"Wha ...what? That is impossible! Why do you think that" Sarina asked, backing away from him. "That's impossible. I thought that you said anyone who practiced magic had to come from a specific bloodline."
Caspar just looked at her, waiting.
"Wait. You can't possibly think that" she said, guessing his thoughts. "I am from Bamm. I was born and raised there."
"What about your parents" he asked, looking into her eyes and trying to gauge her.
"My parents? Well that's ridiculous. They obviously are from ..Bamm" she said and looked down, trying to recall a time she had talked to her parents about their earlier years. "I mean, they would have to be" she said slowly.
Watching her confirmed Caspar's suspicions. Her parent's must be from a magical community like this one. But she still looked confused.
"You didn't know" he said finally.
"I am not even sure that it is true" she said, looking past him at nothing.
"It is the only reasoning that makes since. Did they not talk about anything with you?"
Caspar watched her as she continued to stare, wondering how her parents could hide something as important as this. He could tell that she desperately wanted to deny it, but how could she if she had done magic.
"How are you sure that I did magic" Sarina asked him. "How are you sure that it wasn't just your own emotions overwhelming you?"
"I do have to admit that I have never met an empath before. But I have developed an affinity to know when I am being manipulated by magic. If you concentrate hard enough, you almost feel the difference on your skin" Caspar explained, running his fingers through his hair a few times.
Sarina looked at him helplessly and Caspar felt his heart clench. Why did she always have this affect on him. He wanted to help her, seeing that all of this was overwhelming to her.
"Do you remember anything strange growing up? Anything you saw that you or your parents could not explain?"
"Everything was very ordinary actually. Almost too ordinary. I was not allowed to go out much, but I always saw it as protectiveness, not secrecy. I don't know why they would hide it from me" Sarina said, looking at him.
He wanted to grab and hold her, she was looking so lost. He settled for reaching for her hand and gently tugging her to the chair to sit down so she could try to think a little better.
"Oh! While I was here, right before the lake, I remember my fingertips shining. I thought some of the golden powder from the dress I was wearing had rubbed off on my hands. Could that have been a sign?"
Caspar nodded. "Some mages when they first begin to try to learn their powers will notice sensations in their hands and fingers, especially when first practicing" he told her.
"There is more" Sarina said and her face looked grave. Caspar waited patiently for her to continue.
"I met someone earlier today while I was at the market."
"Alright" he said slowly, wondering who it could have been to make her beautiful face turn even more serious.
"He said his name was Manfri, and that he was a Keeper" Sarina told him, saying the last word like a question. "He gave me a prophecy."
"A Keeper! You met an actual Keeper. Do you know the people here regard them almost as gods? Nothing is more sacred than a Keeper to them and no magic is more revered."
Sarina just stared at him dazed. He bent down so he could see into her eyes clearly.
"Are you alright?"
Sarina looked back into his misty eyes. "I wish I could describe how confused I feel" she said after a moment.
Caspar smirked at her, a little smile that made her heart flutter. That smile alone helped to ease just a little bit of her fears.
"Maybe you don't have to explain it to me. How about you show me" he suggested and watched her eyebrows pull together in confusion.
He reached out his hands to her, showing his palms. "Try to show me how you feel."
Sarina hesitated and he could tell she had no idea how to even begin.
"Touch my hands, but when you do try to focus on how you are feeling. I am no teacher of magic, but I imagine that might be enough to at least start."
Caspar watched her emotions cross her face, first fearful and then determined. She took a few deep breaths and her eyes fluttered closed. Finally she reached for him and her fingers barely grazed him, but he gasped as he felt the weight of her emotions again.
At first they swirled in his being like a raging tornado of fear, confusion, frustration and sadness. Sarina tightened her grip on his hand and felt the reasons behind some of her emotions as he stared at her face. The fear of the unknown, the fear for her parents. He could almost see their faces in his mind's eye with how strong her feelings came through. Never in his wildest imaginings could he have guessed he would feel so intimately connected with someone. It was a powerful experience. His soul felt like it was touching hers, like they would be kindred spirits until the end of time because of this experience.
Sarina removed her hand from his and she looked up at him. He could feel his tears flowing, but he felt no shame.