I'm not very good at interpreting mana yet either, but it's definitely different than the humans'. A portal would be good news, right? She focuses on her life sense, trying to get an impression of Istaim's age.

That would depend on who has control of it, he sends, And what is on the other side. 

If there is a portal to S'Tira open, for example, they may need to worry. 

(They feel about 400 years old, to that sense.)

If it was going to be a problem it would already be one, though. Most likely, anyway; nothing's ever permanent, but there's no reason to think it'll change soon, right.

They feel about four hundred years old, she interprets.

I suppose not, he agrees with the first statement, Though we may still wish to learn its location, in case it should change. 

That is much too young to have been born here before the Seal was raised, he adds. I am even less willing to believe a half-elf of their kind could have been born during the time it was active. 

Definitely; after the war, though.

You do have time effects here, I don't know the limit of those, and strong life magic might be able to change how they look, if they de-aged themself for some reason or something. Or there's a portal, or an elf managed to stay or get here some other way. The portal seems most likely, though.

Hm. Yes, I suppose there is no reason to hassle them, when there's nothing to be done about it as of yet, he agrees. We'll just have to keep it in mind, for later. 

And they seem to be on the right side of things, yes.

     "Do you expect to need master Deskyl for anything soon?" she has DZ ask Ilek and Istaim.

Ilek glances up from Istaim's arm, where he's been holding a thread of Life mana to get a good look at the cut they're currently healing. 

"...I'll find you later?" He asks, "I do want to learn this." He needs to. 

Istaim snorts, "No. The plan will work well enough - and there's no dissuading either of these idiots when their minds are made up." They pause, "I'm not a Time mage, but some of the General's other elites know a few of the simpler spells, if you want to get a look at them later."

Of course, she signs to Ilek.

    "They will, sir, thank you."

We'll most likely be in the room, but I'll be on the roof later to work on DZ's charger. I can come look for you before or after, if you want.

Ilek looks to Istaim.

"I can give you two hours, before I have other things to do," they tell him. 

He looks back to Deskyl, questioning. 

I'll be in the room then, she nods.

Ilek nods, then pauses, frowing. He looks over to where Jaim has been leaning against a rock silently for a while. 

"Jaim?" He asks. 

Napping. I'll get him home.

She hums as she approaches, tunelessly; if that doesn't get his attention, she'll take his hand, instead.

His eyes slit open when she gets within a few feet - normally it would have been sooner, but Istaim is right there, so he's not as alert, and he relies on his mana sense a bit more than he'd like. 

After a moment, he straightens, "Excuse me," he says. He's had a few late nights, recently. 

Come on, she signs; the meaning should be obvious enough for him to get even without the translation rune.

Istaim snorts again, and tugs on a lock of Ilek's hair, drawing his attention back to the lesson. 

He hums, nodding, and follows, pausing by Ilek to take back the runestone, allowing easier communication. 

Back to the CC, then. 

You need to sleep, she signs once they're on their way.

"You're not wrong," he acknowledges.

His nights have been more disturbed than usual since the ambush. It was his choices that put Ilek in that position, after all. It's no excuse, however - his people need him to be in top form. 

Nightmares?

He pauses. 

"...Yes," he says.

"I am used to them," he adds, after a moment. "I will become used to these ones as well." 

I can do something about them - muting the emotional component, not blocking the contents. It'll affect everyone in the building if I do it while I'm asleep, though, it'd be an area effect.

You haven't been done well by here either, you know.

He huffs a laugh, "Few of us have," he says. 

Yes, he's had a number of unfortunate things happen to him. He can handle it. 

"I expect many of those who sleep in the Command Center would appreciate a lessening in the emotional impact of their dreams," he adds. "Though I should perhaps check with the Commander, first."