When the increasingly familiar voice spoke up, Loren glanced up, startled. He’d been so lost in his research that he hadn’t been paying much attention to anything else; it was an old habit, his single minded focus on the task at hand, and one that often served him well. However, it also led to many an awkward situation, like the one at hand. Jigano—a man Loren had insulted and belittled at their first introduction—had approached, and offered assistance in the Launceleyn’s search.
Hesitatingly, the summoner searched the other man’s expression for any hint that this offer was sincere. Loren had apologized for his behavior, and the white-haired man had accepted, but the summoner knew it couldn’t be easy for the bard to get over what the Launceleyn had said in the woods. Still, the other man’s words and actions seemed genuine: it was Loren who’d been the one to make a mistake. Maybe Jigano was just a straight up good person. That didn’t mean the other man actually knew the Atheneum well, though. Of course, neither did the summoner these days. “Perhaps. But I understand if you’d rather not, or if you have other matters to attend to.” His voice was soft, and not just out of respect for the library. It was an opening for the bard to leave. Loren would understand if the white-haired man wanted nothing to do with him.
However, the summoner really could use the help. Gesturing at the pile of books, Loren found himself falling back into the once familiar mode of both scholar and librarian. He’d been both, once upon a time, though the days were long past. That didn’t mean he didn’t remember how. “As you can probably tell, I’m looking for any additional volumes on summoning or on beasts with magical properties.” That was quite a broad category, and Loren knew that he’d have hated a request like that as a librarian.
Luckily for them both, the Launceleyn could narrow his search parameters. {n]”Specifically, I’m looking for any mention of a beast that has the supernatural ability to find lost objects.”[/b} Even as he said it though, his mind leapt ahead: maybe looking at too narrow a cross-section had been his problem all along. There were, after all, always different ways to look at the problem. Biting his lip, he waited for his scattered thoughts to gather themselves. “Alternatively, I suppose creatures that can cross thresholds or unlock doors would work just as well.” He’d be so completely fixated on finding the lost keys (which he’d still need to do) that he’d completely failed to consider there might be other ways through the seals. Since getting them open and dealing with the contents of the rooms was his first priority, he should focus on that.
Hesitatingly, the summoner searched the other man’s expression for any hint that this offer was sincere. Loren had apologized for his behavior, and the white-haired man had accepted, but the summoner knew it couldn’t be easy for the bard to get over what the Launceleyn had said in the woods. Still, the other man’s words and actions seemed genuine: it was Loren who’d been the one to make a mistake. Maybe Jigano was just a straight up good person. That didn’t mean the other man actually knew the Atheneum well, though. Of course, neither did the summoner these days. “Perhaps. But I understand if you’d rather not, or if you have other matters to attend to.” His voice was soft, and not just out of respect for the library. It was an opening for the bard to leave. Loren would understand if the white-haired man wanted nothing to do with him.
However, the summoner really could use the help. Gesturing at the pile of books, Loren found himself falling back into the once familiar mode of both scholar and librarian. He’d been both, once upon a time, though the days were long past. That didn’t mean he didn’t remember how. “As you can probably tell, I’m looking for any additional volumes on summoning or on beasts with magical properties.” That was quite a broad category, and Loren knew that he’d have hated a request like that as a librarian.
Luckily for them both, the Launceleyn could narrow his search parameters. {n]”Specifically, I’m looking for any mention of a beast that has the supernatural ability to find lost objects.”[/b} Even as he said it though, his mind leapt ahead: maybe looking at too narrow a cross-section had been his problem all along. There were, after all, always different ways to look at the problem. Biting his lip, he waited for his scattered thoughts to gather themselves. “Alternatively, I suppose creatures that can cross thresholds or unlock doors would work just as well.” He’d be so completely fixated on finding the lost keys (which he’d still need to do) that he’d completely failed to consider there might be other ways through the seals. Since getting them open and dealing with the contents of the rooms was his first priority, he should focus on that.
