Cerith leaned back against the tree. He shouldn't have been, but he was a bit surprised to hear her say "fellow wizard". She was a wizard also? They made sense. Who else would be out in the woods alone? He felt her hand touch his, it was soft but also used to work. With concern evident, she pleaded for him to let her help. He sighed and let her move his hand aside. He wasn't above accepting help. He just was wary about it. Besides it was a bit nasty. He didn't blink as she rolled up his shirt. Any other situation and he would have stopped it but no doubt she was wanting to help so he let it be. Besides, he really didn't have the strength to argue. 

It wasn't that he was felt shame or self-conscious. Well, maybe a bit self-concious. He was a private person and not the type to just bare his chest to others. Some of his old guild mates thought it was because he was ashamed of not having a six pack or well defined abs but it wasn't that. Anyone who messed with him or touched him would feel the hard muscle underneath. He was wiry, his body built different than most and he was fine with that. He didn't have to look the part. Besides, it gave him an advantage over those who thought him weak. No. He just didn't feel like showing his body off. If people were only interested in how a man, or anyone for that matter, looked under a shirt than they weren't worth his time.

The tornado in the girl's hand caught his eye and brought his attention back to the present. His eyebrows lifted slightly. Wow. That was pretty interesting. Wind wizard? He frowned slightly. How would that help? He didn't have much energy to fight so he just watched. She hadn't done anything aggressive yet and willingly seemed to want to help. [i]I can heal the wound on the outside but the recovery will be slow.[/i] He blinked. Heal it? Wait, she was a healing wizard? The odds of running into a wizard, let alone a healing one was near impossible - especially as he hadn't planned it. But someone had. He was filled with gratitude and mentally said thanks. He drew a sharp breath as the wind went into his cut. He held it for a moment, fighting against the pain. Her voice continued, as she gently instructed him to keep breathing. He gave a wry smile. Easier said than done. He let the air out slightly and then started up a rhythm as she introduced herself. 

McBride. Interesting last name. Almost like it was a generational name versus his which had been given to him by some 'colleagues': Tenebris - or Darkness as it was roughly translated from the old tongue. What was meant as an insult he took as a matter of pride. He had long since decided that he wasn't going to feel guilty for who he was or what he could do. For that reason, he gave Annabelle his full name. Not that she probably would catch the meaning. Not many understood other languages, let alone the old tongue. And even if she did, he doubted she would tie that in to his type of magic. She would probably think it was passed down, generation to generation, like hers.

"Cerith. Cerith Tenebris." It came out clipped, his accent very obvious. Though he had been in Fiore for some years now, he had never tried to hide it. He wasn't ashamed of where he was from, though many thought he should be. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Annabelle." He spoke slowly to keep the pain from showing, though it could be misinterpreted as condescending as he showed no sign of pain. "I didn't know wind wizards could heal." He raised an eyebrow at her. "But I am grateful." He inclined his head slightly.

Guilt hit him. Would she be so willing to help if she knew who and what he was? He didn't mind who he was but she might. His jaw clenched. "You probably wouldn't be so eager to help if you knew I had dark magic." His face was impassive but he watched her closely. He knew he surprised her. Now he waited for her to spurn him.