They say blood makes you related but
loyalty makes you family
If Loren had been, well, anyone else, he might’ve interpreted Amalia’s comment as flirtatious. However, as it stood, flirtation was so far from his mind that it never even occurred to him. ”I don’t think stating facts is selling myself short,” he replied, his voice wry. Given his frame and the dark circles under his eyes, no one would ever mistake the summoner for beautiful. ”Well that’s true enough. Guess I’ll just have to prove myself worthy of her then.” He gave Astra a smile then, before giving the baker a confused look. ”Jyoti?” It was probably Amalia’s own companion, but the name was not at all familiar to the Launceleyn.
Her laughter didn’t bother Loren in the slightest: he’d more than earned a bit of good-natured teasing. However, when she mentioned Ludo, the summoner felt his eyes widen. ”Oh. Wow.” Considering the fact that the closest Loren had come to any of the gods had been during the puppet show Amalia had put on, there was an odd mix of awe and a little fear in the summoner’s voice. ”Maybe if I’d heard it from such a trustworthy source it wouldn’t have taken me so long to believe it. Then again, maybe not.” Thankfully, it probably would never happen, given how the gods seemed to have no time for Abandoned in general and Loren specifically.
Apparently, Amalia had already been hard at work; Loren flashed her a quick and grateful smile. ”Thank you. And I’m happy to save you a trip through the snow.” When she called out from the back of the store, asking what he was offering, he frowned, tapping his foot in a nervous gesture. ”What do you need?” It was true that he hadn’t brought anything with him but knowledge—which she also probably had—and his magic, which she probably didn’t need.
Taking the bundles from her, the summoner nodded. ”Thank you, again. I’ll come back closer to LongNight for the rest.” However, it turned out that Loren’s magic might be something valuable after all. ”If the shield works similarly to the amulet, then probably. Though I don't know if I can summon it twice in quick succession.” Frowning, he gave her a considering look. ”Actually, I don’t know exactly how the amulets work either. I know I’m supposed to cast something at them, but...well, summoning a Spark Bird in here seems like a very bad idea.” His frown morphed into an apologetic smile, but the last thing he wanted was to burn her shop down.
Her laughter didn’t bother Loren in the slightest: he’d more than earned a bit of good-natured teasing. However, when she mentioned Ludo, the summoner felt his eyes widen. ”Oh. Wow.” Considering the fact that the closest Loren had come to any of the gods had been during the puppet show Amalia had put on, there was an odd mix of awe and a little fear in the summoner’s voice. ”Maybe if I’d heard it from such a trustworthy source it wouldn’t have taken me so long to believe it. Then again, maybe not.” Thankfully, it probably would never happen, given how the gods seemed to have no time for Abandoned in general and Loren specifically.
Apparently, Amalia had already been hard at work; Loren flashed her a quick and grateful smile. ”Thank you. And I’m happy to save you a trip through the snow.” When she called out from the back of the store, asking what he was offering, he frowned, tapping his foot in a nervous gesture. ”What do you need?” It was true that he hadn’t brought anything with him but knowledge—which she also probably had—and his magic, which she probably didn’t need.
Taking the bundles from her, the summoner nodded. ”Thank you, again. I’ll come back closer to LongNight for the rest.” However, it turned out that Loren’s magic might be something valuable after all. ”If the shield works similarly to the amulet, then probably. Though I don't know if I can summon it twice in quick succession.” Frowning, he gave her a considering look. ”Actually, I don’t know exactly how the amulets work either. I know I’m supposed to cast something at them, but...well, summoning a Spark Bird in here seems like a very bad idea.” His frown morphed into an apologetic smile, but the last thing he wanted was to burn her shop down.
LOREN
