The Key

[Disciple Cain]

Mathras raised an eyebrow and almost snickered at how suddenly such a strange question came out. The adorable childlike curiosity almost made him smile, but instead he cleared his throat and answered her question.
"We come from a land where Sol is not always seen-- it is hiding behind the clouds; the sun does not darken our skin like it does yours."
It was strange, though, that she seemed to be looking for something and could've asked that question to anyone else. The child approached him and looked to him, but Mathras was still puzzled as to why.
'That wasn't all you meant to ask...' he thought, and so he waited for her to speak again.

[Onya]

Kolli thought the man might rebuke her like so many other adults when he raised his eyebrow. Instead he answered her question -- but half of it didn't make sense. Who was Sol, why was it hiding, and what did that have to do with the sun not darkening their skin? She also thought the man seemed puzzled, although it was a little hard to tell with that strange aura tugging at her senses.

She looked back at her father, who was whispering to her mother while glancing angrily at the pale men. She still held her father's arm, but not nearly as tightly as before. She tugged at her belt, wishing she hadn't approached the robed man and that he would leave her alone. Yet she still wanted to ask a few questions... She decided her parents wouldn't stop talking to each other for awhile, and the man wasn't going to leave, especially since he had shown so much interest in her for his scary trip to save the world.

"Where are you from?" she finally asked, struggling a little to keep herself from squirming. "Is it the same place as the other man? Why are your auras so messed up?"

But then Rammte took notice of the quiet conversation between his daughter and the man who wanted to take her away.
"Kolli! What is he saying to you? Don't listen to what he says, dear: you're staying right here."
His wife Nilsi looked at the robed man, then back to Kolli. "I don't understand... why are you talking to him?"

Kolli was frightened by her parents' reaction. Were they mad at her? Was this man really that much to be feared? She said uncertainly, "I just wanted to know a few things..."
Instinctively, she looked toward the robed man for support.