Xaviex pushed his way deeper into the train just to see what he could see. Ulrik was placed in a makeshift stable aboard one of the freight cars, most likely fast asleep as the giant lizard was prone to do, and Astowyn was meditating while there was a calm moment to do so. This left the mage to his own devices. So, without much effort to resist, his curious nature drove him to leave the room.<br/><br/>He found himself in a lounge car, conveniently not too far from the food and alcohol, with still few occupants. Magnus, or so Xaviex was under the impression of at least, was putting a game board of some kind away. "Master Magnus, would you honor me with your company?"<br/><br/>Magnus looked up from the board he was stowing away, brushing aside some of his hair away with a finger upon standing back up, the chest that held the variety of games shut and stowed away again. "Oh, certainly. We didn't get a chance to really make a proper introduction at the station. You met with some of the others before, if I'm not mistaken?" He recalled Verigan greeting them before paying for the tickets to the train, and at least knew that the tall man in the odd mask was an accomplice of sorts to Atisha. He trusted her to pick good company, and by extension, he figured that anyone Verigan brought along couldn't be too bad.<br/><br/>He offered Xaviex a hand, his free one coming to rest on his hip. "So, you know, welcome! I think Atisha and Larteis are somewhere around here. Her friend with the cane probably isn't too far off." He hadn't bumped into too many others yet, so a little extra company would be nice to have for the ride.<br/><br/>With an easy smile parting his lips, Xaviex grasped his new comrade's hand with gentle firmness. "Indeed I have met some of the others. I assisted young Larties with some disreputable sorts in the city." He brandished a simple glass bottle of a sweet raspberry juice he "borrowed" from the food car. "Might I interest you in a drink? Some say this has too much of a tart taste, but with some experimenting, I feel I've brought out the underlying sweetness in the raspberries."<br/><br/>Returning the smile, Magnus shook Xaviex's hand and nodded. "Ah, that's very nice of you. It's good to know he's got folks looking out for him. Sure, there's a dragon, but I don't think he'd fit in some places." He lowered his hand again, and upon seeing the bottle, showed a good deal of interest. "Oh, that sounds lovely. I'd love one, thank you." Berries were wonderful, and he had no problems with more tart flavors.<br/><br/>Xaviex produced two small glasses and poured for them both. He slid one cup to Magnus and raised his glass for the customary clinking of the glasses tradition that Xaviex had grown so fond of. "So, tell me friend, what brings you on this journey? As it is, we seem to have some mutual interests." He sat down in a comfortable cushioned chair awaiting Magnus's story.<br/><br/>With a full glass, Magnus raised his cup to Xaviex's, allowing the glasses to make that satisfying noise. He felt a good bit of amusement at toasting over nothing with just fruit juice, but it was still a fun little gesture to make. The other's question about his journey dampened the immediate mirth to a degree, but he did try to stay in higher spirits. "Ah, where to begin...To summarize as much as I can, my family's been attacked. Some people with some very strange beliefs tried to kill me, and then burned down my home. We've tracked down a location of apparent importance to them, and now, we're headed right towards it."<br/><br/>He paused, sat down, and took a drink before continuing. "I suppose I'm hoping to find out who they really are, and why they're doing this. And if I can, I'm going to put a stop to it. A bit of a far-fetched goal, but who knows. Anything is possible."<br/><br/>The juice swirled as Xaviex spun the glass. It was certainly dire, perhaps more so than he had thought. With a sad smile, he spoke with assurance. "I am truly sorry for your losses. This appears to be just one of things we have in common." The wooden chair Xaviex sat upon creaked as he adjusted and brought the glass to his lips. "Ahhh, I believe I've outdone myself." A wistful look crossed his Alftarian features as he chuckled to a joke no one knew the answer to. "I awoke with no memory of my past. The only thing that I do know from that day is that an unnatural amount of magic was expelled nearly minutes before I woke there. I woke to feel the leftover energy coursing all throughout the area. The glass golem I travel with is actually an old friend who's soul is bound to the vessel. We both think that our circumstances lead to the same person." He paused, purposefully making eye contact with Magnus. "And now, I believe that our circumstances might tie with yours. I've no evidence yet, but I think soon I shall."<br/><br/>Magnus listened intently, taking the occasional sip as Xaviex explained his reasons for being there. Apparently, there were things that they were both after, perhaps coming from the same source. After another drink, he set his glass down and linked his fingers together, brows furrowed as he was told of the circumstances behind Xaviex's own hunt. "Huh, can't really imagine what exactly happened. Magic isn't exactly by strong suit." He shrugged a little, considering what it could have been. Some sort of new spell development backfiring? There was no way for him to be sure. "What do you think ties us together, then? You think the people that attacked me did that to you, or?"<br/><br/>"Well, Astowyn is originally of the Alftar, and one of significance. At least, he was before." He cleared his throat. "He found himself at odds with a sorcerer named Sessiden the Red Dread. They met in battle and Sessiden struck a mortal wound. I assisted in the alchemical infusion that bound Astowyn's soul to the glass golem." Xaviex leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table between he and Magnus. "The point however, is the magical signature left behind. All magic has a small after effect that lingers and it's unique for each mage, Whether on a person or on the environment a mage casts in, it is always there. Some casters are capable of hiding it, but others have a signature too powerful to mitigate. The blow that struck Astowyn held the same signature that this does." He traced the tattoo that lined his face. "That signature is the same as the one that lingers ever-so slightly in your aura."<br/><br/>"My aura?" Magnus asked, sounding rather blatantly confused. He knew that one could detect the essence of another with the right sort of ethereal power, but his was one that would be very much without magic of its own. "Well, I would never have noticed it myself. Tell me, what precisely does this signature tell you, other than that whatever might have left it behind might be related to whoever did that to you?" He had been attacked by magic in the initial assassination attempt, but by no sorcerer who went by the name that Xaviex was telling him of. "One of the men that attacked me was an Alftar by the name of Soren Vasaar. He did use a spell or two, but none of them really left a mark...Unless you're seeing the signature somewhere around here?" He waved his hand over his midsection, in the area where one of the assassin's knives had struck him before. Perhaps the knife was enchanted and carried the signature of Sessiden? If so, there was a more definitive link to be uncovered.<br/><br/>Xaviex considered this for a long moment. There were many implications here, and it was a priority to be certain of what he was saying. He studied Magnus closely, his eyes flickering back to their charcoal color as he concentrated. "It could be possible that both Sessiden and Soren are drawing from the same arcane well, so to speak. That could, potentially, create a similar signature, especially if they drew their magic from a dark source of power. As for the effect that lingers in your aura; it looks like they emanate from these areas." His hand tracing over three different places. "But it looks most severe on your abdomen."<br/><br/>"Then it probably has to do with an injury I got. Soren threw some sort of dagger at me after things started to go bad. I couldn't tell if it was enchanted or not, but it sure didn't feel good either way." Magnus frowned a little remembering the sensations of being stabbed by a serrated throwing knife and having it torn away. Potions and magics helped his wound seal itself before it became severe, but just remembering it made him cringe visibly. "I don't suppose this kind of signature can be tracked? And if so, is there any way to remove it?"<br/><br/>Taking a moment to ponder, Xaviex sipped his beverage. "It is possible to erase the effects from your aura, but not without some effort." He placed his glass softly on the table and began to tap his finger in concentration. "We would need some specific ingredients for a purification ritual. We would need to find the origins of the magic as well. Both would be easy enough to acquire, just time consuming. As for tracking the caster; you would need a mage powerful with divining. That, unfortunately, is not I."<br/><br/>"I see. That's too bad," Magnus responded, finishing off his own drink. "It'll be something to do, for sure, but not until after we've gotten to the bottom of all of this." He wondered what the signature could be doing, if anything, and felt somewhat uneasy considering the possibility of it acting as a sort of location tracker. Could they, whoever they really were, see him coming even at that moment? Was he heading head first into another set trap? He could not know. But if he was, then he was at least confident in his companions. They'd all been through a number of threats together, and if his suspicions were right, this was just one more thing for them all to get through together.<br/><br/>"I apologize for bringing up such sore subjects." He replied with sincerity. "It certainly wasn't my intention to dampen your mood." Eyeing the assortment of games, he said. "Would you enjoy a game? You may choose. I know many and more through my travels."<br/><br/>Magnus raised a hand, casually waving off the concerns. "Oh, don't worry over it. It's hardly the worst thing I've been through these days." He offered a reassuring smile, then nodded at the request for a game. Another go at chess could prove to be a good way to pass some more time on the ride.