Alice milled around the inn for a brief while, wondering when and if their retainers would arrive today. At least the accommodations were nice enough, the common room was clean and well kept with a lovely smell of bread and broth wafting throughout the place. It was unlikely the party would have to share much, she doubted any citizens of this place would trust the inn while Alice and her own were staying.

She felt like drinking, but in light of recent events and in the knowledge that she was unlikely to be served anything but the swill after the group's already strained relationship with the villagers she decided against it. Alcohol strained the body's connection to magic, a bad thing in this instance. The sun had set before she gave up bothering. She had wanted to make a good impression, but at this point she didn't think it worth the effort. She ordered a small platter and simple platter of food to be sent up and left in the corridor since she hadn't picked a room yet and left it's worth in coin on the counter, not bothering to care if it was accepted or not.

With that, she bid her good-nights to Geradin and Argon before retiring, just so that they knew where she was going. "Alright lass," Geradin said. They'd known each other long enough that he didn't shoot her a questioning look; as a wizard she often left company early to study or recover. "I'll bring your food up when it's good and ready, don't worry." she nodded her appreciation and moved off.

Picking a room with a fireplace she set to work. First things first she set water to boil, hanging the poor and scorched thing above the fire in preparation. She pulled a series of small vials from her bag and started pinching and pouring various contents into a muslin sack and dipping it in the brew, a sprinkle of wolfs-bane, a handful of lavender and a good splash of some deeproot spores. She was reminded of the ancient tales of crones bent over cauldrons, cooking up foul curses and grim ailments to turn children into frogs. She couldn't help but laugh. Such stories were a far-cry from the modern science she was used to and, she suspected, a long way from the truth of what it was like back then too. Nope, there would be no eye of newt today, just some spiritually restorative tea.

She scratched runes on each of the corners of the room, wincing at the property damage. She would have to ask Geradin to see about repairing the damage done before they moved on. The village wasn't overly close to fast flowing water and was nowhere near any real rare minerals but she hoped that her rudimentary magical net would at least absorb some energy. Some was better than none.

[b]"Hello? Alice? Do you need any help with the magic you're doing in there?"[/b] Ursaren was polite. He knew what to do and what not to do in regards to rooming with a woman. You always needed to knock before entering a room, in case they were doing something that wasn't the most decent, and you should make sure to not treat them with disrespect. With those things aside, Ursaren had to admit, Alice did intrigue him. Not romantically, mind, but he did see some form of powerful mage within her. He hadn't felt that power in some time, ever since the day he met a dwarven child. Still, that was a story for another time.

[b]"If you need to be alone, I will leave you in peace. Though, I am fairly certain that we are in the same room for the night."[/b] It wasn't his choice, but with Aeryn taking a room to herself, he figured that Alice would rather someone who was more calm and collected in her presence then someone like that twitchy priest. Nothing against him, but he suspected Alice wasn't so fond of his presence. To be fair, neither was Ursaren. He always felt that the priest wanted to steal Ursaren's trident and shield.

Alice considered this. To be honest, of all the people to share a room with Ursaren was one of the better ones. [color=royalblue]"Thank you, Ursaren."[/color] she responded in kind to his courteous manner. [color=royalblue]"May I interest you in tea?"[/color]

After a little while the pair's talk moved onto more academic subjects. She explained [color=royalblue]"I haven't cast any real magic yet. Or really in a while."[/color] she pointed at one of the runes she'd carved in a corner. [color=royalblue]"I'm sure you recognise my magical net. I trust filling this room with a small amount of collected magic won't disagree with you and your... self."[/color] she was aware of the stigma werewolves faced, but from what she could see Ursaren lost none of his mind to the beast. Or maybe he was just experienced enough not to.

After letting out a hushed, but hearty laugh, Ursaren responded to the question he was asked. [b]"I'm an old man, of course I would love some tea!"[/b] He hoped the tea was from Bania, they always made the best tea out of the lands he'd explored and visited. Of course, the teas were all good, but Banian tea was just slightly better than most to him. He wasn't sure exactly why it was like that.

Ursaren listened to his friend speak, nodding as she explained through everything that she could. When the subject of his affliction came into question, the man made a passing comment. [b]"Compared to [i]me[/i] raising a little girl, this is hardly anything. I should be just fine."[/b] The man studied the runes in the corners as he explained something himself. [b]"I... I don't exactly recognize these runes very well. Then again, I've only gone in-depth with restorative magic and alchemy."[/b] A thought crossed Ursaren's mind before he looked over at Alice. [b]"Is something the matter with your magical strength?"[/b]

Alice considered the question. She couldn't deny she'd lost a great deal of her power over the last few days, but would it be worth explaining that to a fellow adventurer she'd met only a few days ago? She looked at it another way, would she rather tell Ursaren then have it revealed to the party at a time not of her choosing?

[color=royalblue]"I've managed to over-exert myself these past days. I burned almost everything I had back in that town with the Rogs, let alone the Dark Elves later."[/color] she took a moment to steadily pour the tea, [color=royalblue]"As with too many people I seem to come across, that caster was far too powerful for me."[/color]

She prided herself on being able to outmanoeuvre those more powerful than herself, with subtle tricks or little schemes. But at the end of the day all it would take would be someone like that Dark Elf to turn on Alice with a barely focused effort and things would get dire. Alice tried not to let it gnaw at her, but she couldn't help but worry.

[b]"Don't let it bother you, Alice. You did fantastic,"[/b] Ursaren commented before sipping his tea. It was smooth, warm, and it felt refreshing and delightful after such a long time underground and in a place riddled with death prior to it all. That Rog town was devastated, and Ursaren wished it wasn't a such case. After another few gulps he placed the tea down, making the passing statement of [b]"Delicious."[/b] He let that sit in the air for a moment before he actually spoke.

[b]"I remember back when I was learning restorative magic I actually burned my palms doing so,"[/b] Ursaren started his explanation. [b]"My group was chock-full of adventurers with valor, and we had just been roaming around when we got attacked in the dead of night by a group of raving badgers and wolves. We managed ourselves well, but everyone came out a little worse for wear. Nobody lost a finger, thankfully, but everyone did need some form of healing."[/b] Another pause, the silence filled by the passing of tea sipping, before it continued. [b]"Needless to say, a beginner like me shouldn't have tried healing so many wounded at once. My hands and fingers had a nasty sunburn on them, and it took a fair few days to overcome the pain."[/b]

Ursaren chuckled before making a little joke. [b]"Kind of funny when you think about it. Being hurt by restorative magic."[/b]

Alice nodded cordially at the old man's reverie, sipping from her own drink. She enjoyed it while it lasted, though she couldn't help but notice the lack of details. 

[color=royalblue]"I had no idea divine magic could do that, but I suppose it makes sense."[/color] arcane magic rarely had this problem, the amount of power a wizard could summon was often far superior to that a god could bestow as she discovered the last time she had... channelled a god's power she supposed. She hadn't exactly had control over it like Ursaren was describing though. [color=royalblue]"Usaren, do you have any ideas on what I should do to help the village tomorrow? Without much knowledge of enchanting structures nor spirit for casting at the moment my arcane powers seem a little useless. And since I don't exactly bear the frame for manual labour I find myself at a loss."[/color]

[b]"There are likely many ways you can help the people here, Alice,"[/b] Ursaren's voice echoed throughout the room. [b]"Use of the Arcane has many uses I'd imagine. At the very least, you can handle yourself in a fight. Maybe you can just offer to keep watch over the town and relieve a guard of his shift? It's not the most entertaining past-time, but it would be something to show you wish to help protect. It gives you a good image."[/b]

Ursaren paused for a moment before he brought up a new idea. [b]"I think this town has a fair bit of sick and wounded, so I'll be offering my talents there to help them. Maybe you can tag along, learn a thing or two about divine magic? Maybe understanding the use of the divine will help you master the arcane."[/b]

Alice nodded. Her god, Ragnarok, wasn't exactly the healing kind of god and he only bestowed his power in the direst of times however that isn't to say she would go amiss. She knew her way around bandages, splinting and stitching, even basic tinctures and herbology. And even if she didn't assist in the magic department that's not to say she wouldn't learn anything, and it was also important to be seen in the presence of one doing good. She agreed to accompany the old bear tomorrow just as Geradin came in with her dinner, which she barely restrained herself from falling upon in an un-ladylike manner after the last few days of exertion. 

Tomorrow indeed.

[Shoutouts to [@The Fated Fallen] for being the cool person I worked with to make this.]