"Well, if it doesn't require memorizing complex diagrams, I'll probably fare better than an attempt at normal wizardry," he jokes. "Please, go ahead."

She focuses her mind into the place where her powers live and tries to give a copy of her special talent to Terrance. And it works. "Okay I think that worked."

Terrance is suddenly struck by the impression that what Sapphire needs is someone who will remind her to do things for herself, not just for other people.

He mentally reviews their conversation.

"While I do very much appreciate the offers to help, and the talent you've shared with me — in fact, the talent seems remarkably useful — you know that you don't have to offer me things? You're allowed to just enjoy your time in my city, and use the library, and come up here to ask questions or chat without any of that."

"I know, I'm... I spent my life working towards a goal and when I got these powers it meant none of those plans quite applied anymore. So I'm trying to figure out what my life will be like now and being useful is... it's an easy way to try to grab onto something."

"Ah."

He thinks for a moment.

"It might be an easy thing to grab onto, but it probably isn't the best thing to grab onto, at least in terms of your own personal well-being," he ventures. "But in the short term, it makes sense."

"And I'm afraid this will probably undermine my heartfelt message, but I just thought of a wonderful thing to ask you for. Do you think you might be able to learn flight from a whirl-the-wind and share it with me? It's not quite swimming to explore the sea, but it would let me venture where no turtle has gone before."

She giggles. That's a funny image. "Yeah, I was trying to take things more slowly I should go back to that. As for trying to copy from a whirl-the-wind if I meet one I might do that and if I get the ability to fly I'll definitely offer it to you."

"Heh. Thank you, then."

Terrance's path has at this point taken him around the hills and up to the edge of a small copse of trees.

"In the name of taking things slowly, I wonder if you'd like to share some tea with me?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to."

"You might want to cover your ears," he advises.

And then his voice gets loud.

"Margrave, would you come up here, please?"

A few moments later, the same young man from before, holding the remains of a sandwich, makes his way up the rope bridge to Terrance's head.

"Here I am, Terrance."

"Would you fetch some tea for Sapphire and myself? The spiced Loeffer, I think."

"Oh, sure. It will be a few minutes though, so it might be Jassia who brings it up."

"Excellent. Thank you, Margrave."

"I think you'll like Loeffer — don't worry, the flavor is not too strong, despite the name. It's a warm-bodied, fruity tea," he adds to Sapphire.

"I'm okay with strong teas. Sounds like it'll be interesting. It comes from the mountains?"