Oracle (Day 137)

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"Why is she in such a rush?"

"I don't know. Maybe she's trying to run away."

"I wish her all the luck in the world on that prospect but I can't say I have much confidence in her chances."

"I guess not. It's not like I have any better idea of where we're going."

Aisen remained silent. He and Casnie had already theorized that Terakiel was drawn to planar stones like a moth to flame--but they had no definitive proof that was the case. Encountering two stones in such a short period of time could not possibly be a coincidence, however.

"No, I guess not. I'm sure Casnie must realize we'll have a better chance out here together, though."

"She just needs some time alone. To think about what just happened to her."

 "It's a little strange, isn't it? That we would both end up here because of some strange manifestation of your--well, by accident."

"Yeah."

It was clear Terakiel was still uncomfortable discussing his powers. It was an unfortunate attitude to have because Aisen desperately hoped that Casnie would be able to teach him some small amount of discipline. He had been put in danger once already--not to mention brought to this great accursed forest in the first place. If things continued to progress as they had been, he and Casnie might have to abandon the poor man. Aisen hated the idea, but he wasn't fool enough to throw his life away due to the man's stubbornness.

He was running away from something, but Aisen wasn't sure what that might be. He wasn't sure that he wanted to know. After the man had demonstrated his terrifying potential in the cavern, Aisen couldn't begin to imagine what else he might be capable of--without the slightest guarantee he could control himself while doing so. All he had been trying to do was conjure a light and he had transformed the cavern into a sweltering pit and blasted a hole in the wall. What would he do if he actually did mean harm to something?

As much as Aisen empathized with Terakiel's predicament, he was pragmatic enough to realize when his safety was in danger. He would employ every method he could think of to encourage the Strander to reign in his powers--but if he was unreceptive, other avenues would have to be considered.

Terakiel would inevitably lead them to another planar stone; Aisen was confident of that. Once he did, they would have a decision to make. Aisen and Casnie could fly the coop through the Exod before the Strander had a chance to destroy it--or they could throw their lot in with this wildly dangerous man they had just met and had no particular reason to trust. At a glance, it didn't seem like a very difficult decision to make--but this man was in trouble, and he had no desire to abandon him.