Keep your wits about you, mage. True tests never end.
These words came to Neria Surana's mind the moment Jowan cut his hand and used blood magic. The Pride demon's final taunt, and for a moment, Neria Surana wondered if the Pride demon had known that she would end up in that awful situation. Demons were powerful creatures; who's to say they couldn't see the future, too? She had helped Jowan retrieve his phylactery, believing him when he had assured her that he was not a blood mage.
She had been so relieved to finally return to the Circle. The scars Aeonar had left her with did their damage, a terrifying experience she would never be able to forget. She had told them that Jowan threatened her, threatened to kill her if she led them to the templars. She had told them that she planned on leading Jowan to the templars anyway, that she had tried to lead him to the wrong place, unsuccessfully.
They believed her lie. Yes, it was a lie, but so what? Jowan had lied to her. Why should she take the fall for him? He was just some manipulative shem; the same as any shem. It didn't matter that he was a mage because he was a human, and to him, she was just a knife ear. That's what she'd kept telling herself to help ease the guilt. And they'd let her return. After so much waiting, they had finally let her return.
Now she wished she was back in prison. Demons roamed the tower, either killing people or turning them into abominations. Neria locked herself in a room with a group of other mages. They needed to conserve their energy.
Eadric would be the first to keep watch, but Neria was restless; she couldn't sleep, and so she urged Eadric to get his rest and let her stay up instead. The mages locked in the room were all asleep, save for a few apprentices who were still too shaken. Neria closed her eyes, but kept her ears open for any noise, trying to sense if any abominations drew near. In the darkness she heard a familiar voice.
You're scared, aren't you?
Yes. She was.
You feel betrayed, don't you? Jowan turned to blood magic, and now so has the rest of the tower. You always end up getting caught in the middle of things.
Yes, she did, didn't she? It wasn't fair.
That's right; it's not fair. And now you're trapped like an animal, cornered up and trying to escape. You can't even defend yourself. It's not a fair fight.
That's right. Mouse was right. He had tried to trick her before, fed her lies about being an apprentice, but now he spoke the truth. Neria was the victim here; she was always the victim. Constantly persecuted, either for being a mage or for being an elf. She was surrounded by shemlen who were always lying to her, deceiving her. And now the apprentices, who she was supposed to be a mentor to, were in danger, and there was nothing she could do.
There is one way.
Neria knew.
You just have to want to let me in.
He had told her this once before, saying that by doing so she could help free him, a supposed mage, from forever roaming the Fade. She had seen through it; Neria could tell that Mouse had been trying to trick her. But now, now he could help her, and in turn, she could help both the others and herself.
So the young elf relaxed herself, perfectly calm as she willingly let him in and was enveloped by darkness.
Keep your wits about you, mage. True tests never end.
And Neria had just failed the most important test of all.
