Prompt: Idolization
"Aren't you hungry? Weirin is a wonderful cook." Keritzel approached the likes-to-be-alone sorceress as he sat down next to her with a plate full of roasted mystery meat.
Veloce gave the young scholar a bored gaze before returning to her book, an item she had picked up from their last town. "No thanks."
"Are you sure? You really should eat something." Keritzel said as he took a large bite from a slice of bread.
"Not hungry."
"I see." Keritzel no longer pushed the subject of food. "So it's true what Iriel and the others say." The scholar mused as he leaned back against a tree next to her.
"And what's that?" Veloce asked, her focus on her book never wavering.
"That the Great Veloce Visrin, The demon of magic, daughter of the most feared goddess of war, doesn't need normal means of sustenance," he replied as he took a bite out of a wing.
Veloce raised an elegant eyebrow, but she didn't look up. "Who said this?"
Keritzel shrugged as he swallowed. "Who isn't saying it? They all practically idolize you."
"They?" she asked, genuinely surprised.
He finished the wing and threw the bone over his shoulder before reaching for a leg. "The villagers were talking about you. You didn't think you wouldn't spread rumors with the King's death now did you?"
Veloce didn't respond. Keritzel stole a glance at the mage to see that she had put down her book and gave him a flat stare. "What about Iriel?"
"Well think of it this way." Keritzel sighed scratching his head. "You're everything Iriel hopes to be someday. Maybe he won't be the most powerful magik user, or he won't be strong at all, but he does want to be good at what he does and make his clan proud. Believe it or not, you're his motivation."
Veloce frowned, and returned to her book. "..."
After a long while (and a couple of pieces of the mystery bird later), Keritzel spoke again.
"The wind is getting cold. Be sure to keep warm tonight."
-FIN-