(I'd say a skylength is about a half mile, I just thought it sounded cool. xP)
Nishjin stops at a town about 5 skylengths from the bottom-most Northern Territories.
'Maybe I should've brought Firefly?'
"Maybe you should have."
Nishjin looks around wildly, saying "Who was that?"
"Don't you remember? I can talk now."
Looking back at his pack, Nishjin realizes who he was talking to.
"It's not like I knew him very well, the only thing we had in common was Malric. That, and we both come from the North."
"Ultimately, it isn't my decision. But you may regret leaving him behind. His mental state when you left was... Unstable, to say the least. I don't doubt that without you to calm him, he may become a second Malric."
Nishjin rolls his eyes. "Why me? Why not anyone else?"
"You're the only other one who knew Malric personally. You could tell him when he strays from the correct path."
"Oh, so you're a fortune teller? If I don't go get him, he'll want to rule the North? Well, you know what?"
Nishjin paused for a second, feeling himself get worked up. "I don't want to rule the North, so if he wants to, he can."
"Don't you see that's why you'd be a good ruler? You don't want the position, the power wouldn't go to your head."
"This conversation is over. Let's just get some sleep."
Renting a room for a night, Nishjin sleeps fitfully, waiting for his Aura to recover.