Ghost Story

[Varric]

Varric gives her a blank look. "For you. To know what you know." A pause. "But why can't you go to university?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Haven't got any money," she mumbles, looking away. 

[Varric]

"Could try for a scholarship. Work and attend part time."

[Marian Hawke]

"Scholarships require connections."

[Varric]

"Connections help," Varric agrees with a nod. "But there are tests, contests and the like anyone can enter."

[Marian Hawke]

"There aren't any universities here."

[Varric]

That gets a soft chuckle. "No. No, there really aren't. You'd want to move to Nyra for that." His lips twist a little, ill humor creeping into his expression. "Or Draslina, I suppose. But Nyra really."

[Marian Hawke]

"I don't... leave here," she whispers. "I don't go out. This is the furthest I've been out since I lost my memory."

[Varric]

Gods, I couldn't imagine being stuck in this broken down house for so long. "Why not?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I can't," she whispers, urgently. "There's people out there."

[Varric]

"That's very true," Varric allows, taking care to not show any amusement. "But that's not always a bad thing."

[Marian Hawke]

"I can't," she repeats, and there's something small and broken in her voice.

[Varric]

Ease back for now then. "Well, I can write to Nyra, get some of the old material from Solidity of Numbers; universities will give out that sort of thing to alum. Mostly a finance and engineering school, with some pure mathematical research, but you might like it."

[Marian Hawke]

"I can't go to university," she repeats, shuddering. 

[Varric]

"Don't have to," Varric says, trying to be soothing. "Don't have to go anywhere. I'll send off for some new texts and some assignments, that sort of thing, and they'll come to us."