[color=0072bc]“Miss Eilis, you must have read extensively.  It would be my most profund delight to exchange ideas and theories.  You are indeed a mystery.” [/color] 
[color=f49ac2]"Well even if you're a cog in the great machine of the Empire, you have to know enough to do what you're supposed to do." [/color]Eilis replied with a shrug of the shoulders. It was clear with the way she spoke the sentence that the thought had been forced upon exhaustion. A line repeated over and over until either acceptance or submission to it followed.
[color=f49ac2]"I'm sorry, it's just...I don't know how things are done in Belisio, but in Vaim your birth determines your rank in society. It is layered you see, people rise and fall but never beyond their station. I am a farmer's daughter, a peasant. Eventhough I was 'blessed' with magic I am still lowborn. Mages must be reported to the Empire, when my powers showed themselves my parents reported me as good citizens should. They offered me up to the Empire to feed themselves. Also my powers and potential future as a mage for the Empire would promise them a future, a life beyond starving."[/color] She smiled wryly as she guessed his followup question.
[color=f49ac2]"You're thinking of how it can be possible that farmers starve?"[/color] She spoke aloud, voicing Arn's potential questions.  
[color=f49ac2]"Eventhough my parents were farmers their precious land belonged to a rich landowner who simply lived off the taxes and rents. My parents paid their rent by giving up most of their crops in payment leaving barely enough for themselves and for next years harvest."[/color] She sighed that time practically faded from her memory.
[color=f49ac2]"Still it was enough, a life of simple happiness."[/color] The expression on her face fell as her voice continued in sadness.
[color=f49ac2]"I can't even remember what they looked like...all I remember as shapes and the vague fleeting moments of memory. Like your hands. When the officials came to 'collect' me they promised me a new life, a life of learning and knowledge. They more or less ordered me to forget my parents as it belonged to the past and considering I was nothing except a mouth to feed they were better off without me." [/color]She sighed.
[color=f49ac2]"The Coven was a place of study and refuge. A place of learning, we were taught all sorts of knowledge and magical handling. It was a family in its own way. Each year men of noble birth and standing would come and 'select' their particular favourite. Having a patron would mean the possibility to study at the great Arcane Academy for services rendered."[/color] She swallowed.
[color=f49ac2]"The year Varania was selected we all believed she had gotten a fairytale's ending. A life of eternal happiness. I would soon learn of what they had done to her...let's just say that fleeing from reality was the better option."[/color] She ended honestly explaining enough to make Arn understand that she had paid a high price for her knowledge.
"You're a spoke in the wheel of the Great Empire! You will serve her with your body and mind!" Frustration and anger furrowed her brow.
[color=f49ac2]"I refuse to die for rich bastards who simply crush those lesser than them beneath their boot."[/color] She took hold of Arn's hand again, this time the connection allowed a small glimpse into Eilis's mind. 
It was a fraction or a couple of seconds, stalled by time and perhaps slowed due to the connection.

[i]A couple of figures clad similarly, rich supple dark fabric with a velvet sheen about it, with the taller figure grasping a young woman by the wrist holding it up and staring intently at her hand. 
Terror could be seen in her eyes as fear was emanating from her, her lips pleading, begging for mercy. Before a loud snap sounded and a bloodcurdling scream followed, with one of the fingers bend awkwardly backwards before the images ended.[/i]

Eilis snapped from her thoughts and quickly returned to Arn's request.
[color=f49ac2]"Sorry, I grew too distracted by my own musings. But I would be happy to talk with you about magic and whatever questions or theories you might have."[/color] She promised as she settled down a bit again. [color=f49ac2]"My time is completely yours as I don't have any idea as to what I would do when I reached Belisio. I hadn't actually planned that far ahead. I didn't really expect I would get that far."[/color]