"The fever wasn't difficult to treat and has been completely subdued. Her current, elevated temperature is natural to her kind and therefore harmless."

"She's not human?"

"No. Her coloring, and our tests, found her to be an elemental. As you know, they've become rare in Yezi within the last decade, but not unheard of. This has made telling her age difficult. They mature faster, but age slower than humans and we have very limited information on how this might affect their physical development. Our best guess, however, is that she's somewhere around ten or eleven years old.

"More importantly, we attempted to gather information as you asked. Unfortunately, she has not responded to any questions since waking. Even attempting to bribe her with information on her circumstances if she shared what she knew, failed. Her reaction to being here, instead of with the Briar couple, has been miniscule."

Allura studied the single door that laid between them and the elemental's room. The information her personal reports had contained had on the girl was scarce. Obviously, the Briars had been escorting her somewhere, but the where and for whom remained unknown. Unfortunately, the mages had refused capture and could not be questioned until a necromancer had been summoned.

"Her name?" she questioned finally.

The healer shook his head, eyes falling to the chart in his hands. "No, not even that. As I said, she'll answer nothing."

A frown tugged on Allura's lips. "Her bloodline magic was in the information I gave you. Surely you could trace her origins through that."

"We cannot," the healer replied. His hands fiddled with the clip on her board as he seemed to consider something, before slowly continuing. "It's...complicated. We are uncertain what type of elemental she is."

"You said she has an elevated temperature," Allura pointed out. "Wouldn't that imply fire?"

"It would, if not for her eyes. They're a distinct silver--indicating wind."

Confusion settled a weight in her chest. "Elementals don't mix heritage."

"No, they don't," the healer agreed. "But, she's shown no sign of fire, or wind. Instead, any attempt to approach her results in her body turning to smoke, the reported bloodline magic."

Silence stole the hall for a moment as Allura attempted to make sense of the situation before her. A child of unknown origin, with no clear heritage beyond impossible implications of being mixed race. The Circle was known to experiment in dangerous and forbidden magic, but this seemed beyond their known capabilities.

How much had they grown in the years since they'd escaped the tower's reach?

"I will talk to her," Allura decided. "Make sure we aren't interrupted."

The second half of her decision wasn't to the healer, but the hooded mage a short distance away. Satisfied with their nod of agreement, Allura slipped into the room. After locking it behind her, she turned her gaze to the only occupied bed. Beyond it, the room had been emptied, leaving only a visiting chair and pastel blue curtains.

Despite how crowded the tower's hospital tended to be at the best of times, they couldn't afford to room the child with anyone else, nor could they leave her anything to work magic on. Her state may have been unfortunate, but they'd been tricked by the Circle before. Precautions had to be taken.

Knowledge of the magic did not stop shock from flitting through Allura's mind as a fine, black smoke began curling around the child's body upon her entry. Hesitation held her in the doorway for a moment as they studied each other. Then, realizing that standing still only looked to be making the smoke thicker, Allura crossed the space between them.

"It appears you don't trust us. I don't blame you. Must be strange waking up and not knowing where you are."

Something about her tone seemed to reach the girl, because her figure reformed ever so slightly within the thick smoke. As a result, Allura received her first clear look at the child.

She was shockingly small, with clear bones outlined beneath her simple hospital gown. Her crimson hair was a tangled, greasy mess that stretched the length of her entire body. Her overgrown bangs nearly concealed her face. Somehow, despite everything else wrong with this, it was the girl's eyes that stung Allura's heart.

If there was an emotion in the silver, the only description would be wariness. That was, if the first lifeless impression she'd received was wrong. She understood, now, why the healer had labeled the girl as uncaring about her circumstances.

"My name is Allura Iotura, General of Magic. I'm uncertain of how much you've been told, so I'll start at the beginning. This room you've been given lies within Whistrial Hospital. You're safe here. No one would dare harm someone under my protection."

The girl blinked, but showed no other sign of acknowledging the information. Allura wondered how much of it she had actually understood. Did the elemental even speak their language?

"It would be easier if we knew your name," she continued with what would hopefully come off as an encouraging smile. "Would you mind telling me? You do not have to give away your family name. Just your given would be fine."

The elemental did not respond immediately, however the smoke slowly began to clear. Allura's smile brightened. That surely meant the child had decided to trust her somewhat, at least for the moment. A minute passed before she shook her head.

"You won't tell me?" Allura asked.

Another shake.

"No, you'll tell me?" she puzzled, rolling the response through her mind. "Or...you don't have a name."

Once again, the girl stayed still for a long minute. Her hands twined together in her lap, eerie eyes pinned on the length of her bony fingers. As Allura waited, a flash of wonderment and pity flooded her frame. It eased the suspicion that always flavored her interactions with the Circle. What had the girl experienced to reach this level? How did one get to be eleven, and either not know their name, or not own one?

"Can you talk?" she asked eventually, deciding to change subjects. "The healers tell me you haven't spoken to them since you woke. If it is an injury, we need to know. We're the forefront of magic, here. I'm sure they can do something to aid you."

The elemental drew her legs up to her chest. It shifted the blanket that covered her, and the girl only clutched it closer as she wrapped her arms over the top of her legs. She never untwined her fingers. Allura waited, patiently, as several minutes passed in silence. Then, finally, the elemental gave a small nod.

"You can speak," Allura surmised. The girl just continued to watched her, and despite everything, amusement sparked in Allura's chest. "But, you aren't going to."

Again, a nod.

"That's fine. Yes or no will suffice for now. Did you travel with the Briars for long?"

She shook her head.

"Were you with your parents before them?"

Again, a shake of her head.

"Do you know who your parents are?"

Again, a shake of her head.

"Do you remember who you were with before the Briars?"

The question prompted an immediate response. The girl buried her head against her legs, arms clenching tight around her knees. Allura frowned, watching as a slow tremor took the elemental's frame. The smoke curled around her, as if attempting to protect the child from whatever memory the questions had brought.

"I see."

It was obvious, then.

Unless the child was lying, which seemed unlikely given the circumstances, she wasn't an enemy. The Circle had produced countless victims since it sprung to life, and it seemed this girl was just another amongst the crowd. Nevertheless, they would have to keep a close eye on her.

However, she couldn't stay in the hospital forever. Each bed was valuable.

"Don't worry," Allura said in an attempt to reassure her. "I won't ask anything more. At least, not now."

It took time, but eventually, the girl tilted her head back. The smoke cleared as her silver eyes met Allura's warm gaze.

"How would you feel about staying in Whistrial for a while?"

꧁༺ ༻꧂

Their first order of business, according to Allura, was to arrange housing outside the hospital.

The mage departed after her declaration, leaving the girl alone to gather her thoughts. At first, she waited, uncertain if the situation was a test. Allura may have seemed kind, but she had been tricked by false smiles before. It was all too easy to imagine the woman's violet eyes turning cold as she declared the girl had failed.

It was the lack of the tell-tale click of a lock when the mage left that had initially flared her suspicion. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been left alone in a strange place without anything to hold her there. And these people--that woman--they were strangers. They knew nothing of her. They had to be testing if she would run. If she did, then she would be locked away. No more smiles.

So, she stayed still and waited.

And waited.

But, nothing happened.

No one reappeared to ensure she was where she was supposed to be. Her mind scrambled for an answer--and found one. There had to be guards waiting in the hall. The moment she stepped outside they would pounce. As long as she stayed inside, she would pass the test.

If that were the case, then she could stand. Explore. She might not have cared what would come next, but that didn't mean she should walk into it with zero information. The mage general had spoken as if the place they'd brought her to should be one she recognized the name of.

She didn't. The Watcher had never brought her to Whistrial or its tower.

Getting out of the bed took effort. She had to divert attention from the constant strain of holding back her mana in order to move her stiff muscles. Keeping a solid form took effort on bad days--and she hadn't had a good one in some time. Still, somehow, she managed it.

Next came standing. It, too, took effort. Her legs trembled beneath her, and for the first minute she had to brace her hand on the bed to herself upright. Soon, however, that too, had calmed. Steps came slow, but steady. It wouldn't do for Allura to return and find her toppled on the ground. She would look weaker than she already did.

Weakness would get her killed--and she had already decided not dying was important.

Eventually, she reached the window.

Plain glass stared at her from behind the curtains. It almost drew a frown to her lips. Did they think she was powerless? A child without proper control of mana? Was that why she'd been placed in such a simple place to escape? Or were there guards outside the building as well?

If she leapt, what would happen?

Injury wasn't a concern. She could protect her body with wind magic. Falling four stories would be harmless with a simple spell. All it would require is a precise application of mana--and mana control was the one thing she excelled at. Sidestepping any guards would also likely be simple. Surprise was on her side. At first, they wouldn't expect her to turn into smoke, making grabbing her impossible. She would escape in the seconds surprise bought her.

But, then what? In the end was there really any reason to escape?

No, despite the ease of her thoughts, she wouldn't run. There was no point. What would she do after? Where would she go?

She had no answers, as He had often reminded her. Running was pointless.

So, instead of plotting, she looked to the village.

Small buildings littered what she could see beyond the heavy forest greenery. A handful of them were built up, supported by towering trees that appeared nearly as thick as the buildings themselves. Walkways encircled the gigantic trunks, leading into canopy rooms shadowed by layer after layers of leaves.

And beyond them all was a tower that stretched an intimidating and impossible height into the sky. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen--which admittedly didn't mean much. Each stone of the building shimmered a deep midnight black and was layered with more spells than even His wards had contained. The elemental in her longed to touch the wall, to test just how deep her mana could flow through the cracks in the brick.

She was entranced.

The door clicked, and like a flipped switch her wonder disappeared. It was replaced with fear and wariness as she swung around to face the sound, her back braced to the window. It was always better to have something solid behind you when you didn't know what would come next.

Some of her tension fell away as Allura's familiar figure filled the doorway, then returned as two others stepped in beside her. A couple, she realized, from how the man's arm was tucked over the woman's shoulders. It was something she'd seen Roan do to Sora on occasion.

"This is Camilla and Rhom Lunas," Allura introduced. "Good friends of mine. They've offered to take you in if you're willing."

She was to be handed off again.

Somehow, the familiar situation eased some of the stress from her mind. And, as she always did, the girl took a moment to study her new guardians.

Camilla was an older woman. Her dark brown hair was littered with flecks of gray, but not so much as to discredit the muscles she could see peeking from the sleeves of Camilla's dress. Late forties, perhaps? She wore a cautious, yet hopeful smile that was reflected in her dark, nearly black eyes.

The man, Rhom, was a bit younger. His black hair was thin, but lacked the salt-and-pepper aspect of his partner's. Laugh-lines weathered his tanned face, easing the frown darkening his features. It wasn't one of fear, or judgement, like she had come to expect. Instead, it was the other emotion, one she often saw on strangers while traveling before they looked away. Pity.

She gave the faintest tug on her mana core and watched as bright colors bloomed within both of the strangers. It faded in seconds, but the images stuck in her mind. Their pools were strong, but not the size of Allura's. Still, it was enough to qualify them as mages. They could be dangerous if they wanted to be. She wouldn't forget that.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Camilla greeted. She squatted down, as if to make herself the girl's height, but made no move to come closer. "Allura was telling us that you needed new clothes. I was thinking you could borrow something of mine, and I'll go get you your own things afterwards. Would that be okay?"

Silence. Then, slowly, she nodded. Camilla's resulting smile was blinding. "Perfect. Then, we'll leave after the doctor clears you one more time. Sorrel will be so excited. He always wanted a younger sibling."

Rhom coughed, face reddening the faintest degree. "Camilla. A bit soon, isn't it? You'll scare the girl."

"Oh, you're right. I'm sorry, dear."

Despite her apprehension, something about the way Camilla sputtered apologies, and had to be reassured by Rhom that her words hadn't been that bad, soothed the apprehension flooding the girl's body. The feeling was only encouraged as Camilla apologized for having to leave the room for the healers, stating that it didn't feel right to separate so soon.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Whistrial wouldn't be a horrible place to stay.

A/N: Hooray for the first new scene! It wasn't much, but I'm excited to be entering new material in piece by piece. 

Anyways, how are you feeling about everything so far? Think she is right to trust them? Getting annoyed with her constant conviction that others are scheming against her yet? Share your thoughts~

And, see you next time.