeled for any sudden noises he said. “If I had it my way I’d have staid in Endrykas among friends and family where I could be useful. I’d dedicate my life in service of the gods. I’d bring justice to those for whom life has been unjust; slaves, the hurt and the helpless. I don’t need magic for that Kynier. And if what you said to Aer’wyn all those many days ago in the basement is true; neither do you.”
The conviction with which Kynier spoke of his own valour didn’t sell it to Vel. He simply couldn’t believe that any mage would ever toy with such things selflessly. He had seen, over the daces, two reckless mages do precisely the opposite. He had only the understanding of morphing and no other magics, however. And Morphing was selfish by design, to him. How could he ever understand selflessness knowing so little of mages in the first place? His prejudice was bountiful.
He kept his lips sealed, nodding but his eyes spoke of his suspicions louder than any words ever could.
The Akalak didn’t really understand why Kynier smiles as he so sorrowfully exclaimed about barely being able to protect his one home. Perhaps it was a sign of madness? Perhaps his power was what maddened him or maybe frustration and greed at not having amassed enough of it to sate his ego. Yes - those had to be the answers. In Vel’s mind there was no other explanations.
“Such questions are pointless.” He shook his head. He had spent much of his younger years mussing over this idealised alternative reality where his light brother never existed and he could instead taste the freedom so taken for granted by the humans. “The one thing I want out of my life is for damned Aer’wyn to be dead. I can’t begin to think about what else I could want because with him around I’d never get it. Foolish dreams bring nothing but disappointment. “
Unwilling to get into anything other than a verbal confrontation when disarmed and faced with the magical powers of the other, Vel walked a circle around Kynier as if he was plagued and towards the Gem. But there was something in that question that hadn’t quite allowed the Akalak to leave without answering at least some of it. He wasn’t sure why. Perhaps the evocation of some sort of sympathy had been his daily bread for so long that even in the presence of a mage he lacked the self control to spill his soul out into the air. With his back to Kynier and ears peeled for any sudden noises he said. “If I had it my way I’d have staid in Endrykas among friends and family where I could be useful. I’d dedicate my life in service of the gods. I’d bring justice to those for whom life has been unjust; slaves, the hurt and the helpless. I don’t need magic for that Kynier. And if what you said to Aer’wyn all those many days ago in the basement is true; neither do you.”
