He looked at her with worry on his face. 'Well, Malanda it’s undead. a new strain, they roam through the west in large groups, a couple of villages have fallen and some say even a town, what troubles me the most is that they don't seem to move randomly. There is something bigger at play, at least that's what my brother and I think.'

We were taking in what he said, large groups of undead. The mindless undead people talked about. What could that “something bigger” be? Vel was apparently thinking the same, 'What could that be? Something bigger?' she asked.

He wiped his face with a movement more equal to rubbing, 'We have some theories, it’s too soon to assign truth to any of them.’ He paused, looking at the ground rising his head back to us ’However, they will have to pass the river. Luckily this side of the country will be safe for quite some time. Still, I would like you not to remain here.'

'What why!? Shouldn't the authorities be on it?' It left my mouth too quickly passing my already weak filter. In response, he nodded adding, 'Yes, but our country does not have enough man to spare, because of a border dispute with Tresken. sadly it lays opposite of the West.'

Vel seemed to reach to him with her voice as if he were far a way, 'But can't you put a band of privates together just like other times we had trouble?' He made a weird sound with his mouth. 'I did, they were supposed to seek information about, where those things came from, but they haven't returned or let anything be known. Of course, it’s only been a few days.'

'Will you be going again father?'

He shook his head, 'No Vel I will stay here for a while. I prepared some observation markings there and your uncle has remained. He promised to send me letters.'

Malanda was still standing in the opening of the door. 'Master I think that is quite enough of the scary stories, I suppose we will see more people from the west in town then.'

He nodded again 'Yes the refugees. Chances are we will. It's just, that the journey is long from here to the west so they will come slow and the undead which will follow them will be manageable for us I think.'

'That's good to hear, you must be hungry.'

She had said something on which he had waited a very long time, his eyes began to twinkle. When she came with his food he smiled brightly and complimented her on her skills, She would always do her best for him. In between bites, he told me that he will write the college for me and expected me to be able to join since a healing affinity was a rare gift. After his meal, he floated straight to bed and Malanda would check on him in the afternoon. I did my chores, before practice and checked the trap I had set, just before going upstairs. It was empty, my bait had disappeared. It had stolen the cheese? I decided to set it again and put some flour on the ground surrounding it so I could see its path. I was quickly ready for another session with Vel. She was studying and I was sitting on the ground. I could already mix the colors for about a third and separate them easily, combining them was still the most difficult part.

As I made little progress, I heard a grunt of frustration softly in the distance. So I opened my eyes and saw Vel sitting at her desk, holding her arms up and making weird signs with her hands. 'Why does it not work, dammit!.' She was sitting in front of a potion, I think. I stood up, laid my hands on her shoulders, 'Would you like some tea miss?'

'I would like for this to work aghh.'

'Maybe take a break, you've been at it for as long as I have today and longer.’ She looked at me and her face softened,

'Let's go downstairs and see if there are any snacks.' She seemed to give in to another feeling, trading her frustration for a smile. She looked delicate as if all her features were silver-lined. I sighed a small sigh, I don’t think she noticed or just didn't comment on it.

We looked for something to eat, Sadly we only found a stray carrot... Vel was pretty disappointed, 'we could get some sweets from Jester's shop.' She said. However, we can’t go outside, we might be okay, there was no concrete evidence against us.

'I suppose we could, but I rather not meet that fat guard again.'

She rose her eyebrow, 'The one that barely saw you, I think you'll be okay.'

I backed off from her, pointing at my face 'He saw me enough to halt me at the market.'

My fear was understandable, I think. She seemed to have thought of something and said 'I'll cast a little spell on us, since this time I'm not nearly drained.' What spell would she cast? I had no clue, what magic Vel could use.’

She grabbed my finger, the one pointing at my face, then she said 'First I'll need to get something from downstairs... shall we?' She tapped her feet twice in front of the stairs and this time just a part of it reverted downward, creating the same passage as the times before. Downstairs a puddle of shadow quickly approached us. Vel spoke calmly, 'Hey Kriesler we need something from the lab. So we'll be in and out in a wiff, you're doing great by the way.' We walked past him and he shivered making a happy humming sound.