”It’s what I do,” the lorekeeper agreed cheerfully, not bothering to mention that the other side of his profession was safeguarding information too dangerous to be let loose in the world. That—was not something those not of his trade needed to worry about. But the barrier was a dangerous mystery, one that harmed – that killed, apparently – and he was fairly certain that anything he learned about it would be shared with others concerned about such things. Isla, for certain. And perhaps Remi as well, given his apparently scholastic bent. Samuel… well. The man was easily frightened, so… perhaps not him, at least not at first.
For the moment, however, it was Remi who captured his attention, speaking with a frankness that Jigano both admired and envied. And what he said was, frankly, fascinating. The bard listened raptly, a little tilt of his head at the mention of a ceremony, and a lift of a brow at the word ‘Attuned’ – his first time coming across it with any context attached. Even if that was all Remi had shared it would have been wealth of new knowledge to parse and research, but when the man continued Jigano exhaled the breath he’d been holding softly, slowly, trying not to distract the flow of words. Especially when his companion’s expression indicated an unpleasant memory attached to what he was sharing.
He didn’t realized his fingers had tightened on the book on his grip until glass-green eyes met his with an openness that was arresting in its sincerity. Gods,, did the man have any sense of self-preservation? Sharing such an intimate secret about himself with a stranger— Only years of training in controlling his expression kept it courteously interested and not revealing his inner shock as Remi told him of his animal form. That he’d gotten from a ceremony, of all things.
”A… lion,” he repeated faintly. It was, admittedly, a bit difficult to see the bookish, sweet-faced young man across from him as a hawk, much less a lion that lashed out at people in such a way that he’d asked his friends to go armed. ”And… you can’t choose when the shift happens? It just… does, when you’re under stress?” Perhaps he shouldn’t share any potentially upsetting information about the barrier with his new companion after all? Or at least, not unless he was at a safe distance!
Making a mental note to watch out for raw meat in the snow – though he hunted his own food and didn’t have a door, per se, nor any enemies he was aware of yet – Jigano was glad to turn his attention to the luxere and his day out in the glade with Isla. ”During the day, too,” the bard chuckled. ”The glow is actually quite strong! He was a lovely creature all around, and I’m hoping to find a few more and take some notes.” He glanced down at his own book, flipping to the pages on the luxere and doing a quick scan. ”Ah, yes, sweet hay might be a good way to coax them close for some study as well, it looks like. It doesn’t say anything about apples or carrots, but perhaps I’ll take some just in case...” Apples and root vegetables, at least, the world inside the barrier had in plenty!
But he steered the conversation – perhaps not subtly – back to the shapeshifters of this world, of which he was – maybe? Somehow? – one. This time he let himself frown, thoughts slipping between what he knew of where he’d been, and all the things he didn’t about where he was now. ”In my world,” he began slowly, ”there were sorcerers who could change their forms – or the forms of others – into any animal they wished. But it required a certain amount of preparation and materials to do so, and sometimes the mind was irrevocably lost to the beast in the process. The druids, too… those sworn to a nature deity could take the forms of several animals, or so I was told. But theirs was a power born of study, sacrifice, and the direct intervention of a god. Though Edy did mention that the local gods can be a bit… meddlesome.” His lips tightened for a moment into a thin line, brows drawing together for a split second before he smoothed the twitch of anger away. The past was settled and done, or at least, couldn’t be undone. This was a new world, with new possibilities… new freedoms. No ghosts but those he brought with him. ”Though the shrine I visited myself seemed quiet and harmless enough.”
For the moment, however, it was Remi who captured his attention, speaking with a frankness that Jigano both admired and envied. And what he said was, frankly, fascinating. The bard listened raptly, a little tilt of his head at the mention of a ceremony, and a lift of a brow at the word ‘Attuned’ – his first time coming across it with any context attached. Even if that was all Remi had shared it would have been wealth of new knowledge to parse and research, but when the man continued Jigano exhaled the breath he’d been holding softly, slowly, trying not to distract the flow of words. Especially when his companion’s expression indicated an unpleasant memory attached to what he was sharing.
He didn’t realized his fingers had tightened on the book on his grip until glass-green eyes met his with an openness that was arresting in its sincerity. Gods,, did the man have any sense of self-preservation? Sharing such an intimate secret about himself with a stranger— Only years of training in controlling his expression kept it courteously interested and not revealing his inner shock as Remi told him of his animal form. That he’d gotten from a ceremony, of all things.
”A… lion,” he repeated faintly. It was, admittedly, a bit difficult to see the bookish, sweet-faced young man across from him as a hawk, much less a lion that lashed out at people in such a way that he’d asked his friends to go armed. ”And… you can’t choose when the shift happens? It just… does, when you’re under stress?” Perhaps he shouldn’t share any potentially upsetting information about the barrier with his new companion after all? Or at least, not unless he was at a safe distance!
Making a mental note to watch out for raw meat in the snow – though he hunted his own food and didn’t have a door, per se, nor any enemies he was aware of yet – Jigano was glad to turn his attention to the luxere and his day out in the glade with Isla. ”During the day, too,” the bard chuckled. ”The glow is actually quite strong! He was a lovely creature all around, and I’m hoping to find a few more and take some notes.” He glanced down at his own book, flipping to the pages on the luxere and doing a quick scan. ”Ah, yes, sweet hay might be a good way to coax them close for some study as well, it looks like. It doesn’t say anything about apples or carrots, but perhaps I’ll take some just in case...” Apples and root vegetables, at least, the world inside the barrier had in plenty!
But he steered the conversation – perhaps not subtly – back to the shapeshifters of this world, of which he was – maybe? Somehow? – one. This time he let himself frown, thoughts slipping between what he knew of where he’d been, and all the things he didn’t about where he was now. ”In my world,” he began slowly, ”there were sorcerers who could change their forms – or the forms of others – into any animal they wished. But it required a certain amount of preparation and materials to do so, and sometimes the mind was irrevocably lost to the beast in the process. The druids, too… those sworn to a nature deity could take the forms of several animals, or so I was told. But theirs was a power born of study, sacrifice, and the direct intervention of a god. Though Edy did mention that the local gods can be a bit… meddlesome.” His lips tightened for a moment into a thin line, brows drawing together for a split second before he smoothed the twitch of anger away. The past was settled and done, or at least, couldn’t be undone. This was a new world, with new possibilities… new freedoms. No ghosts but those he brought with him. ”Though the shrine I visited myself seemed quiet and harmless enough.”
