Chapter 184 - Aftermath

Sonder woke to the soft glow of a lantern hanging from the low ceiling.

The bed beneath her felt familiar but rougher than usual.

Every muscle in her body protested as she shifted slightly, memories of the mine flooding back—the shifting dirt under her hands, the echo of collapsing stone, and the strain of magic coursing through her.

She glanced around the room in the inn. Sparse as always, the stone walls were bare, carved directly from the mountain itself. A quilted blanket covered her, and the faint, dry scent of earth lingered in the air.

As someone who owned little to nothing, the lack of decoration didn't bother her.

Her thoughts drifted back to the mines—the steady voice of Vell guiding her, the trapped miners she'd sensed, and the moment she finally collapsed, too exhausted to take another step.

"Good. You're awake."

The familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned her head to see Vell leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed. His robe was streaked with grime, his hair slightly tousled, but his red eyes were sharp as ever.

Instinctively, she raised her hands, and for a brief moment, a stream of dirt trickled from her fingertips, scattering onto the floor.

"Whoa there," Vell said, holding up his hands in mock alarm. "We don't need more dirt in here."

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she quickly lowered her hands.

"I'll get someone to clean that up later," Vell said, stepping closer.

Sonder pushed herself upright, wincing as a sharp ache shot through her shoulders. "How long was I out?"

"A few hours," Vell replied, pulling a chair closer and sitting down. "Long enough for the dwarves to clear the tunnels and for the celebrations to start." He chuckled. "You missed a lot of toasts in your honor."

"In my honor?" She repeated, bewildered.

"Word travels fast underground," he said, his smirk widening. "It's not every day an apprentice mage helps save dozens of lives. 'Blackbird Sonder' is something of a hero to the miners now."

Her cheeks flushed crimson, nearly matching the color of Vell's eyes, and she looked down at her hands, still streaked with faint traces of dirt. "I didn't do it alone," she murmured.

"Of course not," Vell said, his tone light but sincere. "But your part was vital. Without your magic, they'd still be blindly digging. Without your effort stabilizing the tunnels, they might've lost more lives than they could bear to imagine."

Sonder stayed quiet, unsure how to respond.

"You've got strength," Vell continued, his voice softening. "Real strength and stamina. What you did back there—that wasn't beginner's luck. That was raw talent, and more importantly, determination."

She hesitated, then met his gaze. "Do you really think I could ever be as great as you?"

Vell leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I don't think it, Sonder. I know it. In time, you could replace me as the Black Wizard—or forge your own path. Maybe you'll be the first Pink or Purple Wizard. Who knows?"

Sonder smiled faintly. Since traveling with Vell, she had grown stronger—far stronger than she ever thought possible.

"Don't let it go to your head," he said with a grin. "You've still got a long way to go. Learning never stops—not for me, not for you, not for anyone serious about their craft. But time is on our side. There's no rush."

Sonder nodded slowly. "I'm ready to learn."

"Good," Vell said, rising from the chair. "Rest a little longer. After that, maybe we'll grab something to eat. Even you had to eat meat instead of sunlight down here," he teased. "Not much sunlight to go around inside a mountain."