Jigano winced as Remi explained how Ascended would need deep wounds in order to test Healing magic on. ”Well, just keep an eye out for if the chance arises then,” he suggested more weakly, not wanting their experiments to become harmful to their friends. If someone was badly hurt doing something else and magical Healing could speed their recovery that would be enough.
Loren made a good point on waiting, something the bard should have thought of as well. He was so tired that it seemed things were slipping away, but the appearance of the luxere had given him something almost resembling hope, and he tried to hold himself together as the two men not-quite-bickered. Remi was being stubborn, and Loren was too flippant and Jigano felt a growl trying to rise up from deep in his chest, vibrating against the back of his teeth. Only Rory’s name in his mind shocked him out of snapping at them both, and he looked to the alchemist with wide blue eyes. He hadn’t intended to look beyond the words that Remi offered; would never have done so if he had been shielding as he ought, but they were both too vulnerable for him not to catch a glimpse of a soul battered to the breaking point.
He could never have imagined sweet, optimistic, naïve Remi being in such a state. Hurting, yes, but scarred and falling into despair? It sent the white-haired man reeling unsteadily back, unable to react in time to stop the hawk from making his escape.
He missed the bloody ritual the Launceleyn performed to call fire from the air, but even in his shock he couldn’t miss the heat and light that streamed behind him. Twisting he could only stare in awe as the Spark Bird – or a simulacrum of it – flew majestically over the Oasis, scattering sparks with each beat of its wings. Jigano drew in a breath that burned, tilting his face up to the light of hope (that most poisonous of blooms) and dimly wondered why there were no tears on his cheeks in the face of such wonder.
”Yes,” he breathed quietly, conflicting emotions in his voice. Awe, yes, but also something darker, something cruel and hungry that saw the light as something to snuff out rather than celebrate. Perhaps it was for the best that Remi had escaped, lest he sense the shift through the Attuned link. ”Gods most fortunate, you might give the Hollowed Grounds a chance this year.” Even if the bird could only be summoned for a short time each day it might be enough to sear the monsters away from doors, give guards and searchers a chance to make a quick circuit of the Sanctuary and rescue those in need.
Something twisted in him, snapping through the shield of weariness, the numb cotton that wrapped his emotions. He threw his head back in laughter – a bitter, angry sound, utterly without joy. ”And is there anything crueler than hope?”
Loren made a good point on waiting, something the bard should have thought of as well. He was so tired that it seemed things were slipping away, but the appearance of the luxere had given him something almost resembling hope, and he tried to hold himself together as the two men not-quite-bickered. Remi was being stubborn, and Loren was too flippant and Jigano felt a growl trying to rise up from deep in his chest, vibrating against the back of his teeth. Only Rory’s name in his mind shocked him out of snapping at them both, and he looked to the alchemist with wide blue eyes. He hadn’t intended to look beyond the words that Remi offered; would never have done so if he had been shielding as he ought, but they were both too vulnerable for him not to catch a glimpse of a soul battered to the breaking point.
He could never have imagined sweet, optimistic, naïve Remi being in such a state. Hurting, yes, but scarred and falling into despair? It sent the white-haired man reeling unsteadily back, unable to react in time to stop the hawk from making his escape.
He missed the bloody ritual the Launceleyn performed to call fire from the air, but even in his shock he couldn’t miss the heat and light that streamed behind him. Twisting he could only stare in awe as the Spark Bird – or a simulacrum of it – flew majestically over the Oasis, scattering sparks with each beat of its wings. Jigano drew in a breath that burned, tilting his face up to the light of hope (that most poisonous of blooms) and dimly wondered why there were no tears on his cheeks in the face of such wonder.
”Yes,” he breathed quietly, conflicting emotions in his voice. Awe, yes, but also something darker, something cruel and hungry that saw the light as something to snuff out rather than celebrate. Perhaps it was for the best that Remi had escaped, lest he sense the shift through the Attuned link. ”Gods most fortunate, you might give the Hollowed Grounds a chance this year.” Even if the bird could only be summoned for a short time each day it might be enough to sear the monsters away from doors, give guards and searchers a chance to make a quick circuit of the Sanctuary and rescue those in need.
Something twisted in him, snapping through the shield of weariness, the numb cotton that wrapped his emotions. He threw his head back in laughter – a bitter, angry sound, utterly without joy. ”And is there anything crueler than hope?”
