Beyond the Red Vulture's Shadow

Kael approached the hooded mage, his boots kicking up small clouds of dust as he moved. The mage's piercing green eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking from Kael's face to the clan members milling about, before returning to him. She stood tall, her slender frame radiating an aura of quiet strength. "So, you're the one who's been pestering Thorne to let you learn from me," she said, her voice husky, with a hint of bitterness. Kael nodded, trying to appear confident. "I am. I've always been fascinated by magic, and I think it could be...useful for the clan." The mage snorted, her eyes flashing with disdain. "Useful? You think I'm some sort of tool to be used for your clan's gain?" Kael hesitated, sensing her anger. "No, that's not what I meant. I just...I want to learn, and I think you could teach me." The mage's gaze turned cold, her voice dripping with venom. "And why would I do that? You're part of the Red Vulture clan, aren't you? The ones who've been terrorizing travelers and villages for months?" Kael shifted uncomfortably, feeling a twinge of guilt. "We...we do what we need to survive." The mage laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Survive? You're not surviving, you're thriving on fear and violence. And you think I'll just...teach you magic, out of the goodness of my heart?" Kael took a step closer, his voice low and persuasive. "Listen, I know you're...bitter. And rightfully so. But if you teach me, I promise you'll be...safer. The clan won't...use you, or sell you, if you're teaching me something valuable." The mage's expression changed, her eyes narrowing as she considered Kael's words. For a moment, he thought he saw a glimmer of calculation, before she spoke. "You're suggesting that I'm more valuable to the clan as a teacher, than as a plaything or a commodity?" she asked, her voice measured. Kael nodded, trying to appear sincere. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. You'll be...protected, in a way. And who knows, maybe you'll even find a way to escape, or...change things from within." The mage studied Kael for a long moment, before her gaze dropped, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Very well," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll teach you. But don't think for a moment that I'm doing this for you, or for the clan. I'm doing it because it's the only way to ensure my own survival, for now." Kael felt a surge of excitement, mixed with a twinge of guilt. He knew he'd just made a deal with a captive, a prisoner of the clan. But he also knew that he'd take any chance to learn from her, to unlock the secrets of magic, and to maybe, just maybe, change his own fate.