The Ugly Truth

Biara glanced around nervously before making her way towards the front of the shop. Although she tried to act natural, chills ran up and down her spine to be so far away from the protection of the orphanage's wards. The Magistrix's goal was a small building that contained a sign over it proclaiming it to be a key seller of important spell components and herbs. She was taking a calculated risk, but one she and Alanth agreed would likely be necessary in the days to come.

Without spell components, several of her key spells would not function, including her ability to summon portals or larger quantities of food for any groups she might travel with. She couldn't use the portals within the city, but once free of Seluna's immediate surveillance they would allow her and Alanth to escape to whatever destination they both felt was most appropriate. It had been a difficult choice, but after much discussion they both agreed that she should trade in one of her golden bracelets at a pawn shop and use the coins to buy enough materials to ensure her spellcasting would not suffer in an emergency.

She had made her way through the various back alleys and slums along the edge of Silvermoon's ruins to this particular shop, which was well known for its high quality spell components and runestones. Despite nervously checking over her shoulder for the thousandth time, Biara saw no one following her and made her way inside without incident. Once within the building, she breathed a sigh of relief, and actually smiled as she took in aisle after aisle of carefully arranged spell components. For the first time in several days she felt like she was in her element, and she began browsing for what she needed.

As Biara shopped, she happened to glance up and out the open window of the shop. What she saw made her breath catch in her throat. There, down the street that she had just traversed, a small group of well dressed Blood Knights were shoving their way through the mid-day crowd. Their blood red armor flashed in the sunlight as they casually pushed people aside if they were not fast enough to move on their own. The sight of the Blood Knights alone would not have caused Biara such a panic, but behind them was a hawkstrider, and upon it a blonde haired Magistrix rode, looking over the crowd of elves on the street with disdain.

It was Magistrix Skyflare, one of Biara's rivals amongst the Magister's Council.

Biara's mind raced as she saw the knights making their way towards the shop she was in. If the Magistrix saw and recognized her, she would turn Biara over to House Dawnsea without another thought. She actually would likely kill first and ask questions later, and she was deadly with the art of hurling magical fire. The small space within the shop would be a horrific place to fight her, and the innocent shoppers and shopkeeper inside would be bystanders of the violence.

Even as these thoughts raced through Biara's mind, the Blood Knights made their way to the door, giving one last kick with a plate boot to one of the elves strolling down the street, knocking him aside. They paused and carefully helped Magistrix Skyflare from her mount. Biara could only stare and watch with disgust as the group bullied the rest of the elves on the street.

Was I ever as arrogant as that? Did I ever consider myself above the other elves within the city, or consider my tasks and life more important than they were?

She knew the answer of course. She had seen too much in the past few days not to be truthful with herself now, and there was no denying that less than a week ago she had been no more thoughtful than Magistrix Skyflare was. The thought made her stomach turn; she'd spend too much time amongst the orphans not to feel for those who lived in this part of the city.

How humbling my experience has been. Perhaps that is the only good that has come of this; I have learned my place at least.

The Magistrix proceeded into the store, and Biara quickly looked away, letting her hair fall down over the right side of her face. The ashen black locks fell cleanly over her wards, hiding them from sight as she looked down and pretended to be studying some of the runestones arrayed in a display before her. Magistrix Skyflare walked casually around the shop, also browsing for components; the little place was quite popular throughout the city for it's fine materials. The wealth of the shop keeper meant little when considering the benefits of pure components for spellcasting.

Whenever one of the other patrons of the shop got too close to Magistrix Skyflare, her Blood Knight bodyguards brutally shoved them out of the way so the Magistrix could continue her shopping. She selected a few items here and there, almost delighting in inconveniencing the other shoppers as she finished her purchases.

Then she headed towards the aisle that Biara was standing in.

Tension filled Biara's body as the other drew near. She could feel the magic in the air around the other Sin'dorei. She could see every detail worked into the plate armor of her guards, every strap holding each piece in place. She knew without a doubt that if they shoved her aside and her wards were exposed, everyone in the shop would die. Innocents would die and it would be her fault.

Biara casually slid a hand down the side of her body, her fingertips brushing and then picking up a deadly combat wand that she kept on her belt at all times. The weapon pulsed in her hand, a dull power meant only to kill. Her knuckles were white around the small handle of the wand as the other Magistrix drew near.

Please, please, Light don't let her come too close. Please...I don't want to do this. Have mercy on me.

When it seemed that there would be no option but to strike before the other Magistrix saw her, Magistrix Skyflare abruptly stopped, selected a runestone from a nearby case, and turned around, heading back towards the front of the shop to complete her purchase. Biara felt the tension leaking from her like a punctured waterskin as the other withdrew. She exhaled slowly and looked out the window to clear her thoughts.

Alanth was outside, just across the street. He was casually sitting on a chair outside a tavern, as if he'd been there the whole time. But Biara knew he hadn't been, she also knew he wasn't being casual at all, for his seemingly relaxed pose allowed his hand to linger over the hilt of his sword. His eyes met hers across the distance. He noted the wand in his hand, and gave a shallow, almost imperceptible nod, as if he approved of her actions, but as he looked up he saw something else that gave him pause.

He saw her look of utter and complete self-revulsion at the thought that she might have had to use magic to kill someone again. He saw a well of despair that had never existed before in Biara Dayfire's eyes. As their gazes locked across the distance, in that moment he came to understand exactly how tormented she was by what had happened.

He also came to realize that she would step past that self-loathing long enough to do battle if it meant keeping her word and keeping him and the rest of the city safe from Seluna's clutches. No matter the cost to herself personally. No words, no other gestures passed between them, just that mutual understanding. Their gazes held until Magistrix Skyflare exited the shop and was well on her way back to the finer parts of Silvermoon.

When the danger had passed, Biara completed her purchases and joined Alanth outside, the two walking back towards their safe haven in silence. Nothing could pass between them that had not already been seen in that one moment.