He almost didn't recognize the bright, eager smile that met his greeting, Seiji transformed since the last time Jigano saw him as a man. Even when they had met in the woods, fox and human, the other Outlander had been quiet. He had liked that young man, but it was heartening to see such animation and open emotion on his face now.
He nodded a wry understanding to why Seiji had to wait to visit, the terror and pain of Long Night still lingering close to the surface of his thoughts, ready to sink sharp fangs of guilt and mourning into his heart if he let them. "This place called to me from the moment I stepped inside," he agreed with a smile, sharing his own memories of the Atheneum. "It has become the closest place I have to a home here, really." With his office in Loreseeker's Hall now housing his belongings and occasionally serving as a place to sleep, it was indeed a better home than his fox's den in the glade. 'Home' was becoming more and more a person rather than a place but... that was a thought he wouldn't dwell on now.
"I'm sorry your memory hasn't returned yet, but I'm glad you're finding echoes of it," he offered sincerely. With so little to build from it was hard to know where to start, but every little piece that Seiji could find would help to build the whole again.
The young man's explanation and question kindled a broad grin on the bard's face. It had been so long since he'd smiled that wide that it almost hurt, but he welcomed the sensation and began to place a hand over his heart. Before he could answer Seiji waved to someone behind him, and when he turned to glance back his eyes sparkled with the dramatic timing of the moment. "Amalia!" he greeted warmly. "Please, join us? Seiji was asking where to find the Loreseekers--" he turned back to the dark-haired man and bowed gracefully, gesturing back to the blond librarian. "And I am happy to say that you have found two of them!" Most of them, now that Isla had... changed... but he wrapped the thought tightly and tucked it away for later. "How may we help you?"
He nodded a wry understanding to why Seiji had to wait to visit, the terror and pain of Long Night still lingering close to the surface of his thoughts, ready to sink sharp fangs of guilt and mourning into his heart if he let them. "This place called to me from the moment I stepped inside," he agreed with a smile, sharing his own memories of the Atheneum. "It has become the closest place I have to a home here, really." With his office in Loreseeker's Hall now housing his belongings and occasionally serving as a place to sleep, it was indeed a better home than his fox's den in the glade. 'Home' was becoming more and more a person rather than a place but... that was a thought he wouldn't dwell on now.
"I'm sorry your memory hasn't returned yet, but I'm glad you're finding echoes of it," he offered sincerely. With so little to build from it was hard to know where to start, but every little piece that Seiji could find would help to build the whole again.
The young man's explanation and question kindled a broad grin on the bard's face. It had been so long since he'd smiled that wide that it almost hurt, but he welcomed the sensation and began to place a hand over his heart. Before he could answer Seiji waved to someone behind him, and when he turned to glance back his eyes sparkled with the dramatic timing of the moment. "Amalia!" he greeted warmly. "Please, join us? Seiji was asking where to find the Loreseekers--" he turned back to the dark-haired man and bowed gracefully, gesturing back to the blond librarian. "And I am happy to say that you have found two of them!" Most of them, now that Isla had... changed... but he wrapped the thought tightly and tucked it away for later. "How may we help you?"
