Cullen is used to fighting against mages, not alongside mages.It was under Dorian’s insistence that they practice together, since Dorian had seen Cullen fight against Samson’s red templars and the man was just a liability. He pivoted, distracted himself with cautious glances over his shoulder, showing no trust in his allied mages. He was not meant to watch the mages behind his back; he was to trust them, that the great bursts of energy going by his shoulder were not meant to hit him, were never meant to hit him.And each unnecessary scratch, or sword shoved between openings in his armor, were all because he couldn’t place enough trust in the mages behind him. The lyrium screeching around them was distraction enough, he did not need to add fear of mages to this.“You’re ridiculous.” Dorian grunted, staff moving wildly around him– but it is controlled, always controlled, walls of ice forming around Cullen. Nothing, nothing was going to hit him– but the commander still had a habit of turning his head, sword just barely missing his target. “Of anyone, you can trust me. You need to learn.”Cullen sighed at his words, while he agreed he just… there was a whispering within him, old lyrium twitching his neck, telling him to watch the mage— and while he was improving, and though it was Dorian, just Dorian…It was going to take a lot more practice.