If Clare were a little later in canon, she would find this even less reassuring than she does now. Awakened Ones tend to have weird obsessions.

As it is... what's a mage? is not something she's going to say to Flemeth/Asha'bellanar/swamp-lady, but her eyes narrow slightly. If Flemeth interprets it as confused wariness, she won't be wrong.

Flatly, "Just try it."

And Clare will... either attack or flee! (Let's be honest: this is Clare. She'll attack.)