[What do you mean 'can't understand'? Anyone would have done the same thing! Wouldn't you do that if I were in the same situation?]
"No." the other replied, matter of factly. "I believe you are capable enough to defend yourself. Putting myself in jeopardy to save another is counterproductive for both of us. Let us say we are in a mission. If we both get injured by trying to save the other, then the mission would have been a failure," he explained. "In that situation, it is better to leave the other behind, rather than getting pulled down along with him."
[Just how did your mother raise you up? Is she trying to make a mass murderer out of you?] Thought Seb without thinking.
"Eh? But isn't that the truth? The priority of all living things is to keep themselves safe, if they have no capacity to do so, then isn't it inevitable for that species to die out?"
Dorin spoke with such a straight face that Seb shivered involuntarily.
[No. If that was true, then we wouldn't have any rabbits left.” Seb frowned. “It's like saying that all non combatants in a kingdom are destined to die out. And if that is so, then who would be there to do the menial tasks? To grow things, mend things, sell, cook, clean for other people?]
"Aren't those things that every person can do for themselves? But of course I didn't mean it that literally. It's just something I read in one of the philosophical books mother brought back home..."
[thus the reason why you should talk to more people, not get stuck in a mountain somewhere, filling your head with thoughts like that each day... there are different people in this world with different believes and opinions. Listening to them can mean a whole world of difference.]
"Oh, we did talk about it, my friend Eirian and mother and I, that's why mother called for Marcus, to toughen me up."
[You're giving me goose bumps... my God... Dorin... What have they been teaching you?] Dorin took Seb's arm and pulled up the sleeve to look at his skin.
"Woah, you really do have goose bumps!" Seb pulled his arm away. "But I see nothing wrong with what my mother said, that's why I'm telling you now, you don't need to defend me."
[Not like I wanted to defend you... If it wasn't for that geist...] he gasped, looking at the slate. [How the hell do you turn this thing off?!?] he turned the slate around, but Dorin had already read the words that were written on it.
"A geist?" he asked, "Did my aunt put you through it?"
Seb fell silent, the slate turned upside down.
"Stupid." Dorin starts laughing. "If you really are under a geist, then you wouldn't be able to mention it right now, most especially to me!"
Sebastian's eyes widen. He looks at the slate and shows it to Dorin. [The fuck... Is that true? That is true, isn't it? Then what the hell did I do that for? and... why wasn't I affected?]
"I remember Marcus called you a 'Silver', is this true?" Seb hesitated, then finally nodded, the slate turned down. "When I was younger, I heard a story about a line of mages called ‘Silvers’ or ‘Silver Tongues’," said Dorin, "I heard they are very strong enchanters who could command people with their voice... That they are very beautiful..." Dorin paused to look as Seb.
Seb felt pissed.
"They are also, very immune to geists and other suggestions to the mind," he continued with a smile. "That means you didn't try to save me because you had no choice... You were just... weak."
Seb flinched.
He held the slate tight against his chest, thoughts flying in his head.
"But don't worry," Dorin added, "You are now my sworn brother, so I will take you under my wing and my protection."
Sebastian Revious, stared at his roommate, cleared his mind, and handed him the slate.
[Please tell me how to turn this thing off.] was writen on it.
"Why? don't you like it?" Dorin asked a bit surprised.
[It is saying too much.]
Dorin laughed again.
"That's right, I never thought someone as expressionless as you would think like that." he took the slate from Seb who first made sure nothing revealing was written on it before letting go. "I'll add a spell so you can turn it off and show only what you want to be written. Just think of what you want to say and it will reflect on the slate" Again, runes appeared in the air and sank into the surface of the slate. "Try it now." said Dorin with a smile.
[Dorin] was written on the slab.
[I pity you.]
Dorin looked up at Seb, but before he could say another word, Seb took the slate from his hands and held it up to his face. [Thank you for this. It is a great help to me.] Then he went to bed and closed the drapes.