Downstairs, Sonder and Vell found Meli.
She was carrying a small basket of cloth and tools, apparently trying to make herself useful despite the state of the building. There was not much she could do about the damaged roof, and most of the heavier work had been left to a few men the innkeeper had hired.
Still, she seemed determined not to sit around doing nothing.
When she noticed them coming down the stairs, her face brightened.
"Oh! Good morning- Or, I suppose it's almost afternoon now," she said, greeting Sonder.
"Good morning!" Vell said, full of energy.
"Good day," Sonder said, more subdued.
When they stood before her, Vell said, "I appreciate you arranging a meeting between your master and me. How did you manage to do that so quickly? You didn't embellish anything, did you?"
"I told him that you were a traveler who had come quite a long way."
"Did you tell him anything else?"
"…Maybe I mentioned that you and Sonder were mages."
Vell gave a faint laugh. "Well, I suppose I should be going. I don't want to keep the poor scholar waiting. I hope you don't mind if I leave Sonder in your company for a while. Perhaps you could show her around a little. I should think she has quite a few stories to tell."
"Not at all!" Meli said. "I'd be happy to."
"Good."
He adjusted his clothes, then looked towards Sonder.
"I'll be back later. Try not to get into too much trouble while I'm gone."
With that, Vell made his way towards the door.
"Let me just get this out of the way," Meli said. She picked up her basket and carried it to a small room behind the common area of the inn.
Sonder followed her.
It seemed to be a sort of storage room, though there were a few chairs and a little table tucked into one corner. Some shelves held old books, bottles, and various odds and ends. A window let in a little light, and through it Sonder could see the street outside.
Meli set her basket down.
"I sometimes study in here when things are quiet. It isn't much of a study, but it's somewhere I can read without being interrupted."
"Here?"
"Sometimes. Most of my books are at home, but I keep a few here. I like to have something to read when I'm not busy."
She took one of the books from the shelf and showed it to Sonder. It was rather old, with a worn cover and several loose pages.
"This one is about the basics. I suppose it's a little childish, but I still find it useful."
Sonder opened it and glanced through a few pages.
"It doesn't look childish."
"Perhaps not. But I have read it so many times that I know most of it by heart."
"Then you must be quite familiar with the subject."
Meli gave a small, uncertain smile.
"I know the theory. It's the practical part I struggle with."
"What sort of things have you tried?"
"Oh, a few simple spells. Light, mostly. And moving small objects. But I can't even manage that."
Meli sat down and gestured towards the other chair. Sonder took it.
For a little while, they talked about magic. Meli asked what sort of things Sonder could do, and Sonder tried to explain without making it sound too complicated. She spoke about simple spells first, and then about a few things that sounded stranger.
Meli listened intently and was especially interested in Sonder's communication with the elements.
Sonder tried to explain that most of what she did did not come from memorization.
Her magic was not usually considered spells or spellcasting, or so she thought. She had very rarely relied on spoken magic, instead using her innate mana.