Saga's mind was a whirl of questions, as was often the case at this point. Each little turn opened up more about this world, and it was truly fraught with danger and mysteries. And that wasn't touching on the deep and personal history to which they were but a newcomer. A small worry joined them many others swirling in their head, as they wondered if they were destined to become some undead or necromantic freak. But from the way the old woman had phrased it, Saga got the feeling that it wasn't the case. More than others might see it that way. Or wanted it to be the case.

The two went down the ladder into a room that was small enough to be positively claustrophobic but made almost entirely out of the clear, magical glass, making it feel far more open than it was. On all sides, the river wrapped about them. Saga was still a bit distracted by the bombshell that had been dropped on them to properly appreciate it, however.

“So. What does the fact that I possess those two affinities to mean for me. Am I more inclined to necromancy or something?” Saga poked, trying

“Affinities inform what the elemental and spiritual components of our magical abilities are, but it is the path and our actions that define how exactly those abilities are and how they are meant to be used,” Indrada explained as she picked out two vials from a small box. “You are a berserker and from all of what I have been told, you are not the cold, calculation kind of person who spends their time pulling dead things apart to see how they work.”

“Can’t say that I am.“

“Exactly. You are on the path towards bringing the dead back. Affinities are simply what your soul, your spirit, is attuned to. You have died and come back. You have known death, and now you are coming to terms with your new life. Death. And Rebirth. I take it Vetra and my son told you about how people's affinities change?”

“Yes”. “I believe Vetra told me such.”

“I doubt that the High Sorceress was always about Death and Rebirth. No. I think what spiritual affinities she had were severely warped and changed due to the God of Undeath.”

“So most necromancers don’t have Rebirth then.”

“Rebirth is not an affinity you see a lot due to the very specific conditions needed for it to develop. The more common necromancy combination would be Corruption and Death. Sometimes it's Might and Death, for those more inclined to steal the life of others to empower themselves.” She held up one of the vials she picked out, waiting for Saga to take it. “Drink”

“What is it?”

“Its elemental mana. This one is made specifically for Rebirth affinity You can only brew them if you have the affinity for it, so that one, in particular, is rare. The only alchemist I know shares our affinity lives across the sea.” She explained as Saga took a sip. As they did they felt an immediate jolt of energy, like a supercharged energy potion.

{You have consumed Rebirth Mana Potion (Minor). Your Rebirth Magic is 20% more mana efficient.}

“Damn.” Saga muttered, “That has some kick to it.”

“Good. Now sit down in the circle and cross your legs. Put your hands across your chest and lean forwards lightly.” Indrada instructed Saga who tried their best to get into a position that was to the stern woman's liking.

“Northern Magic uses runes. It's a rather rigid, effective system. It is extremely economical and surprisingly complex in structure. My ancestors, my people, use the Song.”

“Song? I remember Ordan spoke of that.”

“The spoken word hold power. A song can mend and tear into the very fabric of existence.” She said as she sat down on a small stool. “Close your eyes, Saga. And breathe in, listen to my cadence, to the fall and rise of my voice. And try to breathe it in.” She said as saga did as they were told. They closed their eyes and they listened.

The song began as a low, somber dirge as Indrada began to sing. Her voice was powerful, clear, and resonant. As Saga tried to focus on it, they felt a feeling similar to that of the magical channeling stone they used earlier. This time, however, there was no twin star floating in a void, pulling at them. This time, they felt their magic seep out of them and extend outwards like a fine net. As their magic rolled of them it was as if that net had caught something, or rather, that it was caught in something itself.

The music tugged at their magic now, the song making the mana within them rise and fall. It spun out of them and into the song that moved from a somber dirge to a gentle, lonesome lullaby. Saga felt suddenly alone as if drifting and they felt as if they had been submerged underwater. Yet they were not afraid. They allowed themselves to be submerged, to embrace this feeling.

"Open your eyes" A voice called out within their mind. It wasn't Indradas, but someone else. It sounded distant and strange. Warped and faraway.

So very far away.

Saga's eyes opened wide and they found that the room was bathed in green light. Indrada smiled at them, eyes alight with the same green energy that wrapped about the two of them. She looked like a burning, human effigy as the green-tinted magic that left saga seemed to turn into a green flame as it reached the old woman. The complicated circle that Saga found themselves sitting within was shining with that same energy, a few of the runes lighting up like Christmas lights underneath sagas folded legs...

“What is happening?” Saga asked, feeling as if something was building up within them.

“Your affinity is still not fully formed, but its certainly no question about it now. You have acquired the affinity of Rebirth. And it is slowly forming a harmonious pairing with your other affinity.” As she spoke, the old woman held up one of her hands. It had the same dark spots of cracking skin like that of her face, but as Saga looked green energy swept about her hand and the skin seemed to peel off only to be regrown almost immediately after. It seemed to be a slow, slightly painful process but Indrada had a look of relief on her face...

“Did I do that?” Saga said, blinking in wonderment at the site.

“In a way. I used one of my more versatile utility spells, Song of Harmony. It can incorporate corporate your Rebirth Mana with my own to exorcise the stain of necrosis from my form,” She held her hand up and studied how the ripples of green energy wash about it. There was still some traces of the necrosis left, but as she flexed it and gripped it, she seemed to be relieved.

"Allow me to show you," Indrada said as she closed her eyes and conjured what appeared to be a scroll. It seemed almost transparent and had burning text inscribed into it. It wasn't in the same runic text that Saga had seen everywhere else. But just like the runes, it seemed these system-like functions got automatically translated into something they could understand.

'Song of Harmony. Level 5 out 5. Enhancement Spell. Channeled. Mana Cost; none

Effect: When channeled, the singer harmonizes their mana with that of friendly spiritual affinities, lending a small portion of their strength while at the same burrowing some of the others."

“I must admit, dear child, that my excitement in teaching you was because of this very reason. We have searched for someone with your combination of affinities for so long," She pointed to the runes on the floor. Saga could see how there were three larger ones, with only one of the three lighting up. "You possess a harmonious spirit pairing."

"Harmonious spirit pairing?" Saga tilted their head, their blue eyes reflecting the green-tinted light as they opened in confusion

"Yes. " She confirmed with a nod and Saga found themselves leaning in closer. "Consider this the first part of your lesson," Indrada said as she let the connection between her and Saga sever gently.

"You only know the most basic aspects of what affinities are and how they are utilized. " She spoke as she held her hand, letting heat gather slowly within it before a fireball formed in the air right above her palm.

"You said that already." Saga said, remembering how the woman had noted that Ordan had barely taught them anything. Their voice held a tinge of annoyance.

"Yes. I did. Do not interrupt me." As she spoke, Indradas's voice shifted and Saga felt a slight pressure ripple off the woman in a wave, making them shut up immediately. "At this point, the little knowledge you possess is almost more dangerous than complete ignorance."

"Right." Saga was familiar with this kind of thinking. They gritted their teeth like a bit of their old impatience began to flare up. Saga tried to keep their neutral. A wry smile appeared on Indradas lips as she continued.

"The first thing you need to understand about affinities is that they are not simply the basis of your magical power. But the chief governing entities of your existence as a whole."

"Governing entities?" Saga raised an eyebrow. The more she spoke about it, the more Indrada made the magic seem almost intelligent.

"Yes. Magic is alive, as I am sure you have been told. That means the magic flowing through you is capable of a rudimentary level of sentience. An ambient, primal form of existence." The old mage explained as she let another flame spark to life within her palm. It immediately began to slither all along her arm like a fiery serpent.

"Huh." Saga had heard that the magic was somehow alive, but they thought it was more of an abstract existence. But now that it was being explained to them in greater detail, they could almost feel the magic react within them.

"When we shape it, we do so in ways that our Affinity has helped shape and map out for us. Of course, as you know that our paths decide the nature of our abilities, but that magic empowers them and governs the effects." She let the fire in her hand flare up and shape into a small bird. "But what you do not know is that magic is not one, united will. Each element is its own thing, its own will within the flow of magic. And your affinities essentially have to share your magic between them. They are two different expressions of the same primal force."

"So, they form a pair?" Saga tried to wrap their head around it. In their mind, the image of two stars circling one another came to mind.

"Exactly." She closed her fist and the bird was extinguished. "And depending on how much you favor one over the other, or how you predisposed to anyone one thing, that pairing can be either Neutral, Harmonious or Discordant."

"Discordant?"

"Not everyone's spirit pairing is harmonious like yours," Indara said as they pointed to the three shining runes on the floor in front of the saga. "Some are Neutral, that is to say, the two exist parallel to one another without interacting too much." She pointed to one of the unlit runes. The powers you get are from either one or another with little interplay. This is common among scholarly types that intensely focus on trying to maximize and develop both their affinities as separate things. Others are unevenly balanced, with one spiritual affinity being the more prevalent and dominant force."

"That would be the Discordant pairing then."

"Indeed. This is fairly common among warriors especially, since when you are someone who fights and risks your life, you tend to hone in on what works for you and double down on it."

"So neutral is when they work independently, discordant is when one overpowers the other. I Take it harmonious means that they both are in balance and work together or something like that?"

"Indeed. Harmonious pairings are more common among spiritualists like shamans and priests who spend their time looking inwards."

"I take it there are some benefits to it?"

"Discordant abilities tend to be very front-loaded with your dominant affinity. Meaning it is fairly easy to train and mold your skillset to where you want it as long is it adheres to the nature of your path and dominant affinity." She paused as she made the fire serpent extinguish itself. "Meanwhile the weaker affinity ends up providing the secondary effects, such as the fact that many of my fire abilities invigorate me a moderate amount upon casting. The biggest benefit is that two elements in harmony complement one another to create more unique effects. Such as the fact that your rebirth mana is tied closely to the death, means it is more useful in undoing the effects of undead blight and curses.”

“That's why you've been looking for someone with my combination. No wonder Ordan got so intense when my magic manifested.” Saga remembered the way Ordan had been looking at them during the rune test back in the forest. It seemed so long ago now even though it'd only been a few weeks since they left that forest.

“Indeed. He is a good son, he has committed his entire life to find a way to help me.” Indrada said with a small, sorrowful smile.

“Well. Shit. That's kind of heavy.” Saga was once more feeling as if they were consistently having a rug pulled out from underneath them, but these people had saved them and they owed them far too much. "I am happy to help of course."

"Good." But let's take one thing at a time. First, we must train you and help you develop your affinities."

"I have a feeling it won't be as easy as mediating to some song." Saga ran a hand nervously through their red hair as they saw Indrada lean in with a knowing look.

"Not quite" Indrada smiled at Saga. It was oddly similar to that of Olafs when he started the training Saga back at Hemgård. "Your first lesson begins now."