there's light at the edge of the darkness
Yes, Loren knew he probably looked like an idiot, and yes he hadn’t asked how or why this strange woman had met Rae, and yes he was probably asking all the wrong questions, which was why he was getting yes as an answer to everything. Now that the initial shock had worn off, though, it was time to see if he could get something more from Oia’i’o. It would help if he asked something other than a yes-no question. ”How did you meet Rae?” That would do. The Launceleyn couldn’t help the eager tone that had crept into his voice, but this was probably as close as he’d ever get to the deity.
Thankfully, he was on much firmer and less shaky and awkward ground when it came to magic. Or at least, he thought he was: his own spellcasting had been so wonky of late that he couldn’t help but feel a little doubtful. At least his first guess about her studies had been right. Thirteen magics sounded correct to him: fire, water, earth, air, lightning, creation, transmutation, healing illusion, telekinesis, disintegration, life drain, and, of course, summoning. ”I know of a few people with mutations. You might want to speak with them. They’re mostly in the more settled areas of the Hollowed Grounds.” Not the desolate landscapes that still occasionally called to the summoner.
While he could’ve revealed what he knew to her, the information wasn’t really his to give, and unlike Jigano—with whom Loren had held a very similar conversation—this was a stranger. Even now, the summoner didn’t trust easily. If it had been his magic, he would’ve told her readily. Unfortunately for her, the Launceleyn didn’t have any mutations, at least none that he knew of. All he had was summoning magic that shifted so rapidly that he didn’t know what to make of it. Actually, given that he seemed to have an expert on his hands, he should talk to her. ”If you don’t mind me asking, what do you know about summoning?” She could probably guess why he was asking, given the unicorn by his side.
What Oia’i’o didn’t know, Loren quickly discovered, was how to respect personal space. As she leaned forward towards him, he leaned back, perturbed by the way she stared. And that was before she sniffed him; he suddenly felt like little more than an insect. While he allowed her to poke his shoulder, his expression was bemused and a little disturbed. Her questions were fair, given that he’d been asking his own, but he figured she could use a warning. ”Word of advice? I don’t mind letting you prod me, but most folks might take at least a little offense. So I’d ask before you go around examining others.” His voice was kindly, if firm, but it was a warning. Loren of even a season ago would’ve flinched away at best and summoned something nasty at worst.
Still, he’d be more than happy to answer her questions. ”I arrived two Leafchanges ago, so a little under a year and a half I suppose. We showed up by the Spire in the center of the Hollowed Grounds. I have summoning and healing, and a small amount of creation and telekinesis.” That hopefully answered all her questions, though she’d probably have more, given how intrigued she’d been by his status as an Outlander. However, seeing as she hadn’t been that forthcoming, he was going to wait until she’d asked exactly what she wanted.
Thankfully, he was on much firmer and less shaky and awkward ground when it came to magic. Or at least, he thought he was: his own spellcasting had been so wonky of late that he couldn’t help but feel a little doubtful. At least his first guess about her studies had been right. Thirteen magics sounded correct to him: fire, water, earth, air, lightning, creation, transmutation, healing illusion, telekinesis, disintegration, life drain, and, of course, summoning. ”I know of a few people with mutations. You might want to speak with them. They’re mostly in the more settled areas of the Hollowed Grounds.” Not the desolate landscapes that still occasionally called to the summoner.
While he could’ve revealed what he knew to her, the information wasn’t really his to give, and unlike Jigano—with whom Loren had held a very similar conversation—this was a stranger. Even now, the summoner didn’t trust easily. If it had been his magic, he would’ve told her readily. Unfortunately for her, the Launceleyn didn’t have any mutations, at least none that he knew of. All he had was summoning magic that shifted so rapidly that he didn’t know what to make of it. Actually, given that he seemed to have an expert on his hands, he should talk to her. ”If you don’t mind me asking, what do you know about summoning?” She could probably guess why he was asking, given the unicorn by his side.
What Oia’i’o didn’t know, Loren quickly discovered, was how to respect personal space. As she leaned forward towards him, he leaned back, perturbed by the way she stared. And that was before she sniffed him; he suddenly felt like little more than an insect. While he allowed her to poke his shoulder, his expression was bemused and a little disturbed. Her questions were fair, given that he’d been asking his own, but he figured she could use a warning. ”Word of advice? I don’t mind letting you prod me, but most folks might take at least a little offense. So I’d ask before you go around examining others.” His voice was kindly, if firm, but it was a warning. Loren of even a season ago would’ve flinched away at best and summoned something nasty at worst.
Still, he’d be more than happy to answer her questions. ”I arrived two Leafchanges ago, so a little under a year and a half I suppose. We showed up by the Spire in the center of the Hollowed Grounds. I have summoning and healing, and a small amount of creation and telekinesis.” That hopefully answered all her questions, though she’d probably have more, given how intrigued she’d been by his status as an Outlander. However, seeing as she hadn’t been that forthcoming, he was going to wait until she’d asked exactly what she wanted.
loren
