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Message: <blockquote data-quote="spyscribe" data-source="post: 1374355" data-attributes="member: 5808">When the party adjourns for the evening, Lira finds herself with little to do.   Aside from her traveling companions she has no friends in the city, no local family, and no business that demands her attention.  For lack of anything better to do as much as anything else, she returns to the academy where she and Euro help with the clean-up efforts. Eventually though, the gathering dusk reminds her that these are not the days for a spell-caster to be on the streets alone after dark.Upon arriving at Mrs. Blackburn’s, she finds a note waiting for her: Lira carefully refolds the paper to cover the sudden tremor in her hands.  She checks the window.  If she hurries, she should be able to reach the Questor's chapterhouse by nightfall.When she arrives, Lira is slightly surprised to be ushered, not to Devon’s office, but into his private parlor.  Lira takes a chair opposite him at his bidding, still unsure why she has been summoned, and waits for him to speak.Finally, he breaks the silence.  “So Lira, I hear you have had quite a challenge these last days.”Lira nods, and relates to him what she can of her own experiences at the academy.  She notices that although he is clearly trying to put on a good face, he is more subdued than usual.At last, Lira’s tale comes to a close, and she asks what’s on his mind.  Devon seems uncomfortable, falls silent for a few moments, but finally speaks.  “Lira, you do realize that whatever my feelings on arcane magic, they do not extend to those like yourself.”Lira freezes.  I didn’t know for sure that you knew I was a sorcerer she thinks.  Aloud she says, “That’s good to hear” and means it.“You cannot help what you are, or what you have become,” Devon continues.  “Ehkt has given you a challenge, a great challenge.  I do not envy you.”“I don’t envy myself some days.”A pause.“Lira, are you ready for another great challenge?”“What sort of challenge?”“I would tell you if I could,” he finally says after a long pause.  “I do not know what is coming.  I cannot tell you what you may be called upon to do. But you may be called to act and the outcome of Ehkt’s very mission on earth may depend on you.  When that time comes, you may not have the church, or anyone.  You will be alone.”Don’t you see, she thinks, I’ve always been alone.  She says as much, then amends, “except for my present companions of course.”“Yes, of course.”  Devon nods.  “But they all have their own reasons, their own agendas.  This will fall to you.  If you are not—”Lira breaks in, gaze steady, voice quietly resolved.  “What can I do?”Devon holds her eyes a long moment.  At last, he gives the barest nod.  “A good answer,” he says, almost to himself.   “A very good answer…  For the moment, nothing is required, but I will be in touch.”  He glances at the window.  It is now full dark.  “Would you like to stay at the chapterhouse tonight?  I can arrange to have a place made up for you.”Lira, with much on her mind, gratefully accepts.  As she crawls into the bed which has been prepared for her, her thoughts whirl.  Relief that Devon does not hold her talents against her, that she need not lie to him or maintain careful omission.  Despite everything, the lifting of that load, as well as a curious sense that she has just taken the first step on a great journey, soon carries her into a deep and dreamless sleep, Euro curled beside her on her pillow.So great is her joy at finding this small corner of acceptance in a chaotic world that she entirely forgot to ask Devon what is perhaps the most important question of all.“Why me?”</blockquote>

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