Chapter-59 How To Deal With A New Mage

The tension in the Velvet Veil lingered like a fog that refused to dissipate. The encounter with Crystal had shifted the atmosphere from sultry decadence to a tight coil of unspoken concern.

Selora stood near the bar, arms crossed, her fox-like features sharp with thought as she exchanged a quiet glance with Frederique.

Crystal sat close to Frederique, curled into the plush chair like a pale ghost, her square-cut white hair reflecting the low lights of the Veil. Sylvan, the satyr, loitered at a distance, feigning patience but never letting his dark eyes drift far from the girl.

Selora whispered, her voice low and grave.

" I don't know how to handle this. She's a mage."

Frederique blinked.

" What?"

She kept her voice hushed but sharp enough for Selora to catch the rising concern in her tone.

Selora's eyes narrowed, scanning Crystal once more as if trying to see the threads of magic wrapped around her.

" Mages aren't just the rarest. They're... the most dangerous. Reality bends for them. They rewrite it. I've never met a new one. And there's no protocol for dealing with them. Only rumors and fear."

Frederique's gaze returned to Crystal, studying her carefully. The girl looked anything but dangerous... bruised, confused, lost. But the memory of the shriveled corpse she described lingered like a shadow.

" Then what do we do?"

" We wait," Selora said grimly.

" The sun will rise soon. I'll contact Solas. He might know what to do."

As Selora stepped back, Frederique turned her full attention to Crystal. The girl hadn't spoken since recounting her story, eyes glassy as she processed everything.

Sylvan shifted forward again, his hooves clicking softly against the floor as he took a step toward her. Frederique immediately intercepted his path, her aura flaring... not seductive, not gentle, but commanding.

" You stay right where you are," Frederique said, her voice carrying the weight of authority.

Sylvan grinned, leaning lazily against the back of a chair.

" Possessive, are we? She's not yours, Redcap. You're wasting your energy. The girl agreed to come with me. Freely. She knows what she wants, don't you, Crystal?"

Crystal looked up, her expression still blank but with a spark of something... defiance or confusion... hidden behind her dark eyes.

She said nothing.

Frederique crouched beside her, keeping her voice soft but firm.

" You don't owe him anything, Crystal. I know you're scared, confused. But you have a choice. You're not a prize. You're not his."

Crystal blinked, as if trying to understand.

" I...I don't feel scared," she murmured.

" I feel... empty. Like I'm waiting for something. Like none of this is real. I don't understand why you're all so worried."

Frederique gave her a sympathetic nod but felt a chill run through her spine. That wasn't normal. The girl wasn't afraid, not even in the face of all this madness.

" You're not broken, Crystal. You're strong. But people like him... " she tilted her head toward Sylvan, who feigned offense.

"They see your strength and want to twist it. Don't let them."

Time passed slowly. Selora remained near the windows, occasionally glancing at the eastern sky, waiting for dawn. Frederique stayed with Crystal, speaking to her quietly, keeping Sylvan at bay with nothing but her presence.

Finally, just as the first golden rays touched the horizon, a doors inside the Veil appear as if the plane was teared open. Solas stepped inside, his presence as calm and composed as ever, but his golden-green eyes narrowed with understanding the moment they met Selora's. He approached them with measured steps.

"You were waiting for me?" Solas said softly, glancing from Selora to Frederique, then finally to Crystal.

His gaze lingered on her longer, studying the subtle hum of magic around her.

Selora exhaled, tension leaving her shoulders slightly.

"She's a mage. Or... something close. We don't know what to do."

Solas knelt slightly to meet Crystal's eyes, his expression unreadable but gentle.

"You're a special kind of being, child. A mage. A rare soul capable of bending the world to your will, whether you realize it or not."

Crystal frowned.

"But I didn't do anything. I... "

She faltered.

"I didn't mean to kill him."

"Intent doesn't matter with your kind," Solas replied softly.

"What matters is control. And for your sake, you need guidance."

Solas's golden-green eyes lingered on Crystal, his expression careful yet decisive.

"She needs to be taken somewhere safe. A Chantry."

Selora tilted her head, frowning.

"A... what? I've never heard of that."

Frederique shook her head as well, sharing the same confusion.

"Is that some kind of Fey thing?"

Solas gave a soft sigh, shaking his head.

"No. A Chantry is a sanctuary. A place where mages... like her... can be trained, guided. Protected, in theory."

His gaze turned back to Crystal, who sat quietly, her pale hair catching the low light as she tried to process his words.

"I only know of one. It's the only Chantry I have ever dealt with directly. They follow a Tradition called the Cult of Ecstasy."

" Cult? "

Frederique's face twisted with skepticism, her arms folding protectively across her chest.

"You're sending her to a cult?"

" It's not what it sounds like," Solas replied, though his tone remained cautious.

" The Cult of Ecstasy teaches a specific approach to magic, one rooted in sensation, emotion, and altered states of perception. They believe in pushing the boundaries of the mind and body to unlock magical potential."

His voice dipped slightly.

"But I don't know if Crystal belongs to their Tradition. Not all mages are the same. Their magic comes from belief... different Traditions hold different truths about how power works."

Selora scowled.

" Then how do you know they won't... "

" They will take her in," Solas interrupted, his tone heavier.

" They have to. She's one of them, even if her magic doesn't match their ways. Mages deal with their own. It's not a matter of kindness but necessity. If they don't help her, the risk of her losing control again... "

He paused, his eyes narrowing.

"You know what happened before. If left unchecked, she could fracture reality itself. Even if she means no harm."

Crystal shifted uncomfortably, her voice small.

" I don't understand... I didn't try to hurt anyone. I was just... "

Her voice caught, her hands curling into fists on her lap.

" I just wanted him to stop."

Frederique crouched in front of her again, keeping her voice calm.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Crystal. You're not a monster."

Solas, though softer, remained firm.

" But you do need knowledge. And that's what the Chantry can offer."

Frederique hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly.

"You're sure about this? You trust these people?"

"I don't trust any mage," Solas admitted, his golden-green eyes sharp.

" But they are the only ones who can help her. I cannot teach her. Neither can you. And the longer she stays here, the more dangerous her presence becomes... for herself and everyone around her."

Silence settled, broken only by the low thrum of music from deeper in the Veil.

Frederique exhaled slowly, reluctantly stepping back.

Crystal finally nodded, though uncertainty still clouded her face.

" If you're sure... I'll go."

Solas nodded and extended a hand.

"Come with me. I'll take you to them now."

Crystal glanced back at Frederique once, a silent plea lingering in her pale eyes.

Frederique offered a small, reassuring smile.

" I'll see you around. You're not alone anymore."

The door to the Velvet Veil creaked open as Solas led her out into the early morning chill.

The pale light of dawn kissed the horizon, the city outside still hushed and waiting for the day to begin.

Crystal hesitated in the threshold, taking one last glance at Frederique before the door closed behind them.

And just like that, she was gone.