Gavin looked from Envy to Ruli as they talked about magic manifesting in elves. Though Narda kept to his side, Envy clearly was still bothered by the fire, while the question about the elves had somehow struck Ruli, his thoughts far away. [i]What’s the matter with him?[/i] But when Envy called his name, Gavin nodded at Ruli. “Here. Yeah. Ready,” he said as he rolled up his sleeves to begin, about to follow Ruli out of the tent. 

Kire, meanwhile, watched Ysaryn circle like a bird of prey, wary for any more signs of trouble. She listened as the shadow-elf wondered aloud if negating the blossoming magic using the wards would backfire and make things worse. She turned to Ruli when he addressed her. “I don’t have much to go on,” she admitted, as Gavin spoke to the healers again, distributing the leaves while the others talked it over. “The signature is different. More [i]her[/i], I think. If that makes sense. When there’s a greater power influencing the bearer of the magic, I would detect that signature alongside the individual. Like how Ikegai’s blood-magic was in Akuma, and, for a time, in you, Gavin,” she added, looking at the lad. “The more you had control over the kind of magic you worked, the more [i]you[/i] I can sense you’re your signature.” Gavin nodded, wanting to look unbothered, but the mere memory of Ikegai and Akuma in his head still sent a slight shiver down his spine. “I’d only really know for sure if I can sense the same kind of fire magic if another one manifests.” The Paladin sighed. “Looks like I’ll be staying around here for a while, maybe overnight, though I’ll probably need to go back and forth between here and home just to make sure Etta’s okay. How long will the wards take this time?”

“Couple of hours? Maybe shorter, if all goes well. Camp’s smaller than the Palace,” Gavin answered. “But we better start now.” 

While he followed Ruli as they began their work, Kire turned to Ysaryn, Narda, and Daryll. “This might be a long night, especially since I don’t really know what else might go wrong, when, or [i]if[/i] anything else might happen. But if any of you choose to stay here, I would appreciate the extra set of eyes. I know you have your own mission at Narda’s, too,” she added, turning to Daryll. 
“I can stay longer, see if anything else develops, though I might go back with Narda when she decides to go home,” the scholar answered. “The woman in the vision, what if her distress has something to do with what’s happening here? Maybe she’s gaining fire powers, too. Tracking her down might offer some insight, or warn us if this will become more widespread.”
The giantess grunted. “I am likewise concerned about if this incident is isolated here or if the Wild Meadows will start seeing pockets of magic sprouting up like this. Depending on how long the warding will take, I may stay until evening, then go back home.” 
Kire nodded at them, then turned to Ysaryn. “How about you? A lot of waiting, not a lot of fighting, I know.”