“I mean, I think that’s good enough I would prefer it over killing someone?  So I guess the other main scenario I would be worried about would be if Cheliax invaded.  I would definitely use all my spells to help no matter what, but I’m not sure how providing mounts and phantom steeds and whatever other support spells are needed compare to directly fighting in terms of helping the war effort.”

"I don't know as much about wizard strategies in an all-out war, sorry. Most of what I know is adventuring tactics or tactics for fighting slave ships, and both of those are pretty different, there's lots of spells that just don't work properly at all when you're fighting a moving ship. —I think they probably aren't going to invade, they talk a big game about how strong they are but they lost last time even with collaborators helping, but it's still better to be prepared."

"I guess... that is another thing to research..."

He pauses a moment, thinking of how to change the topic.

"Is... is Mateo doing okay?  We didn't exactly hit it off, but uh..."

Wow this feels awkward to discuss.

"I think mostly he's been celebrating being free. I think he's doing alright, at least for the time being."

"I don't think I have the relationship or rapport to give advice to him or I'm really the right person to give advice about him, but I feel like I should at least ask?  Uh, the privateers you were going to recommend to him, or was it the other way around, you think they can, uh..."  He really doesn't want to seem like he is trying to manipulate or cast doubt or anything like that... "uh, you know, even if you are really committed to freeing slaves and doing Good I imagine it takes a lot of discipline and leadership to uh, you know with the heat of the battle and all and privateering, you know, to keep it alignment positive.  Uh..."

He is stuttering pretty hard.  Is she following what he means?

Justice is pretty sure it's not actually hard to be a Good slave-freeing pirate if you're trying to do the right thing, but admittedly it's not like Mateo really gives off the impression that he cares very much about trying.

"They're really focused on freeing slaves, they're careful about using divinations to make sure they only go after ships that're actually carrying slaves rather than just guessing based off of what flag they're flying. And they've got — standards, lines they won't cross, for what sorts of things they'll do, if they think he's going to do anything really bad they won't bring him along."

She tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "If you're worried about his alignment — I think it'll be good for him to be spending his time helping them free slaves, and obviously I'd rather he doesn't end up in the Abyss. But I can't control what's in his heart, and — we're not setting him up with them as part of some sort of complicated plot to secretly change his afterlife, if that makes sense? We're helping him find something he wants to do that'll let him help other people. I wouldn't introduce him to pirates that didn't care about doing the right thing, but that's mostly because of the other people who'd get hurt."

"That's good to know to.  Uh, the um, spiritual counselor said it wasn't doing anyone a favor to contribute to them doing Evil, but it sounds like you all will get him pointed in the right direction."

Okay, done worrying about Mateo.  He tries to smile.  (He is pretty bad at faking emotion by Chelish standards.)  He has another thought and smiles for real.

"I'm planning on donating most of the money I make from selling spells, and I was also thinking of donating spells directly if needed.  Whenever the Eagle Knights need some extra spells, just let me know!  I think with this new headband I could manage 3 Phantom Steeds at once, save you all some usage of third circle slots, and they would last about 5 hours."

"Oooh, that could be really helpful—" And she has some speculations on which wizard spells would be most useful given that he's staying in the city rather than going out adventuring. (If he's interested in donating scrolls if they spot him the ink, there are plenty of scrolls that'd also be useful to have more of in reserve, but she's not sure whether he's the kind of wizard who thinks scribing scrolls is fun and relaxing or the type who thinks it's annoying and tedious.)

Magic talk is always a nice distraction from pathetic no squishy? still not right useful but awkward feelings.  He pays attention to her suggestions.  He hadn't actually heard of that usage of Resist Energy before, but it makes sense.  And those usages of Reduce/Enlarge Person sounds really finicky and usually not better than more healing, but really neat, he wants to get copies even if it will probably never come up!  Not thinking about his other times 'assisting' with-

"I'm not sure if scroll scribing would get boring, we-"  he cringes a bit at the we, he kind of wants to make a habit verbally separate himself more "-didn't have enough ink to really do much of it.  I guess even in the worse case scenario of maximum boredom I will finish up the scroll I'm on and not waste any ink."

He has another feeling, he's trying to be more open to those.

"Did I remember to thank you and your group?  I-" his voice chokes up with emotion, but feelings are okay now "-really appreciate it."

Hug.

"—I'm really glad we met you when we did. It's — there are so many people still stuck in Cheliax, but not you, not anymore—"

She hesitates for a second. "—There was something kind of related I wanted to tell you, is now a good time?"

“Oh uh-“ he kinda has a lot on his mind already but doesn’t want to say no “-sure.”