"Something, yes, but not what you were hoping for, I'm afraid."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, I found Katrin's father, but I'm afraid it wasn't good news. It sounds like he's disowned her. There's no trace of her at their estate."

"Disowned her? She's his daughter, for Saint's sake."

"The Stormwinds are different people from you and me," Stanislav explained.

"I'll remind you I'm a Stormwind, now," she protested.

"Yes, but you know what I mean. To them, everything is about appearance and power. Prestige, if you will. A failure in the family would bring disgrace to his line. I imagine he's trying to distance himself from her as much as possible."

"What about her mother?"

"She died years ago," he said, "apparently burned to death."

"I'm told that's common for Fire Mages," said Natalia. "Tell me, was she a Sartellian?"

"She was, how did you know?"

"They're the most powerful of Fire Mages, it only stands to reason."

"I'm still not sure how a Fire Mage burns to death. Aren't they immune to fire?"

"No," she replied, "no more so than the rest of us, and fire consumes."

"I'm not sure I understand," Stanislav said.

"Mages fuel their magic by their innate energy," Natalia explained. "Power is consumed as spells are cast. It regenerates over time, of course, but if you use too much at once, you can run out."

"Then what happens? Do your spells just fizzle out?"

"No," she said, "it starts to destroy your body. In most mages, it might manifest as a nosebleed or bleeding ears or eyes, but in a Fire Mage, it can manifest as flames. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as fireproof robes, and a fire like that is very difficult to extinguish."

"Aren't fire and water magic opposites?" Stanislav asked.

"They are, why?"

"Wouldn't they cancel each other out? What I mean to say is, wouldn't the child of a Fire and Water Mage union be powerless?"

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" offered Natalia. "And yet, the Sartellians and Stormwinds have been doing it for generations, and they're the most powerful of mages."

"And yet," added Stanislav, "it doesn't always work, hence Katrin, who couldn't master her magic."

"I suppose nothing is guaranteed in life," mused Natalia.

"I'm sorry I didn't bring better news," he said, "though I did make some further enquiries. Unfortunately, they didn't pan out either."

"What kind of enquiries?" Natalia asked.

"It occurred to me that other students must have failed over the years. I looked into it and discovered a few names, but none of them were ever seen again, though of course, they could have changed their names."

"A pity you couldn't learn more," she said. "I'm afraid we'll have to give up trying to find Katrin. I only hope she's doing all right, wherever she is."

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" he asked.

"No," she said, "you've done all you can for now."

He watched her a moment, deep in thought.