When Mevi eventually came to, she was almost surprised she hadn’t fallen unconscious again due to her poor constitution. Instead she just had to sit down dazed for a few minutes before regaining her sight and mind. To her surprise, she wasn’t the only one in the ship’s foyer that was collapsed on the ground.

Laying near the center of the room was a purple-robed individual who bore no mask. He lay asleep, but fitfully so, and just when Mevi and Alestair’s attendants reached the foyer to attend them the figure began to awaken himself. As Mevi’s senses fully returned she saw the purple-robed figure in all his height as he stood up in tandem with Mevi. Four distinct arms sprouted from his body, a symmetrical face split horizontally in half by a deep blue chitinous plate in the shape of a upside down ‘V’ on the top, with patches of thin red flesh that breathed rhythmically, while the bottom half was soft light blue with bright accents around the more human features. Golden tattoos framed his face with beautifully etched accents along his features that connected at a blue jewel embedded into his forehead. As he stood straight an orange sigil, like an eye made to look like the rising sun, was emblazoned on his chest. Mevi recognized him almost instantly, Murano.

A swell of emotions bubbled briefly at the recognizable face, someone who had been friends with Kalesi and who Mevi had met before so much chaos infiltrated her new life. The alien face was stern and strange like Mevi remembered, but he was obviously battered and slightly bruised with small chips in his hard chitinous head-plate. Regardless of his state, Murano walked towards Mevi with purpose as he brushed off the worried attendants. Mevi began to speak, “Murano, so much has happened, Kalesi-” but she was cut off.

“I am aware.” was Murano’s simple response.

“You are a mystical healer, can you go to her and help her as you did me?”

“I am afraid that is not my intent for meeting you here…” He paused as if sadness penetrated his hard exterior for a moment, “My master bid me send you a gift. A tool to use in perilous times. He, The master of Mana, Lord of The Magicae, and Magi Councilor sends you aid.”

Alestair, now privy to the sudden public conversation interrupts, “Magister Magicae, should you not have waited to deliver such a message until prying eyes and unqualified others were vacated?” Despite Alestair’s mask his glare at the fawning attendants, who were staring at the display in awe, was obvious and their obvious dumbfoundedness was cut off by their lord’s gaze.

Murano continues to look only at Mevi, “My lord does not interest himself in the politics of other Magi. He only seeks the betterment of understanding and prosperity for the Holy Barge. He deems any to know his intent, if they are so interested.”

Alestair bows his head slightly, “Of course Magister.”

Regardless of Murano’s publicness, Alestair cleared the room of observers anyway, and quickly escaped the conversation himself. Murano seemed to heed Alestair’s intent and waited until everyone left the foyer, but Alestair purposefully left the door open and stood in the hall only a moment away. Murano continued, “Pleasantries aside, I am glad to see you, mostly unharmed, Mevare. Keep what happened before we met confidential, needless rumors of Magi visits only cause disorder.”

“But he hurt you… and seemed intent on trying to hurt me as well.” Mevi struggled to say her quiet words.

“Yes, as is their right. The Magi may only be reigned by another Magi, so telling others about this encounter will only stir discord. Tell your new lords if you feel threatened, but others must not know.”

Mevi hesitated to ask her next question, afraid of the answer, “Murano… or, actually, Lord Magister. Your personality seems to have changed… I am sure you resent me for what happened to Kalesi-”

Mevi wanted to continue her apology, but Murano placed a firm hand on her small shoulder, “Wrong. You could not be blamed for what happened. Through my lord’s gifts I witnessed some scenes of your plight… I am truly sorry for your loss. My demeanor has only changed because of the circumstance. I am here in an official capacity, Lady Apprentice. As such certain attitudes must be shifted, I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Please, sit down, my lord sends you aid that must be explained as quickly as possible.”

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Mevi stopped her stammering and allowed herself to be led to a small table and set of chairs. They were turned over but Murano righted them easily enough. For a few moments they sat quietly, Mevi collecting herself and pushing her perils down to be uncovered at a more convenient time. When she seemed mostly calm, Murano unveiled a bundle hidden in his robes. Within the purple velvet package lay a perfectly smooth amethyst jewel encased in silver and shimmering strings. Murano fully removed the item to reveal it to Mevi; a delicate purple glove with silver and gold strings intertwining amongst themselves as they bind the purple jewel firmly into place. Murano placed the item in front of Mevi while she marveled at the variatable work of art.

“This is your Maige, a gift made by the expert hands of my lord Vol’s best craftsmen and Magicae. As you are gifted in the powers of a Magicae, normally you would have joined my master Vol’s sphere of talent, but uncertain and dangerous circumstances prevented our action and notice of your potent abilities. Know that my lord fully supports Lord Councilor Maphet, and as such refuses to allow a Magicae to go without the proper tools to harness their inborn gifts.” declared Murano.

Mevi struggled to find her words after such a gift and revelation, “I don’t know what to say…”

“Say nothing at all. This Maige is your right, so it is only correct that you wield it.”

“Thank you Murano, and thanks to Lord Vol. I will treasure this.”

“My lord sends one other gift, a premonition he beheld that you played a significant role. I am not privy to the entire vision, but I am bid to deliver a part of it to you: ‘beware be to those that venture without gold into the forests of black. A dragon of old holds sway where none still dwell, be it unto the learner to deliver righteousness to where there is none. Let fire rain from the sky, pain and sorrow fall where few still yet breathe, hark to the learner for their light will guide a new path.’”

Mevi sat, soaking in the ominous prophecy. Neither spoke for a few moments, moments that dragged slowly with the weight of an unknown doom. Murano stared thoughtfully at Mevi, who was fidgeting and whose mind raced to interpret the strange warnings. Finally, Murano placed a hand on Mevi’s, which she hadn’t noticed were instinctively clasped tight.

“It is good to see you again. I worried a lot about you after I first left you know. Kalesi kept me informed of certain things up until you left to venture into the Rust… She…” Murano struggled with his last words.

“She deserved better. We shouldn’t have been there but for the intervention of-” Mevi felt a familiar frustration welling up once again.

“I know, Mevi. Yet even if it is true you need to be careful what you say and think. I wanted to be the one to deliver my lord’s gifts of friendship, but I wasn’t the first on his list of who to send. Yet in the end my voice prevailed when I revealed my initial involvement with you. It was quite the scene, I must say.”

“I’m sorry, I seem to just cause trouble everywhere I go.”

“You do have a knack for it, it seems!” Murano jabbed jokingly.

Mevi forced a smile, but the joke seemed more truthful than he might’ve known. Mevi and Murano reminisced about simple and mundane things for as long as time allowed, which wasn’t very long. After only barely ten minutes Alestair intercepted their pleasantries, “My lord Magister, Lady Mevare... Lady Mevare’s shuttle is prepared, and she sadly must go to prepare herself and meet her crew.”

Murano stood up, “I suppose all must end eventually.”

Mevi stood up, and an invisible weight began pressing her down as anxieties swam in the back of her mind anew, “Yes… It was nice to see a friendly face, lord Magister.”

“I have another message for you, Mevi. Before I leave.” Murano began, “Kalesi sent me one last message before you both entered the Pipes.”

Mevi perked up, “Really? What… Do I want to hear it..?” she hesitated.

“I cannot make that judgment. I can only deliver the message.” Murano waited, seeing Mevi mentally prepare herself with a few deep breaths, “Kalesi sent me a request before you both left. ‘If I am to fall, adopt Mevi into the Magicae.’ she asked me. She also said, ‘If that does happen, make sure Mevi feels cared for. I won’t accept anything less. Regardless of what happens, she is my new first priority.’ along with these she sent along the codes to access her old living quarters and forwarded documentation to transfer all her possessions into your ownership. I have already arranged for her things and all else to be transported to your new home. As for the first request, it's quite impossible now. But I have certain assurances that when you complete your next assignment you will have a new personal Magicae tutor.” Murano gave a slight smile, “It's anyone’s guess who it will be!”

Mevi let the message sink in. While not directly meant for her specifically, the news and intent behind it was more than enough. Mevi was training to not be overwhelmed by her emotions from now on, but something like this had to be an exception. Without a second thought Mevi hugged Murano in thanks, using him to hide a few of her small tears. The large alien magister replied in kind and let her sink for a moment. After the emotions possessing her faltered and were finally put back down deep, Mevi bid Murano goodbye and followed Alestair out of the Slipaway Connector.