[i]Without the heat, my fire is no true flame.[/i] Shara thought, staring down at her arm as she walked. [i]But I'd bet it's hard to tell from a distance.[/i] Her mind wandered back to the subject of where the unnamed fort was located. There had to be a library around here somewhere, maybe it would even have maps. 

"What secrets do you hold?" She wispered, running her hand against the wall. Yes, she would have to find the library. What language would the books be written in? What secrets would [i]they[/i] hold? Her stomach rumbled, and Shara decided the library would have to wait. Food, and a good sleep would help her keep a clear mind. But to claim a room first, and take off that dreadful armor. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate what Moir had done for her, but there was no point in wearing armor in the midst of fellow mages. [i]Then again, after that incident with the Terror and that flaming mage, maybe wearing the armor is a good idea. Hopefully he was ok, there was bound to be heale-[/i]

As if thinking of the man acted as a lodestone, Shara's thoughts were interrupted as the fiery mage and a small posse rounded the corner in front of her, nearly colliding. There was...five...in the group. Shara was not sure she considered the fifth a human. Thoughts of demons being summoned, of monsters and destruction popped into her mind. A tinge of panic rose in her chest, and she quickly turned her eyes to the nearest mage, whose fire she had been faking.

"That's a clever imitation. I suppose mimicry is the highest form of flattery?" He said, waving his arm towards the illusion, then grinning at his posse and the...thing. She tried moving the fire as his hand passed near it, but it seemed off somehow. Stiff. She dismissed the illusion.

"Imitation is also a great way of learning, although we are obviously disposed towards different abilities. My flames lack heat, lack life, and I know very little of what I do. I came here, or at least to the forest, hoping to learn." Shara said glancing at the thing once more. It unnerved her, though demons probably didn't wear robes. Nor carry staves. So this was probably not a demon. If it just didn't have those horns, and that tail. And the red skin and eyes didn't help either. She tried her best to imagine they just weren't there. "My name is Shara Vey, and I make illusions."

Shara took half a step back as she addressed the group, preparing to give a grandiose bow. But before she did, she looked at the thing once more, and did not see the thing. At first glance, the horns were gone, as was the tail. In the things place, stood a mostly normal looking man. Just a tad fuzzy in places, and still with the unnatural yellow eyes. Shara froze, eyes wide and mouth slightly open, blatantly staring. She dismissed the disguise she had unwittingly created, then addressed the creature. "And if I may ask, who, or what, are you?"