Love mends even the broken parts
Loren heard the doors open, and he felt his jaw clench. Apparently, he’d relaxed his guard too soon. Well, seeing as his little sanctum had been breached, it was probably time to go. However, he could at least put away the last of the scrolls; just because some idiot had walked into the lion’s den didn’t mean he needed to stop what he was doing. Besides, the Atheneum was big. The chances of the summoner actually running into the intruder were slim.
Of course, he had just finished thinking that when he walked around the corner of the shelves that led into the section on magic and saw Remi. Saw the gossipy alchemist. Saw the man who’d promised to stay away, to leave things be, to give the Launceleyn time and space. Well, either this was one of those funny little coincidences the gods liked to put the summoner through, or Remi had come to seek out Loren specifically. However, he would assume the former until he learned otherwise. Because if it was the latter, well, he wasn't sure what he'd do. But he knew it wouldn't be pretty.
The alchemist might be a bit surprised at how much the Launceleyn had changed in such a short time. Most of it was attitude. Though he was still painfully thin—probably dangerously so, if he was being honest with himself, which he was—instead of looking gaunt, he looked lean and sharp. He accentuated that with form-fitting black clothes and eyes as cold as the ice he felt flowing through his veins. ”I was just leaving.” His voice, when he spoke, was short and clipped, and he spun on his heel without a backwards glance. No doubt the other man wanted privacy. Well, he'd taken everything else away from the summoner. It should be no surprise Remi would keep taking and taking and taking until Loren was completely bereft.
That thought didn't bother him nearly as much as it should have.
Of course, he had just finished thinking that when he walked around the corner of the shelves that led into the section on magic and saw Remi. Saw the gossipy alchemist. Saw the man who’d promised to stay away, to leave things be, to give the Launceleyn time and space. Well, either this was one of those funny little coincidences the gods liked to put the summoner through, or Remi had come to seek out Loren specifically. However, he would assume the former until he learned otherwise. Because if it was the latter, well, he wasn't sure what he'd do. But he knew it wouldn't be pretty.
The alchemist might be a bit surprised at how much the Launceleyn had changed in such a short time. Most of it was attitude. Though he was still painfully thin—probably dangerously so, if he was being honest with himself, which he was—instead of looking gaunt, he looked lean and sharp. He accentuated that with form-fitting black clothes and eyes as cold as the ice he felt flowing through his veins. ”I was just leaving.” His voice, when he spoke, was short and clipped, and he spun on his heel without a backwards glance. No doubt the other man wanted privacy. Well, he'd taken everything else away from the summoner. It should be no surprise Remi would keep taking and taking and taking until Loren was completely bereft.
That thought didn't bother him nearly as much as it should have.
loren
