Mark sat calmly, trying to put her at ease. He smiled at her question of his being a priest conflicting with being a user of magic. "Many priests know holy magic, which, although functioning differently than all other brands, is still magic. For all that though, I'm trying to pick up arcane magic with mixed results, and I was recently introduced to nature magic, though I haven't had much time to experiment with that one. As to your question as to what the pulse was, we only have speculations, but they're rooted in fact. Turns out I was fooled during my separation from the rest of the Sentinels. I was captured by Khal Rhyder, and I met a man who asked me to help him when I escaped. I did and he revealed himself to be an arch-being. I, being who I am, assumed that meant angel. Therefore when he asked for my help, I was all too happy to. In return, he introduced me to nature magic. I then recovered the artifact he wanted, then we went our separate ways. I recently found out I helped one of a race that wants our destruction. I'm assuming the pulse was them using the artifact for whatever it is the purpose was."
Mark's head was down by now, head in his hands. "If we all die...it's my fault. I can't believe I was so stupid to blindly follow someone who I knew nothing about." He was quiet for a time, then changed tack. "I can understand what you did, running away. What people don't understand, they fear. From what I know about your father, he is not a fan of magic in the best of circumstances...and in his daughter? He would have been terrified for his own position..." He fell silent, lost in his own thoughts.
