I lead Cecilia up the stairs, giving her time to take each of the large steps. She has been quiet ever since her defeat, following along as if she's given up on fighting. "Why did you join Haienna's attack against Altous?"
"For money."
"That's all? You don't resent us? You just wanted money?"
"What do you mean 'that's all?' Money makes the Winds blow. I got too cocky with my power, though. I didn't expect to be bested by another mage in a remote village."
"Do you regret your actions? Though you hadn't hurt anyone, you came here with the intent to set the village alight." We finished the walk up the stairs, now standing on the platform.
"Of course, I have regrets. But none that you would appreciate. I regret I came to this village today. Not about harboring ill will. I needed the money, and this seemed like an easy job." Cecilia looks down at the seared ground in the snow below.
"You have some nerve saying that. Why not just lie? It would save you the pain of being so brutally honest."
"When I was a kid, I looked up to mages. Learning about magic was fun, but I was mostly obsessed with the power a mage has. Flames are only a small aspect of Anima, yet I consider myself a powerful user of flame magic. Flames make even the most complex things simpler. No matter what you burn, it always ends up as smoke or a black mass on the ground."
"... is that an answer to my question?"
"I was getting to it!"
"Don't take too long. We're not just here to chat."
"...alright. Just as fire makes everything simpler, truth does as well. You can prepare yourself to be burned by a flame, plan for the pain that will come, but lies come when you least expect them." She plays with her thumbs, looking down.
"I didn't think you'd be a poet, Cecilia."
"They're not completely my own words."
"I see." I gesture with my head. "Let's get going. The half-elf with the white clothes and yellow hair is Staria. The older one with brown hair is Ipha. Try and treat them with respect, as they are the shamans of the village."
I bring Cecilia to Ipha and Staria, keeping hold of her staff while she stands before them. Ipha raises her eyebrow as she sizes up Cecilia's equipment. Staria unties her blindfold, opening her eyes even in the blinding white day.
"You are the fire mage Wren has defeated. Cecilia Enya." Staria stares beyond Cecilia. "You know why you are here. Explain your role in Haienna's cleansing and what they planned on doing afterwards."
Cecilia breathes out. "I am contractually obligated to not disclose any information." She speaks as if it were rehearsed. Ipha raises her own wooden staff. Cecilia immediately straightens, clearing her throat. "Well, let's just say I was under duress, then!"
"Hmph, looks like this mage knows better than to play human tricks with their contracts and agreements." Ipha clacks her staff back on the ground.
"I was hired as a mercenary for Haienna multiple times before. I'm not actually a member of the group, though many people consider me to be one. You know, an honorary member." Cecilia, with her bound hands, tries to gesture her speech. "Well... I'm not exactly sorry for coming here to attack you. I lost fair and square to a mage who surpasses me. In my line of work, I'm prepared to die for getting caught."
I almost jump as Staria turns to me. Her expression is rather intense... or maybe it's just because her eyes aren't used to seeing so much for so long. She doesn't say anything, turning back to Cecilia. "We're not going to put you to death. You will be held in confinement for an extended period."
Cecilia is taken by Ser, into an empty cabin. I approach Ipha and Staria. "I didn't expect you two to give her that degree of mercy."
"She hadn't caused harm herself. However, she is an affiliate of the organization that had brought harm." Staria lowers her blindfold once more, heaving a sigh of exertion.
"It was impressive that you subdued the fire mage yourself, boy." Ipha chuckles. "I wouldn't have expected any less from my brightest apprentice."
"She was a lot more energetic during the duel. Seeing her act so strangely in her defeat feels like there's more to her story."
"Are you interested in hearing more from her?" Staria says.
"That would be wise. Not to mention, she called me by my name from before... I lost my memories. My name was Sebastian. I want to learn more about the person I was before."
Ipha's fingers tap on her staff. "I can see why that would be of importance to you. Then we can let you visit her during the day. You can act as a guard during our time of rest. Don't worry about attending our regular trainings while the mage is kept here."
"Thank you, Mentor Ipha." I turn to Staria. "Will you be returning to that cave?"
"Yes, Wren. I have expended a lot of energy, and must rest myself." She palms her eyes through her blindfold. "You are free to visit me whenever you like. Though I am not sure I would make for the greatest conversationalist."
"I will definitely visit you, Shaman Staria." I smile.
-Cecilia Enya-
My cell is surprisingly comfortable. It has all the amenities of a house (in fact, I think this is just an empty house repurposed for keeping me prisoner) with shuttered windows. It wasn't impossible to use my magic without my staff, but I don't doubt the Mage Breaker's ability to snuff my life out. It's best to not push my luck while I've been spared a prisoner's death.
To me, Haienna's cleansings were a regular paycheck. Go in, eliminate the long-legs, go out, get paid. Being a mercenary unaffiliated with any guild, elves were a vital source of payment for me. I was doing the town a favor by culling the creatures' population. After all, elves are a primitive sort that hoard the forest resources for themselves. Our development is hindered by their occupation of the Yenna forest.
Sebastian has been visiting daily, asking me how I have fared and if I need more food. It was surprising to me that he'd offer food when his village is rationing through the winter. He insists that I refer to him as "Wren," though it feels wrong to do so.
"Why have you been living with the elves, Wren?" I look up at him from my bedroll.
"They have treated me well since I came here. This is my home now."
"What about Brook? You were one of the best of Empyr." Calling him one of the best is no exaggeration. "Mage Breaker Sebastian, the greatest hunter in the kingdom's southern province. When you went missing for well over a year, there were a few search parties, but people assumed you died on the job."
"If I'm so infamous, why didn't Haienna report my existence here in Altous?" Sebastian sits on the floor.
"Well... I'm not sure. It wasn't my place to ask questions about you. But you had apparently upset them, so they sent me to cleanse the village myself." I take a deep breath. "Honestly, I thought that their underestimation of you was a sign that the person I respected succumbed to the Great Order of Things."
Sebastian was human too. After reigning so long as the greatest warrior of the guild, there was almost no doubt in my mind that he could have remained so powerful. But instead of falling prey to the Great Order, he refused to decay, dipping his talents into magic rather than martial prowess.
"I want to learn more about what you think of... Sebastian. What kind of person you believed him to be." He looks around the room. "We can do it while we go on a walk, if you like."
"You'd let me go out in broad daylight?"
"Well, yes. You seem to know your place as a prisoner. These concessions seem fitting to someone who has properly followed suit."
"Why do you want to know so badly?" It didn't make sense to me. Empyr's greatest talent, acting as if he didn't know himself, as if he had lost his way.
"How people see me is important. I suppose you could say I want to stroke my ego."
"That seems fitting for you, Wren..."
"Wait, really?"