The preparations began not long after.
There was not much for Vell to pack.
He had lost most of his things in the fight against Endrith, and since then, there had been no time to collect more.
Sonder, however, had a few things.
So Vell watched her as she packed.
She had several dresses, all of them very fine.
There was also a nice staff. It looked as though it had been scorched at the top, but otherwise, it seemed to be a powerful tool.
There was also a sword. Even sheathed, it was difficult not to notice it. When drawn, it glowed with its own light.
Vell looked at everything with some curiosity.
"You collected all of this?"
"I did."
She opened her bag.
There were a few jars. Three of them.
Two were almost empty, and Vell could see that the remnants were all different colours.
He picked one up.
"What are these?"
"I am not sure, but it is food," Sonder answered. "After all this time, it is still edible."
He put the jar back.
"You've been collecting quite a lot, haven't you?"
"I did."
He looked at her things again.
They were proof of a journey he had not been there to see.
He had missed all of this.
Vell sighed.
"I lost almost everything."
He picked up her staff and examined it more closely.
"Endrith destroyed my bag and my staff."
His fingers moved over the staff for a moment before he carefully put it back.
"The Yellow Mage told me my robe was beyond recovery when I arrived. I suppose I can't complain. I was in considerably worse condition than the robe."
He looked at the things again.
"I wonder if Hiraeth is all right."
He had a few stray thoughts about the sprite, but he didn't know what to do.
"I don't even know if I could remake everything right now. My power isn't exactly what it used to be. A new robe would be particularly annoying."
Sonder waited for an explanation.
"It isn't as simple as finding some cloth and sewing it together. First, I would need some suitably high-quality fabric. It would also have to be comfortable. It isn't all about magic. If I am going to spend years wearing something, I would prefer not to be uncomfortable. Then the fabric has to be enchanted. The thread has to be enchanted. Every stitch has to be made properly. Then the symbols have to be formed correctly, and all of them have to work together, with multiple patterns functioning as one. It would be a drag. And don't even ask me about money. I don't suppose you have any money with you?"
"No," Sonder said. "I came by some during my journey, but I gave it all away."
Vell sighed again.
"All that for just a robe. Making a staff wouldn't be nearly as much effort. But I did love my old one. It may have been my most cherished possession."
For a moment, he said nothing.
He could still remember holding it.
Its weight.
Its shape.
The feeling of magic moving through it.
The sacred flame, made from a branch of a holy tree that had been felled long ago.
It was gone.
He simply stared for another moment and accepted things as they were.
"I suppose I'll have to make another one eventually."