"I have studied and trained with several teachers," Sonder told Meli. "I've also read quite a lot about different kinds of magic."
"Was Vell one of your teachers?"
Sonder had to think about that for a moment. "My teacher? Not in the formal sense, but yes. He taught me a great deal."
"He seems very knowledgeable."
"He is," Sonder said without hesitation. "He knows more about magic than anyone I've ever met."
"Is he your master, then?"
Sonder thought about that.
"I suppose he was, or is. But he's also my friend and my father."
"Father?" Meli said, surprised. "You really do have a complicated relationship."
Meli nodded, apparently understanding.
There was a brief silence.
"Would you mind showing me something?" Meli asked.
"Something in particular?"
"Anything, really. Something simple, perhaps. I'd like to see how you do it."
Sonder glanced around the cramped room.
She could have conjured a flame or a small ball of light, but that seemed rather ordinary. Instead, her attention settled on a small carved wooden bird someone had left on the table.
"Would you like to see something with this?"
Meli leaned forward.
"Certainly."
Sonder held out her hand. The little bird lifted from the table, slowly turning in the air.
Meli watched with wide eyes.
"Is it difficult?"
"Not particularly. But it depends on the object. Something heavier would take more effort."
The bird drifted from side to side, then settled gently back onto the table.
Meli looked at it, then at Sonder.
"Could I try?"
"Of course."
Sonder moved her chair aside and let Meli take her place at the table.
Meli held out a hand. She stared at the bird, her brow furrowing with concentration and then with exhaustion because of the strain.
Nothing happened.
She tried again.
Meli sighed.
"When I started my training," Sonder said, "Vell had a cube, an Elian cube. It was very sensitive to magic, and even the slightest amount of magical power would affect it."
Sonder paused, then corrected herself.
"It did not belong to Vell, though. It belonged to another friend of his, a sprite named Hiraeth."
"What is a sprite?"
"Something like a fairy. Or- I am not sure they like being called that, but they seem similar." They are little, about the size of a thumb, and they have wings that let them fly."
"Sounds like one of the malicious spirits I have read about. Is there any chance Hiraeth could lend me that cube?"
"I... lost contact with Hiraeth a while ago, and I have been unable to reestablish contact. I think Vell can, but it will take a while. And I am not sure Hiraeth would be willing to lend it to you. People have been very cruel to him in the past."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure he'll come to like me once he gets to know me."