Jirmen knew why Methir told them to leave. He knew why she stayed. He had his reservations about two beings with unknown power running off together, but he had to trust Kyrik to contain himself and – if needed – Kali.

“I need to vet her. You understand this.” Jirmen stepped out onto the open balcony overlooking Falmari. Whenever he was lost in thought, this place gave him clarity he needed to focus.

“I do, and I’m not here to argue that.” Methir said to Jirmen’s surprise. “I’m more concerned about what you’ll do when you decide she’s not one.”

“You mean hold her back?” Jirmen sighed. “You don’t have to breathe down my neck, you know.”

“You told me to do that when I finished my apprenticeship.” Methir teased, standing beside him.

“Do you miss it? Being an apprentice?”

“Certainly less responsibility. But less freedom, too.” Methir answered thoughtfully. “I’m surprised you allowed me to take in Kyrik so quickly. Am I to assume you’ll be throwing Kali at me as well?”

“I might.” Jirmen smirked. “They’re both outcasts. I imagine they’ll support each other enough that you won’t need to hover like you did before.”

“It’s a good thing Falmari has familiars and other beings of magic. Kali won’t stand out too much.” Methir ended her sentiment with a depressing note. “When are we going to break the news, by the way?”

“I don’t know.” Jirmen admitted. “How do you tell an entire city who built their life around the arcane that magic is dying?”

“I…don’t know.” Methir repeated his words. “But it needs to be sooner, rather than later.”

“I’m aware.” Jirmen cast another glance over Falmari. “I haven’t gotten any closer to solving our murder, by the way.”

“Kyrik is perseverating over it.” Methir’s tail flicked in worry. “And I mean extremely so. He’s considering transforming to speed it along.”

“He is?” Jirmen asked, shocked. “He doesn’t have a personal involvement, and this is hardly the first time he’s seen death.”

“The fact someone was killed in Falmari is bothering him. He considered it a safe place and it’s been violated. The reaper consciousness is driving him to solve this, and we can’t stop it.” Methir shifted an eye to him. “It’s better to let him in completely. He may relinquish control to solve this, and he isn’t ready for that yet.”

“I have made a terrible mistake.” Jirmen snarled, cloak sweeping behind him as he went back to his desk. “I should never have tried to hold him back. I thought he’d be safer, but if it’s rearing its head now no matter what, we must teach him control. I don’t know how; it’s not like we can talk to a reaper about his…uniqueness. But I imagine it has to do with mental training, and we have plenty who can do that.”

“I’ll see what I can set up. In the meantime, I’ll practice my necromancy more; he used it to heal Kali, so if I point him in that direction, it’ll be the best of both worlds.”

“Although you don’t need it, you have my permission.” Jirmen nodded swiftly. “I trust your judgement.”

She gave a bow of respect, departing swiftly. Jirmen watched her go, a small smirk forming on his face. Although he had yet to tell her, he had high hopes for her. She doubtlessly knew of his end game, or at least suspected. Why else would he teach her personally?

If she continued down this path, Jirmen would name her his successor.