Uh...
'You're the reason we made it out of the dream in the first place,' Arin said bluntly. 'If not for you, we'd still be lying there, dreaming, and dying in our sleep.'
'But,' the younger tower magician's voice had grown softer with self-doubt, 'that is something anyone with a talent such as mine could manage. I alone did nothing at all.'
Looking down at the top of his lowered head as they walked, Arin had to hold himself back from ruffling and messing up the boy's hair, as he would've his own younger brother's.
'Nothing could've been done, if not for the helpers and healers you drew with those tools of yours. Tell me,' he added, hoping to change the topic, 'were you fine with just giving them away? Wouldn't selling them have paid handsomely?'
In fact, having seen the demand, Arin would go so far as to say the kid might've earned more from just selling those tools, than whatever had been promised for completing this assignment.
Siel laughed. 'But those, I can simply find. Whether lost, hidden, or discarded, you'd be surprised to know of just how many wondrous things are left lying about somewhere.'
'Selling them would fill the purse, yes, but there is no reward in it, nor any thrill. The compensation received for achieving something is far more satisfying. For this reason, I've looked forward to it.'
As they stepped outside the village, the boy sighed again.
'And I'd have been glad for it, if not for the realization that I myself have done nothing to deserve it...'
Ugh.
'You alone managed to convince that - that powerful healer - to offer his services. Most villagers wouldn't have made it past the night without him!' Arin exclaimed. 'Which reminds me, what did you promise him in return for that?'
'Ah...' Siel suddenly stopped short, and looked up at Arin with his wide eyes. 'I've been so down on myself that I nearly forgot -'
'And it's a good thing that you remembered,' interrupted a familiar, hoarse voice. 'Late, but not dangerously so.'
Arin turned around to see the cloaked healer, whose towering form stood leaning against one of the boundary walls on the outside of Silvershade. His hood, as always, was pulled down to his chin.
'Come, then. Let us be off,' he rasped, nodding at the younger tower magician.
Arin looked between the two of them, before asking, 'Come... where?'
'Not you,' said the man, at the same time as Siel answered, 'I must go along to see my obligation met.'
Ignoring the cloaked healer, Arin raised a brow at the boy. 'Fine, then. Go where?'
'Ah...' Siel quickly glanced at the man, before saying, somewhat uncertainly, 'I don't - I'm not meant to say...'
Oh?
Arin stepped closer to the cloaked healer, before asking him directly, 'What is it that he can't tell me about? What are you going to make him do?'
The man let out a short huff, that sounded not unlike laughter.
'He shall have to make use of his talent to help me find something. That was part of our initial agreement, and all I shall tell you.'
...
Arin knew that Siel was both sensible, and old enough, to make his own judgements. Let alone the fact that the kid was also a talented tower magician in his own right - more than capable of taking care of himself.
Definitely more than himself, who lacked talent, and was still pretty much a dumb, lost lamb in this world.
Still, for some reason, he didn't like the sound of that.
'It was an agreement made for the purpose of our assignment. Why keep secrets, when surely, there's something there for me to do as well?' he asked, voice lowered.
This time, the cloaked healer laughed freely.
'And what would I have you do?' he whispered, leaning down and close. 'You... who relies on tricks and tools to play a role that was never yours? Hm? ...Sir Rin?'
?
!
Arin blanched.
Quickly, he glanced back to look at the younger tower magician.
The boy was standing where he'd previously been, as though to thoughtfully give them some privacy.
He didn't seem to have heard what the man had said.
Swallowing hard, Arin turned back to look at the cloaked healer.
'You have your secrets. Let me have mine.'
Tarra, who was still in his sleeve, seemed to have sensed how tense he was. Arin felt her small form crawling down his forearm, and quickly gripped the bottom of his sleeve to block her path.
Thankfully, she seemed to understand, and retreated.
He swallowed again, looking searchingly at the stretch of fabric covering the man's face.
Not for the first time, he hated that he couldn't see the man's eyes.
'You needn't worry; the boy will be safe. And, my tongue will hold. For now,' the man whispered again. 'But I have my questions for you too. Someday...'
He straightened up, and walked past him towards the younger tower magician.
'Come,' he repeated.
'I thank you for trusting me, senior brother Rin!' the boy exclaimed at Arin, entirely unaware, and clearly misunderstanding the crux of the conversation they'd just had. 'Ah, I hadn't thought to mention this to master. Would you be able to inform him of where I'll be?'
Arin sighed.
'Yes, Siel. I'll let him know.' He raised an arm to wave at the boy. 'Be careful.'
Siel beamed.
'I shall!'
And with that, he turned to leave with the cloaked healer instead.
And all Arin could do was watch them uselessly from where he stood.