[PQ] Lost between the pages of a good book

Narrowing his eyes to slits and placing a hand outstretched before his face to block the glare, Remi could only half-see the way the body of the beast elongated into a point, before clattering to the ground as a sword. Breathless and awestruck, Remi glanced at the sword in his hand before eyeing the once-unicorn blade on the ground. With an apprehensive swallow he picked up the glowing item (at the expensive of dropping the other sword to keep the shield), feeling at once more confident as if concern had been bled away entirely. Still it would appear there was nothing he could do for Sam as the gryphon made its attack. Luckily though a triumphant cry from Jigano seemed to temporarily stall the battle, and the alchemist did not need to be told twice that they ought to move. Barreling into the chamber, Remi stopped instantly upon seeing the strange bald figure. Exhaling in shaky streams and appearing a little like a startled horse that was being forced to remain still, Remi's pale gaze was widened as the man (was it a man?) began to speak. Remi had never been in a situation even remotely like this, but book-narrative or not, he did not like at all what was being asked here. Indeed as the being rose (and continued to rise) and then asked them to remain in exchange for immortality, the alchemist-paladin bristled and tried to stand straight. No hero was he, but Remi was well aware of Ludo's trickery, and this sounded far too similar for comfort. The lines on his face set in a defiant grimace, Remi shook his head. "Never." he spat through clenched teeth, as the room erupted into light and chaos. Darting to the side, Remi was not able to avoid the blaze that roared towards him. Raising his shield to try and block the majority of the blast, Remi felt heat seeping through the lines of his armor and where it did not, the metal burned against his skin. With a cry of pain, Remi stuttered backwards moved by both the force of the blast as well as his natural instincts to recoil away. Too focused on the glowing gems, Remi did not see the magical effects bind and stone Jigano. Instead the paladin raced towards the dragon, trying to overcome and combat the weight of his armor with his natural grace and dexterity. If he could get near enough by dodging and dashing around the flailing tail and swiping talons, he'd aim to strike the jewel in the creature's breast with the unicorn-become-sword. REMI How do you steal what you really want When what you really want is free?