"So, you're telling me someone falls at your doorstep, and you take them into your home? No, 'call the police' or 'get a healer,' you just bring them in a plop them on the ground? What were you planning to do if they died, huh? Were you going to make them into a stew, did you want them to die? What? Those are the kind of questions you're going to be asked when you do something that stupid because people tend to assume a certain level of intelligence… Just… don't do it again, okay?" – a street-wise philosopher

Alex's visions suddenly comes online with the awakening of his mind, and the room around him comes into a fuzzy monochrome clarity.

Alex immediately tries to bolt up and does so quite frighteningly to the other resident in the room.

"Woah there, buddy, calm your brambles there."

Alex looks over to the source of the voice, and a woman's face comes into view, hair frames it, and as Alex looks closer, he can see the beginning of crow's feet forming.

'What am I doing here?'

"You passed out right in front of me, so I brought you in for the night. No need to thank me, just doing my job."

Alex's head tilts slightly, and he looks at the woman inquisitively.

The woman sighs, "You came here to the point of collapse, not even knowing that? All I can say is that you are one lucky fella. My name is Rodna, and I'm in charge of keeping maintenance of this here pass, and fellas like you are part of the job. Now, if you don't mind, weary wanderer telling me yours?"

'No harm in telling her, but I think I won't include my family title, not that that is what she's asking for anyway…'

"Call me Alex."

Her eyebrows pop up in amusement, "So we have a mage here, talkin' his fancy mage-speak. Do you think that intimidates me? Even with your gray hair and those weird stones, I've seen weirder, and I've seen scarier."

'Wait, gray hair?'

"Now, why don't we have a proper conversation, and you stop infusing that magic into your voice."

"What do you mean?"

"I told you to stop it," She says while raising her voice. "There are plenty of other ways to be intimidatin' than that speak, and if you continue this nonsense, you will find out about my favorite brand of em."

'But I'm not doing anything to my voice, much less consciously infusing magic into it…'

The woman stares at Alex, hands crossed in front of her chest as if daring him to do it again.

'Unless this is another consequence of what that magic beast did to me. It would make sense if it's now a natural attribute.'

He looks at the harsh stare his host is giving him.

'Though it looks like it might cause some problems in the future. Is there a way to turn it off?'

Alex breaths for a few moments before quietly speaking.

"Is this better?"

"Barely Alex, and that's only because it's quieter. The impact, though, does not lessen."

Alex then continues to speak.

"I'm sorry if I've offended you, but this isn't on purpose…'

After hearing this, Rodna puts her hand to her chin and then starts tapping it as if pondering something, and then her eyes grew dim, and her hand fell.

"Well, if you can't control something that simple, you're not a mage, that's for sure. I doubt you're a magic beast either," she chuckles for a few moments before continuing, "So that leaves you as a poor experiment of those rogue mages, am I right fella?"

Alex nods.

A flash of sympathy goes across Rodna's face, "Well, I'm sorry for ya kid, but there's not much I can do to undo what they've done. Heck, I doubt even half of them even understand what they're doin to people. It's a terrible profession, though I think you know that firsthand."

Alex's face turns grim.

"Well, fella, your welcome to stay a couple days, but sooner or later, you'll need to move along. You don't have anyone after you, right?"

Alex thinks for a few moments and remembers that gray-haired mage, Ivona, even his father. He then nods.

"Well then, you might need to be out of here sooner than that. I don't want any trouble walkin' up to me, after all. Anyway, your welcome to keep the pants; it'll help you protect your dignity and all. I might be able to scrounge up a bit of a more complete set of clothing for you, and something to cover up those stones embedded in your head, hmmm…"

Alex blushes at the thought of his earlier state.

'I must have still been affected by whatever changes the magic beast caused.'

Alex then tries to voice his thoughts and appreciation before Rodna puts up a single finger.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you don't know how to control your speech, you really shouldn't be speaking at all."

Alex looks at her questioningly.

"It's not just a matter of rude or intimidatin or not, but it's also a matter of influencing. When mages use mage speak, they are able to influence the world around them, hence spells. However, I doubt you'd be able to do that if you can't even control your voice, and they can influence others. Their minds Alex."

She crouches down a bit to get level with his face as he's sitting up in the bed.

"If you weren't a man of few words before Alex, you should consider becoming one now. It'll be less trouble that way. That or figure out how to control your magic so that it stops happening, but somehow I doubt you'll succeed. Those mages experiments have a habit of wrecking any magic potential the subjects have.

She stands back up.

"Now that I think about it a caravan will head out tomorrow, I think I can pull some strings and get you on it. Oh, and you're leaving either way. By foot or caravan, choose."

Alex starts to speak, "I—"

"Thumbs up for caravan, thumbs down for walking."

'I'd rather not walk barefoot again, and even if she gives me shoes, I don't know how far it is to the next town. The caravan seems like a better choice."

Alex thinks for a few moments before giving a thumbs up.

Rodna smiles at him, "That's what I thought you'd say, or maybe more accurately sign."

"I eat an early dinner, so be ready to eat in an hour."

'I'd like to know where I am, it would make it easier to figure out where to go next…'

"Do—"

She claps a hand over his mouth, muffling his speech, and hands him wood planks and charcoal.

"If you got something you need to say, write it. I'll be back in an hour with dinner, till then write anything you need to know. Jeez, papa always said my kindness and this job would be the end of me, and I've always thought him wrong, but with how much trouble you're causing me… well, we'll see."

Rodna then leaves the cabin.

Once Rodna leaves, Alex immerses himself into his thoughts and starts writing.