"What Is Magic?"

Things were beginning to finally look up. Winter peeked around the corner, ever beautiful as she danced from the sky. She peppered the earth in a thin sheen of glittering fluff, the snow still as magical as it was the first time Liz saw it. The young woman grew up in the north but seeing the first bits of snow never ceased to amaze her.

The hunts weren't as successful as they should be, but she'd been able to get the animal currently on the ground in front of her. She flicked her brown gaze off of the overcast skies, ignoring the way the flakes of snow accumulated in her hair. The young woman stared. And stared. And stared at this odd looking deer.

Or, she thought it was a deer.

Liz squinted down at the thing curiously, examining at the oddly shaped antlers. It resembled an antelope of some sort, though with it's blue and orange hide it made her almost feel … skeptical. The mage poked it with her bow, ensuring its death.

On one hand, she could try eating the thing she'd caught in her snare. It looked like a cross between a pig and a rabbit of some sort. It had human-like hands for feet and... Liz didn't know how to feel about it. Food was food, after all. Hopefully the animals were alright to eat. Scruffy didn't seem to mind eating any of them, in any case.

Scruffy, as she'd dubbed the old grey tabby, usually stayed at the shack and lazed around inside where it was warm and cozy.

After the animal was gutted, she left the innards for the scavengers and left an offering as a sign of respect. Liz hefted the beast through the thin layer of snow on the ground, dragging the carcass with great effort. It was proving to be a trying task, as her body was not made for such labor. Evidently, the girl was used to the life of a cushy noble. Most of said labor being taken care of by her hirelings.

"Erin..." She whispered, "You are so out of shape." She huffed in a much louder tone, stepping out of the layer of underbrush that surrounded the small campsite where she resided. Once the thing was close enough to the shack, she dropped it and leaned forward. Liz's lungs burned as she took in huge gulps of air. Her hands gripped her knees as she caught her breath.

"I'd say so." Someone commented from behind her. She whipped around toward the owner of the voice, only to be greeted with the sight of a rather old and decrepit little man. He was obviously elven, as his tapered ears poked out of his white hair. "For one so young, you tire quite easily."

"Wha-" She snapped her mouth shut and eyed the man warily. Where on earth did he come from? Oh, well technically this wasn't Earth. But still... her point stands. "Er... can I help you?"

"The question is, can I help you?" He returned, staring down at the woman with a knowing glint in his lone eye. That's when something clicked.

"Is this your shack? If so, I could be on my way." Liz offered, her mind already bringing up questions. Where would she go? What would she do? She definitely can't go into a town, she could end up killing someone by accident. Being around people was absolutely out of the question.

He, too, seemed to eye her with his only good eye. The other being clouded over like it had … cataracts. Liz got an uneasy feeling in her stomach as the wheels in her head began to turn.

"Such things are unneeded, child. I have been keeping watch of you." She merely squinted up at the elderly man, growing silent with questions. "Funny, you were quite talkative before your hunt."

That statement seemed to make a ridiculous connection in her head click.

"You're Scruffy." She stated simply, referring to the old grey tabby that usually occupied the house. The young woman almost didn't want to believe it, herself. But the blind eye and scars on the cat's face couldn't possibly be a coincidence, could it?

"Now, is that any way to talk to your elders?" He chastised and wagged his wrinkled finger.

"Ergk!" Liz made a noise and stared at him incredulously. She'd always been taught to respect her elders and take care of them. It was a huge part of their culture back on Earth. On the reservations, they even had specialized 'elder parking' in most parking lots. "That's not what I-"

"Bah, it was a joke. A joke." He cut her off with a dismissive wave.

"But... how?"

"A simple question, indeed. But the answer is best left seen." He tapped his staff on the ground a couple of times and she watched as the old man shrunk. Down down. It was almost disturbing, seeing the slow transformation as he grew ears and a muzzle. Then hair popped out, his body contorting into the shape of... a cat. Scruffy, to be exact.

He was a shapeshifter.

Or, at least that's what she would call it. She wasn't sure if that's what they referred to them as in this world. But they were spoken of in Native American lore. Her culture, in particular, had stories of a man named Wenaboozhoo that shape shifted and was a trickster. A trickster.

Liz gritted her teeth and fought the urge to scold the man for the things he must have been doing to her during her stay. Of course, he'd be responsible for the failed traps. Her bow going missing and reappearing atop a tree. Her catches being mysteriously eaten before she could properly prepare them.

Granted, this man likely was not the man from those stories. The man from the stories was the son of a human mother and spirit father. Oddly enough. Not entirely plausible. That and he wasn't supposed to be an elf. Well, that she knew of.

"It all makes sense, now." Her tone was of forced indifference. Flat, as she hid her irritation.

When he changed back, which was equally as disturbing as the last, he appeared almost winded. Tired out.

"Does it, now?" He gripped his staff and began to have a coughing fit. A smoker's cough.

Once she got passed the creepy way he'd probably been watching her these passed weeks, almost a month, he wasn't that bad. Liz couldn't stop staring at his ears, however. The man, Athras as he'd introduced himself as, did not seem to mind her staring at all. Almost like he held some sort of understanding for her situation. Which, he probably knew a lot. She'd babbled a bit too much to her friend Scruffy. A bit more than she'd like.

"Unlike most humans, you hold nature to a higher degree. Why is that?" He asked, almost like the question had been nagging at him for quite some time. His white hair was tied up into a shaggy bun, little pieces dangling along the sides of his face messily.

"I was taught to respect the world and what it provides for us. Without it, we would not be." Liz responded simply, recalling her grandmother's teachings. The one adult in her life that had not thrown her aside or hurt her, but instead gave her knowledge and some semblance of love to look back on. Then, there was a question Liz had as well. "Am I right in assuming that elves and humans do not necessarily get along?"

She only asked because in a lot of the stories back in her world, elves did not get along with humans. Elves, in fact, were often portrayed to be stuck up and seemed to look down on a lot of people who weren't elves. But Liz knew how damaging stereotypes could be. She was, afterall, Native American. She could go on all day about stereotypes and how incorrect they often were.

Athras stared at her with a knowing look in his eye. A look that made her feel distinctly uncomfortable. Like he knew something about her that she didn't want anyone to know. If anything bothered her, it was definitely when people had more information about her than she intended them to.

For the first time in her life, she cursed her tendency to confide in animals.

"Generally speaking, yes. The Dalish and the humans have a strained relationship, at best. The clan I was from, in particular-" He coughed as he continued to walk toward the shack then came to a stop. His bare feet buried in the cool substance that coated the ground. Seemingly unperturbed by that fact, he turned toward Liz and wiped at his mouth, "My clan was on fairly good terms with humans."

Liz felt her expression turn flat as she slowly flicked her gaze around the encampment, then onto him. There were no others. Which meant—which meant his clan was either dead or had abandoned him. He didn't seem the type to up and leave, the way he spoke of the clan with such endearment.

More racism. The humans must have-

The thought made her sick.

"No, child. You misunderstand." He snapped her out of her downward spiraling thoughts. He observed her expressions intensely, "The town we were settled outside of was attacked by darkspawn. My clan perished, as a result. My wife and I being the only ones left."

"Apologies. I've just … I've seen what people can do to other people." Liz could feel her eyes dull as she thought back of Earth and all of the countless wars that have occurred. Pointless pointless wars.

"Is this why you have forced yourself to live in such squalor?" Athras motioned with his hands, indicating the state of her 'home'. The shack sat innocently at his right, "Do you fear what they could do to you?"

"Would." She corrected, "It is an inevitability, considering what I am." She spoke, referring to the magic.

"You have a rather fatalistic view of humanity for one so young."

"Unfortunately." But how couldn't she? After what she's done?

Things were silent for some time, minutes perhaps. Athras stared down at her in what seemed to be sympathy. Sympathy that made Liz frown. She did not need his pity. Snow started to float around them in fat flakes, landing on the elder's already white locks. His yellow eye was half lidded as if in thought.

"You are but a mageling, there is much you do not know of yourself. I will mentor you in the ways of magic." The Dalish elf concluded, giving a nod. "For I have been testing you all this time, anyhow. I deem you worthy of being my apprentice."

Wait, test?

Liz felt her mouth open and close, like a fish out of water. This definitely was not something she was expecting. "What would have happened if I failed your … test?"

"I would have killed you." He smiled and she could have sworn she saw fangs. Did elves have fangs, too? Or, more like pointed canines.

Liz blinked. What is it with this world and wanting to kill her? First it was her bad luck (which had actually been Athras tricking her), then it was the scraggly man that tried to cut her, her own magic, now this? She sighed and ran her hands through her short hair. "Nothing comes without cost."

"First things first." He tapped his staff into the ground. He spoke in a commanding tone, "Strong body, strong mind. See that wood over there? Get chopping."

Liz wanted to groan. That answered her question about things not coming without a cost. This wasn't going to be easy. Especially since Erin's body was not built for such hard labor. For the fifth time that day, Liz cursed Erin for not training her body. Especially in a world like this one. Why couldn't things just be easy, for a change? She grabbed the axe and weighed it with her hands, a contemplative expression upon her face.

"Tired already, child?"

The young mage turned and faced him, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she could form a question. "What is a darkspawn?"

Athras stared. And stared. And stared. A puff of air left his nose as he let out a sigh.

What surprised Liz the most, was not only that he was willing to share these stories and information. As the stories were said to be their history. Their education. Receiving such a thing was an honor, in her eyes. But the fact that he also listened to the stories she told him made her happy all the same. Someone to talk to. It'd been far too long.

She spoke of her own history as an Ojibwe, telling him that she was from a far away land called America. He was silent, taking in her stories about how the land was taken from her ancestors and they were forced on reservations. Liz even spoke of the Trail of Tears. The wars fought, past and present. The genocide of her people. It was a rather grim topic that only seemed to spur Athras on as he shared similar experiences the Dalish had gone through.

Days turned into weeks as the two got to know one another. Though Liz seemed to dance just out of reach, keeping much of her personal information to herself. Athras seemed to notice this, but did not push. The young mage, afterall, seemed to have a reason for her behavior. The elf was not one to judge, it seemed.

"This little plant can speed up the healing process? Is it some sort of antibiotic in this world?" Liz asked as she twirled the odd weed between her calloused fingertips. The elf gave her a stern look and she stuttered out a, "H-Hahren?"

He nodded in approval.

"No, it is Elfroot. It is a common ingredient used in healing potions and poultices." When Liz only seemed to give him a confused stare, Athras sighed and elaborated.

The way healing worked in this world was vastly different than her own. And when explained, the elderly mage did not seem like he even believed it at first. Almost like he didn't want to believe that magic didn't exist where she came from or that it took months for people to fully heal from a broken bone. Here, mages could assist with that.

Ever patient was the elderly elf, like teaching a child. Which, technically, he was. Erin's body was still rather young, compared to Liz's actual age. But he did not know that.

Liz was grateful that Athras did not ask why she refused to look into the mirror everyday. Or why she would sometimes stare at her hands with a disturbed look upon her features. The young mage wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to being in someone else's body.

Especially if that person's body is the body of a certain someone's sister. Maxwell, for example.

The young woman cinched the stringer of fish to the side of her small makeshift hut she'd created with branches and furs from her catches over the passed couple months. Spring was already in full swing as the birds chirped in the budding trees. The mud underneath her feet sloshed side to side as she walked back toward the riverbed.

Liz picked up the last of her catch, staring at the odd grey blob that was a fish. It's unblinking eye stared back at her, it's mouth opening and closing as if to gasp for air. The young mage had learned much with the help of Athras. She avoided creating fire with magic, for obvious reasons. Ice spells seemed to fizzle out and didn't seem to work for her. However, storm magic?

The mage seemed to have a penchant for storm magic. The electricity danced across her fingertips, an exercise Athras had drilled into her head. Liz stared at her hand, then at the fish. Then back at her hand. Athras had always been the one to cook the meals, due to her unusual aversion to fire. However... Liz wished to help. Just this once.

Couldn't electricity heat the fish up and cook it?

Something she intended to find out. Liz smirked and put her hand against the fish slowly, watching as it shuddered and shook as it came into contact with the magic. Then came the smell. It wasn't the heavenly smell of Athras' cooking, no. It smelled absolutely putrid.

The fish in her hand began to smoke, before it burst.

That's right, the fish burst.

'Pop!' Liz's eyes shut in surprise as her face was showered with hot goo. The strong stench of burnt fish permeated the air. The woman let out a gagging noise before cackling was heard behind her.

This was almost as bad as the time she tried to 'fade step'. Which only resulted in her launching herself face first into a tree. That was because she couldn't seem to get the hang of ice magic. No, this was just her stupidity. Plain stupidity.

It was worse, wasn't it? She thought to herself, trying to ignore the annoying cackles of the elderly mage behind her. Liz wiped away at the fish guts and scales that seemed to now be embedded into her short brown locks.

"Bleh." She spit and wiped at her mouth, tasting the disgusting result of her mishap.

"N-Now now, thi-this is a good lesson. Is it not?"

"Magic is not for cooking?" Liz deadpanned, now able to open her eyes and look at the grisly scene. The fish, or rather what was left of it, was scattered everywhere in the grass. The river sloshed and trickled nearby, drowning out much of the songs the birds were singing that morning.

"Ah, but quite the contrary. Magic has many uses, I have yet to teach them to you." Athras informed, and when Liz turned to look at him he had that stupid grin on his face.

Dreams. Her dreams haunted her every night. Someone would whisper into her ear. Or sometimes during the day she could hear it. Taunting, tugging trailing at her back. Whatever it was made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

But at this moment, Liz stood in the hazy green fog. The air smelled of sulfur and she could have sworn she felt something watching her. Where was she? What was this place? Was this …. was this what Athras had warned her about? The Fade?

The young mage wandered for maybe hours. "I know you can hear me..."

Liz ignored the voice as she continued forth, searching for an exit. But only found a river with a waterfall of black sludge. The rocks floated in the air, out into the vast emptiness. And in the distance... she could see what looked to be a fortress of some sort. A fortress or maybe...a city? Liz squinted.

Something in her gut told her that she was in the wrong neighborhood.

Motherfu-

"Always here …. watching …. waiting." The voice sounded like it was above her, it's breath causing her hair to shift. Liz froze. "I'll find something, somewhere. You'll be mine."

The young mage ignored the way her body shuddered and shook, screaming at her to flee. Liz refused to look at it as she forced out a sardonic laugh. "Unlikely. I have no one you can use against me, demon." She took a shaky breath, "Not anymore."

That's what it was. Demon. Wasn't it?

Claws dug into her shoulder, making the bones in her arm crunch. She could have sworn her shoulder popped out of place. Liz let out a screech of agony as the thing bellowed in rage. It's offers of power even up until then completely useless. Nothing seemed to work on this young mageling.

Then it broke. The vision shattered like glass, only to be replaced by... white? Liz blinked. Then blinked again, seeing blue skies come into view. Puffy white clouds lazily floated by, the sun warmed her face. Then a stick? Athras was standing above her with his staff pointed at her neck, a serious expression upon his features.

"You were lost in the Fade." He answered her silent question. Liz tried to move but her body felt like it was on fire. She hissed and squeezed her eyes shut. "I told you not to force yourself too far. Drain yourself too much, you die. Or worse, get lost in the Fade and get possessed by a demon."

"I take it I wasn't supposed to come back as me." Liz stated matter of factly. Athras stared down at her oddly, almost disbelievingly. She'd been practicing her storm magic on some metal rods that stuck out of the ground. Learning how to control it and use chain lightning. Obviously it proved to be too much for Erin's frail body.

"Stuck in the Fade, fighting off demons with only your strength of will to keep them at bay. A difficult task for a fledgling mage." He explained, still looking down at her. Though now the elf's staff was lowered at his side. "But ah, you have proven yourself more than worthy. Such tasks are childs play, to you."

"You speak as though I already know of magic. You suspect me of deceiving you?" She asked, though she felt she knew the answer. Liz noticed the odd looks the elderly man sometimes gave her when she knew more than a young woman Erin's age should know. She was, quite obviously, not a teenager. Athras sensed that, she knew.

"A passing thought, yes. But your mistakes are genuine." He sounded almost confused, "A fast learner, more like. You are very intelligent for one so young. Why is that, I wonder?"

There was that knowing look. Liz felt her expression turn sour. She refused to tell him the full truth. He wasn't ready. No one in this world would be ready for that. So she answered simply. Not a lie, but not the complete truth.

"Because I have to be."

Liz was walking through her apartment. For a moment, she felt as though she were back on Earth again. Though a part of her knew that this was just a re-creation. A memory. The young woman padded across the messy living room and paused, hearing cackling on the other side of the door. She felt something inside of her clench at the familiarity.

Hesitantly, the mage opened the door and revealed the owner of said cackle. Her sister. She couldn't help the small smile that graced her features as she stared down at the young girl.

Elise was sitting in front of her console, fingers tapping away at the controller. Her long black hair was tied up in a messy bun of sorts, baggy clothing draping over her small frame. The girl sat cross-legged on the floor, staring up at her television. Soda cans lined the entertainment stand, denoting just how long she'd been binging the game before her.

Her sister always did have a thing for dwarven characters, Liz noticed. Her character ran in a circle around another dwarf, Elise grinned at the TV.

"We're a club. We're a group." She spoke at the screen excitedly, as if they could hear her, "We're a secret society where no one can join unless they—"

"Stand on their knees?" Liz interjected from the doorway, her tone flat.

"Wear funny hats." Elise continued, but paused and turned around. Her lip was stuck out in a pout as she retorted, mouth moving but no sound. The words were lost. As if forgotten in her memory. Then the scene slowly began to melt away, the sound of crying echoing within.

Then Liz was standing in the front door, ushering her younger sister in and applying pressure to a stab wound on her side. Liz was yelling, tears clouding her vision. But she didn't remember what she was even yelling at her sister. Probably something about her being stupid, for sure.

Elise, for the most part, remained quiet as she allowed Liz to treat her wound. Almost as if it were a norm.

Elise, ever the trouble maker. Elise, her thickheaded little sister. Brash, uncaring of the consequences of her actions. She did what she thought was 'fun' at the time.

Behavior that always worried Liz. But it was just her. The way she was.

'I miss you, little sister.'

Next chapter! The Breach. Also, I figured she would need some sort of guidance in order to properly control her magic. So, therefore she now has a mentor!