Edy had also seemed bemused at the thought of real, active gods, Jigano recalled. Of course, he’d taken some of that with a grain of salt because it was, well, Edy saying it, but with Isla confirming it, it was very likely true. A world without gods, or at least not ones that meddled in the lives of mortals sounded like a fascinating place, though for better or worse he wasn’t sure. ”It’s hard to imagine such a world,” he admitted ruefully. ”Where I’m from the gods are very much present in our lives, and the source of much magic.”
Jigano nodded thoughtfully at the mention of a shadow portal. That was a familiar enough, in a general sort of way. He had also had a… friend… once, who had been capable of such. ”It was rare where I’m from, too,” he offered, but he found his subsequent condolences for her family leading to a much harder place than he’d expected. He bowed his head gravely in respect for the fallen, though he was a little relieved she was able to relate the sad tale so matter-of-factly. A pragmatic woman, or perhaps the pain was simply dulled by time. ”My condolences either way,” he murmured, respectful of her loss even if she didn’t show grief for it.
He had reached out to run his fingers idly through the fire of the bloom as she stood, and he glanced up with a wry smile. ”Perhaps something will jog your memory some day.” Not, perhaps, the most likely of suggestions but it wasn’t as if they had much else they could do about it for now. ”And you needn’t apologize. I was encouraging it, after all. Collecting stories is part of who I am.” He grinned, but her follow-up question had quelled the urge to wink. He let the humor fall away with a small shrug as he slowly rose as well, absently dusting off his clothing. ”My family… it was only my parents and me. They had traveled far from their homeland to settle at Torch, the town where I was born.” He hesitated a moment before continuing. ”They… passed away several years ago. An attack on the town, And being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” His smile was subdued as he glanced down at the volcanette, burning merrily away and apparently undisturbed by his experiments.
”My mother did some healing though. Magical, like your family. It runs… ran in my family, too, on her side. I had a little talent for it myself, before I arrived here and it was lost.” With so much else. But then, he’d also gained, perhaps, a fresh start. It wasn’t as though he was trying to find a way back, after all.
Jigano nodded thoughtfully at the mention of a shadow portal. That was a familiar enough, in a general sort of way. He had also had a… friend… once, who had been capable of such. ”It was rare where I’m from, too,” he offered, but he found his subsequent condolences for her family leading to a much harder place than he’d expected. He bowed his head gravely in respect for the fallen, though he was a little relieved she was able to relate the sad tale so matter-of-factly. A pragmatic woman, or perhaps the pain was simply dulled by time. ”My condolences either way,” he murmured, respectful of her loss even if she didn’t show grief for it.
He had reached out to run his fingers idly through the fire of the bloom as she stood, and he glanced up with a wry smile. ”Perhaps something will jog your memory some day.” Not, perhaps, the most likely of suggestions but it wasn’t as if they had much else they could do about it for now. ”And you needn’t apologize. I was encouraging it, after all. Collecting stories is part of who I am.” He grinned, but her follow-up question had quelled the urge to wink. He let the humor fall away with a small shrug as he slowly rose as well, absently dusting off his clothing. ”My family… it was only my parents and me. They had traveled far from their homeland to settle at Torch, the town where I was born.” He hesitated a moment before continuing. ”They… passed away several years ago. An attack on the town, And being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” His smile was subdued as he glanced down at the volcanette, burning merrily away and apparently undisturbed by his experiments.
”My mother did some healing though. Magical, like your family. It runs… ran in my family, too, on her side. I had a little talent for it myself, before I arrived here and it was lost.” With so much else. But then, he’d also gained, perhaps, a fresh start. It wasn’t as though he was trying to find a way back, after all.
