"Well, er..." Larek didn't know how to explain the city of Hekaga.

"That's an optimistic thought. Let's keep it at that, Nyx" Vespion said of that city. 

"It's not as bad as it was twenty years ago, even if that's not saying very much" Tala added, reaching down to pull a little splinter out of her right foot. 

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Orna eventually opened her eyes, feeling much calmer and more relaxed. She was still sitting cross-legged, her toes and heel spurs touching each other, claw to claw.

"Yeah, that's better. Did you know my mother does this to focus her magic? She says it helps female mages but does very little for males." Orna wasn't sure why she decided to bring it up, but then she thought about who did the most the meditation at her home, and it was her mother.

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Kos stretched out his arms and hands. "I suppose you want to practice swordplay first, Railing?" he asked.