Sitting here in the shade of the Great Forest at the edge of a lake with my traveling companion Theridan. I contemplate rumors of war and what it means for me. I practice my craft while I do. I focus on the weave of reality. I take hold and bend it to my will. Pushing, pulling, crafting the power that lies locked behind arcane understanding. Blue sparks writhe in my palm until a small orb of lighting forms its power generic but easy to manipulate. I flick the orb to a nearby tree and watch it burst against the bark, crackling energy sending wood chips flying as the energy impacts. Theridan looks up nervously from their journal. They have always been rather nervous. I would be too if I had gone through what they had. I have heard a part of Theridan’s story. I know there is more that is hidden. Such is the way with our order. Secrets are all we had in this age, secrets and stories. That secret is out now though and no one trusts our stories, all we have is the question of what those of us who still hold onto our purpose are to do now. I continue to ponder this as I weave a stronger spell together. Again I focus, and maifest my power. This time a luminous stone. Bright red, with small shards that float around it.
“My father taught me our stories and our secrets before he taught me the magic.” I say to Theridan, feeling the subtle strain on my control of the magic. I don’t look at them, still mostly focused on my spell.“He told me that knowledge is one thing. The willingness to do what must be done and the sacrifice one has to make another. The power another still.” I flick my wrist causing the orb to spin in my hand.“He wanted to be sure I understood what it meant to be a Lorespeaker. He wanted to make sure I wouldn’t just want the power. You should’ve seen the look on my face when he showed me the powers we had been keeping from our people.”“What does it mean to you then?” Theridan replied skeptically. I look at them, for once their green eye meet my gaze. In the months we’ve known each other we have both changed. I wouldn’t call us the greatest of friends. I feel as if we’ve done good work and have learned much from each other. In this moment, I can’t help but feel hopeful. I’ve seen their pride in being a Lorespeaker, a pride I share. I look back to my spell, my focus and time slipping.“It means we serve the greater good for the Ulven people. It means we sacrifice so that our entire race may prosper. The Ulven people learned the hard way how much bigger the world is than us.” I stand slowly and take aim at the tree again. With a flick the red stone orb whips forward and blasts a chunk out of the tree. Wood chunks scattering into the lake sending ripples laced with magic across the surface of the water. Theridan doesn’t flinch this time. I look back to my companion.“The greater good used to be our great secret. No longer. We can’t wait around for someone to tell us how best to serve people who despise us but so desperately need us. We must do what we can” I sat back down, done practicing for the day.“If Grimward really has allied with Stonetooth then the Ulven of the south are in dire need.” I say, purpose filling my words. Theridan puts away their journal and assembled notes.“Where would we even start Einar? Not a soul outside of Grimward leadership or Stonetooth knew this was coming. Three clans are already starting on the back foot, Shattered Spear will be lucky to last the season. And so far it’s just you and I.” I pause at the last part. I am unsure if Theridan has shared everything they know. I have to take it at face value. I think for a moment more before I reply. They are right, it’s impossible to know what the best course of action is. But imperfect action now is better than waiting for the perfect chance.“We start the same way the Lorespeakers who came before us did. We tell our story, wherever we can, to whoever will listen.”