"A better mind. To be able to learn quickly, quicker than anyone else."

"Useful," says the Khan. "And well thought out. I assume you couldn't manage anything grander?"

She shakes her head. "My potential is apparently rather small."

"Well optimized, then. Good," says the Khan. He turns to Altan. "Someone for you to learn from, I suspect."

Altan rolls her eyes.

"What was your wish, Altan?" She already knows the Khan's - he'd wished for cheap and fast flight. Useful in the wide steppes.

"Ah, nothing very useful," the girl says. "I wished someone away."

"Sounds likely to lead to a useful power, at least."

"Ah." She pauses, then: "I can delete things. But... Only small things."

"So far, at least. Should be very useful if you work on it." And implies that's one of the skills Narangerel can learn. The usual wisdom is that all powers used by magicals are generally usable, just expensive and difficult...

"That's my hope, at least..."

"Have you tried deleting only part of something?"

" - No. I... I guess the only problem with that would be my own mind..." she says, furrowing her brow.

"Something to practice later, maybe," the Khan says.

Narangerel nods, and lets the conversation drop.

"Do you have plans now that you're a magical?" the Khan asks Narangerel.

She makes a so-so gesture. "Many. But... For now, I'm going to learn as much as I can. Eventually... I'd like to start working towards uniting the clans. It's ridiculous that we're so scattered, and allows our neighbors to take advantage of us."

"A lofty goal. And a worthy one," says the Khan. "You'll have my support in that."

"You have my thanks," she says, smiling a bit.

He hums, and turns the conversation to more mundane things.

She allows it.

It's time for rest soon enough; her son's fussing, and the Khan has other business. Still, he invites her to stay with his band for now.

Narangerel accepts, though warns him she'll be moving on soon enough.

Fortunately, he sees no problem with that.

And then it's time to focus on her son, and on picking up minor skills to test her mind.

The Khan's arranged for her introduction to hunting by the morning. It's appropriately ceremonial, and his band is rather excited for all that it's impossible for a mundane to directly spectate in a witch-fight.

Narangerel, at least, is good at crowds. She arrives with her head high, resplendent in her raiment, weapon held at her side.