“A mage…? Is that what that scar is?” Japlir asked as he recalled looking at it the day before.

“Yes. Although, these scars aren’t meant to be a part of the insignia. These were inflicted on her to make sure she doesn’t use magic again,” the doctor explained as he looked closer at the scars.

“What do you mean?” Wilpen asked as she held the girl tight.

“A mage’s source of magic emits through magic circles, or porwifs, as they refer to them. The insignia bestowed upon mages also act as a magic circle that can be used at times of dire need. But they also act as a way to inflict a punishment that a mage can’t run from. From what I can see, this mage was stripped of her title and the insignia was broken to ensure she can no longer use magic.”

Wilpen glanced at the doctor and the girl, her expression full of worry and pity, as if the girl was her own kin. Japlir looked at the girl with his fists clenched until he noticed the doctor’s expression. He could feel his mind conflicting with himself, wondering whether he should pity this girl or fear her. The uncertainties piled higher with the information shared by the doctor and Japlir regretted letting Wilpen take in the girl. “What now, Ivors?”

“It’s strange…,” Ivors muttered in response.

Japlir and Wilpen exchanged looks with each other before Japlir asked, “What is…?”

Ivors examined the insignia on the girl’s foot and placed his clipboard on the floor to copy the mark. “It’s just… I’ve never seen a mark like this before.”

“There are different kinds?” Asked Japlir as he stepped forward and looked at it as well. It didn’t help much since he didn’t have anything to compare it. He had never met a mage and the closest he ever had was Doctor Ivors. And Doctor Ivors wasn’t a mage doctor, although he did dabble in magic.

“There are five levels to the insignias and even those differ amongst their levels. There are student insignias, civil servant insignias, military insignias, professor insignias, and mage court insignias. I’ve only witnessed student, civil servant and professor insignias but even those all have the imperial animal symbol embedded in them. I can imagine that the other two insignias have the symbol as well, but this… it doesn’t have the imperial animal.” Ivors voice trailed off as he tried to pinpoint some kind of explanation for this strange insignia.

The imperial animal of the Empire is a phoenix, a strong creature of myths that arises from its ashes, chosen by the first emperor after winning the war over the land. Nowadays, the symbol is seen everywhere that is considered imperial property.

“How could a mage end up like this? What could she have done to be punished like this,” asked Wilpen as she looked at the lifeless girl in her arms.

The girl in question’s head fell slack until Wilpen straightened the girl and held her close. Wilpen resorted to holding the girl’s head in her bosom and rubbing the girl’s back to ease her own tensions.

“I’ll ask a mage I know if they are familiar with this insignia… although, they are just a civil servant mage so I’m not sure if they will know. In the meantime,” Ivors said as he got to his feet and stared at his clipboard. He continued to say, “I suggest you find a long, thin tube to pour her some liquids.”

“Thin tube?” The best Wilpen could think of at the moment was having Japlir make something that fit the criteria. 

“Yes, to feed it down her throat directly to her stomach. Because her nerves seem to be shut down, she won’t feel the tube being forced into her body.” Ivors flipped through his pages to make sure he was giving the correct information and nodded to himself as he did.

“And if she manages to recover her nerves?” Wilpen asked.

“Tell me. Report to me her healing process. Her health is being restored at an unusual rate and could end up with a full recovery. If she begins to speak, tell me immediately,” Ivors said as he looked back at his notes again. His fingers lingered on the page with the copy of the strange insignia, a flash of uncertainty on his face.

“She is an unusual mage and I suggest not telling the whole world about her existence here. I don’t think she’s the best news,” Ivors added before leaving.

“Wilpen…” Japlir started but didn’t know what to say. He wanted to tell Wilpen to throw the girl away because she could be dangerous. But he also wanted to help Wilpen because of the state the girl was in. No person should be in the situation the girl lived through. He wasn’t an evil person who kicked people to the curb. He wanted to help too, but what the doctor informed made him afraid.

“I forgot one thing,” said the doctor who popped back into the inn suddenly. “Be very careful when she recovers. You don’t know what crime she committed and what kind of person she is. I think it’s best that you keep a weapon on your person at all times.” With finishing his thought, he left as quickly as he had returned.

Japlir already had a dagger in mind for Wilpen to use and turned to her to tell her about it but she was faster. “No, Japlir,” Wilpen said as she stared at the girl with pity in her eyes.

“Wilpen, I understand you don’t want to wield a weapon but Ivors is right,” Japlir tried to persuade Wilpen.

“Absolutely not, Japlir. She is a human just like you and me. The second we treat her any less is the moment she will feel hostile towards us. I will not receive any weapons from you and you will not carry any near her. Do you understand?”

Japlir had only seen Wilpen react in such a strong way in his time he knew her. She’s a kind and patient woman that had never raised her voice at anyone nor scolded anyone as harsh as she was now doing to him. So he immediately knew he needed to silence himself.

“I understand, Wilpen. But know this: I won’t hesitate should you ever be in any danger,” Japlir responded and Wilpen sighed.

“Okay,” she said and helped the girl to her feet.