Hawke's relationship to family and emotional connections are all bound to the reality of deep personal loss. It wasn't long ago her mother died in a gruesome fashion, a fact that she blamed solely on herself, and she knew in some way her sister blamed her for too. Bethany would say otherwise, when pressed, but it was Hawke's duty to protect them. She failed Carver and their mother both. For all her cheery attitude, a heavy weight is on those shoulders, of loss and guilt and regret, but it's her choice to shrug it off as much as possible.

She nods in understanding. "Yeah, I've met a few people here who aren't used to magic or thought it was a fantasy. It's quite odd to me, it's such a major part of our world." Especially for Hawke, whose entire life (and some of her failures) surrounded the tense subject of magic in Ferelden. She's still growing accustomed to this whole 'other realm' possibilities. It's not like the Fade, she knows that much, but it's still above her head.

"My father was a magic user and so is my sister. A few of my friends are too. Mages where I'm from can do all types of things. Control the elements, destroy organic material with a touch, heal grave injuries, control the blood in your veins, raise the dead, although that's typically forbidden or frowned upon." She had to deal with Merrill and blood magic. It still is an issue. "They have an extraordinary amount of power, which can scare others." It scares her, sometimes, but she tries to control that for the sake of the people she loves.