She laughed. "I can hardly wait to get started getting these things put together. What color are you going to want your bike to be? Hmm. I'm not sure if Thorg has paint or not. Well, we can ask. He probably does.""Oh, it doesn't have to be flashy or anything. It actually might not be a bad idea if it looks like yours does right now - it would be less conspicuous."
Grinning at her obvious excitement, after a moment he says:
"I'd offer to help, but I'd probably just ruin your fun and get in the way. And my hands are better at working on a microscale rather than macro anyway," he says as his hand unconsciously goes toward his duster. He stops himself and just motions toward the pile of parts.
Kannic's associate leaves to dig for more information, wondering just what he has gotten into...Kannic successfully covers his surprise, more from his suspicions than skill, at this information and what it portends.
"Well, if that's the only lead we have to go on, try to get some information on the missing lad. Associates, hang outs, etc. Could be that our quarry is using his identity, and we can use that to get closer to him. Or using the name to get closer to the Seer. Either way, tread softly, lest we get embroiled in the mess."
He slides the associate a small bag of coins for his trouble, and takes a long pull from his tankard.
As the associate leaves with a troubled look on his brow, Kannic wonders just what he's gotten himself into...
She laughed. "I can hardly wait to get started getting these things put together. What color are you going to want your bike to be? Hmm. I'm not sure if Thorg has paint or not. Well, we can ask. He probably does.""Oh, it doesn't have to be flashy or anything. It actually might not be a bad idea if it looks like yours does right now - it would be less conspicuous."
Grinning at her obvious excitement, after a moment he says:
"I'd offer to help, but I'd probably just ruin your fun and get in the way. And my hands are better at working on a microscale rather than macro anyway," he says as his hand unconsciously goes toward his duster. He stops himself and just motions toward the pile of parts.
She grinned. "Okay. That's fine by me. Not everyone is cut out to be a mechanic. If they were I'd be out of a job," she added, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I should have your bike done by dinnertime. I might even get the skimmer done too. We'll see. It's probably gonna be pretty boring watching me work. I mean, you're welcome to hang around and talk if you like, but I won't be offended if you decided to go back to the tavern and talk to Kannic about business or whatever either."
She grinned. "Okay. That's fine by me. Not everyone is cut out to be a mechanic. If they were I'd be out of a job," she added, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Not necessarily true - there's plenty of room for specialization. The little bit of dabbling I do is in...precision parts," he says, patting the side of his weapon belt that carries his antiquated looking version of what Kannic had last night at the shop.
"I should have your bike done by dinnertime. I might even get the skimmer done too. We'll see. It's probably gonna be pretty boring watching me work. I mean, you're welcome to hang around and talk if you like, but I won't be offended if you decided to go back to the tavern and talk to Kannic about business or whatever either."
"Have you even had breakfast yet? You flew out of the inn like a whirlwind this morning. Tell you what - if your boss okays it, I'll grab some food so we can eat, and you can tell me all about how the mechanist's bug bit you while you work. Deal?"
She grinned. "Okay. That's fine by me. Not everyone is cut out to be a mechanic. If they were I'd be out of a job," she added, eyes twinkling with amusement."Not necessarily true - there's plenty of room for specialization. The little bit of dabbling I do is in...precision parts," he says, patting the side of his weapon belt that carries his antiquated looking version of what Kannic had last night at the shop.
"I should have your bike done by dinnertime. I might even get the skimmer done too. We'll see. It's probably gonna be pretty boring watching me work. I mean, you're welcome to hang around and talk if you like, but I won't be offended if you decided to go back to the tavern and talk to Kannic about business or whatever either.""Have you even had breakfast yet? You flew out of the inn like a whirlwind this morning. Tell you what - if your boss okays it, I'll grab some food so we can eat, and you can tell me all about how the mechanist's bug bit you while you work. Deal?"
She grinned. "I never turn down food. And I did miss breakfast. Sounds good. I'll be more than happy to talk to you while I'm working. And I wouldn't mind hearing about what sort of precision parts you work with either. If you don't mind telling me. I don't mean to pry."
"Hey, Mr. Thorg!" she called out as they reached the shop. "I'm gonna be working on these if it's okay," she said as she helped the gnome unload the platform. "Would it be okay if my friend stayed and watched while I work? Also, do you mind very much if I eat in the shop? I sorta missed breakfast..."
Thorg chuckled and shook his head. "You make mess, you clean up. Otherwise is okay." And with that he went back to work.
She grinned. "I never turn down food. And I did miss breakfast. Sounds good. I'll be more than happy to talk to you while I'm working. And I wouldn't mind hearing about what sort of precision parts you work with either. If you don't mind telling me. I don't mean to pry."
"Hey, Mr. Thorg!" she called out as they reached the shop. "I'm gonna be working on these if it's okay," she said as she helped the gnome unload the platform. "Would it be okay if my friend stayed and watched while I work? Also, do you mind very much if I eat in the shop? I sorta missed breakfast..."
Thorg chuckled and shook his head. "You make mess, you clean up. Otherwise is okay." And with that he went back to work.
"Right. I'll be back in a few then!" He says with a smile. He then goes next door to the inn, grabs some forgiving food for eating and working, and comes back over to talk shop. When he sees Kannic, he says:
"Kannic, I'll be next door in the shop. Aananda managed to find some sweet salvage and is working on some transportation for us. It might even be ready by dinnertime - I'll keep you posted! Do we have any more leads on this Keaton guy yet?"
Once he gets an update from Kannic, he goes back to the shop with the food and sets it up someplace that will be out of the way. He made sure to brind some dwarven fare for Thorg should he want anything.
Tamrin parks himself out of the way of the flurry of machined parts and tools while Aananda gets into her 'Zen' :)
Aananda wolfs down the food Tamrin brought for her before getting back to work. Surprisingly, in spite of the flurry of activity, nothing goes flying about. There are no dropped parts or even very much noise. She seems to be remarkably efficient.
"So. You wanted to know how I became a mechanic? It's not a very interesting story, I'm afraid. Master Quo was the only one of the Masters who didn't find my er, energy level to be distracting. And he fixed the Temple's vehicles and machines in his spare time. So he taught me how. And it turns out I was really good at it. After I was sent away from the Temple, my training in fixing machines was pretty much the only skill I had. Sorry that wasn't more interesting."
"Master Quo was the only one of the Masters who didn't find my er, energy level to be distracting."
Aananda wolfs down the food Tamrin brought for her before getting back to work. Surprisingly, in spite of the flurry of activity, nothing goes flying about. There are no dropped parts or even very much noise. She seems to be remarkably efficient.
"So. You wanted to know how I became a mechanic? It's not a very interesting story, I'm afraid. Master Quo was the only one of the Masters who didn't find my er, energy level to be distracting. And he fixed the Temple's vehicles and machines in his spare time. So he taught me how. And it turns out I was really good at it. After I was sent away from the Temple, my training in fixing machines was pretty much the only skill I had. Sorry that wasn't more interesting."
"It's not a bad outlet for one's energy, at least in your case," he says, watching her go to and fro doing her work. "And it makes for pretty steady work, at least where I come from. The Empire is definitely a mechanist's dream in many places."
Aananda wolfs down the food Tamrin brought for her before getting back to work. Surprisingly, in spite of the flurry of activity, nothing goes flying about. There are no dropped parts or even very much noise. She seems to be remarkably efficient.
"So. You wanted to know how I became a mechanic? It's not a very interesting story, I'm afraid. Master Quo was the only one of the Masters who didn't find my er, energy level to be distracting. And he fixed the Temple's vehicles and machines in his spare time. So he taught me how. And it turns out I was really good at it. After I was sent away from the Temple, my training in fixing machines was pretty much the only skill I had. Sorry that wasn't more interesting."
"It's not a bad outlet for one's energy, at least in your case," he says, watching her go to and fro doing her work. "And it makes for pretty steady work, at least where I come from. The Empire is definitely a mechanist's dream in many places."
"Really?" she said, intrigued. "We have a few machines here, but not many, and a lot of people never bother with them at all. There's plenty who say that magic is easier. There are lots of machines where you come from?"
"The only reason that there's good work for mechanics here is that there are so few people who can fix the existing machines. Nobody actually makes these anymore. And eventually they'll all wear out and there won't be any machines at all." She looked sad about that.
"Really?" she said, intrigued. "We have a few machines here, but not many, and a lot of people never bother with them at all. There's plenty who say that magic is easier. There are lots of machines where you come from?"
"The only reason that there's good work for mechanics here is that there are so few people who can fix the existing machines. Nobody actually makes these anymore. And eventually they'll all wear out and there won't be any machines at all." She looked sad about that.
"'Science lets us understand the laws of the universe. Magic lets us break those laws when necessary.' At least, that's what I was taught in school," Tam says with a shrug "Magic and technology work side by side where I come from, both equally important. Heck, we wouldn't be able to travel between the stars without Gate drives - there's no other way to travel fast enough to get anywhere..."
He stops for a moment, finally registering the connotation of Aananda's last sentence.
"Wait - are you saying that nobody here knows how to make these kinds of things anymore?" pointing at the hoverbike.
"'Science lets us understand the laws of the universe. Magic lets us break those laws when necessary.' At least, that's what I was taught in school," Tam says with a shrug "Magic and technology work side by side where I come from, both equally important. Heck, we wouldn't be able to travel between the stars without Gate drives - there's no other way to travel fast enough to get anywhere..."
He stops for a moment, finally registering the connotation of Aananda's last sentence.
"Wait - are you saying that nobody here knows how to make these kinds of things anymore?" pointing at the hoverbike.
She shook her head sadly. "There's a few people like me who know how to fix the parts we have and put them back together, but nobody knows how to actually make these things anymore."
"It must be really amazing to live somewhere where machines are common....but what are stars?"
She shook her head sadly. "There's a few people like me who know how to fix the parts we have and put them back together, but nobody knows how to actually make these things anymore."
"It must be really amazing to live somewhere where machines are common....but what are stars?"
"Stars? You know, the little points of light up in the....night, um....sky....
Tam stops, his finger pointed upward, realizing what he's trying to describe to someone who's never lived anywhere but underground.
"Crap."
"Stars? You know, the little points of light up in the....night, um....sky....
Tam stops, his finger pointed upward, realizing what he's trying to describe to someone who's never lived anywhere but underground.
"Crap."
"Like fireflies?" she asks, clearly confused.
"Like fireflies?" she asks, clearly confused."Stars? You know, the little points of light up in the....night, um....sky....
Tam stops, his finger pointed upward, realizing what he's trying to describe to someone who's never lived anywhere but underground.
"Crap."
"Um....yeah, a little bit like that. Hang on a second."
He rummages in his pack, pulling out a thin, rectangular item.
"How about I show you?" as he looks around for a bit of wall that is flat and not covered in equipment.
"Like fireflies?" she asks, clearly confused.
"Um....yeah, a little bit like that. Hang on a second."
He rummages in his pack, pulling out a thin, rectangular item.
"How about I show you?" as he looks around for a bit of wall that is flat and not covered in equipment.
Aananda watches curiously, biting her lip with the effort of not bombarding him with a hundred questions.
"Master Quo was the only one of the Masters who didn't find my er, energy level to be distracting."
Aananda watches curiously, biting her lip with the effort of not bombarding him with a hundred questions."Like fireflies?" she asks, clearly confused.
"Um....yeah, a little bit like that. Hang on a second."
He rummages in his pack, pulling out a thin, rectangular item.
"How about I show you?" as he looks around for a bit of wall that is flat and not covered in equipment.
Tam finally finds a bit of wall that seems to suit his needs. He holds up the tablet and starts pressing his finger against the side facing him, and soft clicking and beeping sounds emit from the device. She notices that the side facing away is not uniformly smooth - it has seams and a glass-covered portion near the top.
After a moment, he looks up. "Okay - stand next to me and look at the wall."
As she turns, light comes from the small glass, and the wall is illuminated with a moving image of a young boy looking into some kind of eyeglass, pointed up at a black expanse filled with silver-white points of light. Some are brighter than others, some flicker, and some seem to suggest shapes when looked at collectively. The boy is talking in an excited tone to someone, and older voices can be heard responding to him.
"That's a night sky, and those are stars. And people can actually travel between them, to other worlds just like the one we're on now...and the one I was on here when I was a kid. Even after a lot of years of actually doing it, it's still pretty neat," he says, grinning at the antics of his younger self.
"Master Quo was the only one of the Masters who didn't find my er, energy level to be distracting."
Tam finally finds a bit of wall that seems to suit his needs. He holds up the tablet and starts pressing his finger against the side facing him, and soft clicking and beeping sounds emit from the device. She notices that the side facing away is not uniformly smooth - it has seams and a glass-covered portion near the top.
After a moment, he looks up. "Okay - stand next to me and look at the wall."
As she turns, light comes from the small glass, and the wall is illuminated with a moving image of a young boy looking into some kind of eyeglass, pointed up at a black expanse filled with silver-white points of light. Some are brighter than others, some flicker, and some seem to suggest shapes when looked at collectively. The boy is talking in an excited tone to someone, and older voices can be heard responding to him.
"That's a night sky, and those are stars. And people can actually travel between them, to other worlds just like the one we're on now...and the one I was on here when I was a kid. Even after a lot of years of actually doing it, it's still pretty neat," he says, grinning at the antics of his younger self.
Aananda's eyes widen. "They're so beautiful," she whispered. She reached out as if to touch the picture before remembering that what she saw wasn't real. "That's amazing. I can't believe that you have a device that makes an illusion of the past. And that sky. I've never even imagined anything like it."
For a few seconds at least, she was actually silent as she comtemplated the picture.
Aananda's eyes widen. "They're so beautiful," she whispered. She reached out as if to touch the picture before remembering that what she saw wasn't real. "That's amazing. I can't believe that you have a device that makes an illusion of the past. And that sky. I've never even imagined anything like it."
For a few seconds at least, she was actually silent as she comtemplated the picture.
"They're called datapads. They're like the computers in this city's library, just more portable. I can't tell you exactly how they work, but they're common enough to be almost invisible in the Empire."
He looks back to the movie on the wall.
"I just realized how weird it's going to be to not be able to look up and see them for a while...."
"Right. I'll be back in a few then!" He says with a smile. He then goes next door to the inn, grabs some forgiving food for eating and working, and comes back over to talk shop. When he sees Kannic, he says:"Kannic, I'll be next door in the shop. Aananda managed to find some sweet salvage and is working on some transportation for us. It might even be ready by dinnertime - I'll keep you posted! Do we have any more leads on this Keaton guy yet?"
Once he gets an update from Kannic, he goes back to the shop with the food and sets it up someplace that will be out of the way. He made sure to brind some dwarven fare for Thorg should he want anything.
Kannic tries to hold back on the level of trouble involved, but fails.
"Tamrin, how long have you known Ryo? This be dark trouble we're chasin'. Vampires have 'connections'...family. Family can...err...complicate what needs to be done. Those complications can lead to all sorts of backlash. Think on this while you're at the shop. I have something that needs doing."
He heads to his room
"I just realized how weird it's going to be to not be able to look up and see them for a while...."
Kannic tries to hold back on the level of trouble involved, but fails.
"Tamrin, how long have you known Ryo? This be dark trouble we're chasin'. Vampires have 'connections'...family. Family can...err...complicate what needs to be done. Those complications can lead to all sorts of backlash. Think on this while you're at the shop. I have something that needs doing."
He heads to his room
"Um - not long. He found me out in the woods a few days north of the city when I arrived here. Why?" he asks as Kannic heads off to his room.
"Hmmm."
"They're called datapads. They're like the computers in this city's library, just more portable. I can't tell you exactly how they work, but they're common enough to be almost invisible in the Empire."
He looks back to the movie on the wall.
"I just realized how weird it's going to be to not be able to look up and see them for a while...."
"Yeah, I guess so. Wow. I never realized other places could be so fascinating."
She shrugged."I never wanted to leave the Temple. Chan used to make fun of that, call me a scaredy-cat. I guess he was right," she added, looking away. "When I was sent away it felt like the end of the world. I'd never been any further than a half day's journey from the Temple before. I'm still trying to get used to so many new things."
"But maybe it really was for the best," she said, smiling. "I never realized that meeting new people and going new places would be so exciting. No wonder you enjoy traveling around so much."
"I just realized how weird it's going to be to not be able to look up and see them for a while...."
"I just realized how weird it's going to be to not be able to look up and see them for a while...."
"I just realized how weird it's going to be to not be able to look up and see them for a while...."
"Yeah, I guess so. Wow. I never realized other places could be so fascinating."
She shrugged.
"I never wanted to leave the Temple. Chan used to make fun of that, call me a scaredy-cat. I guess he was right," she added, looking away. "When I was sent away it felt like the end of the world. I'd never been any further than a half day's journey from the Temple before. I'm still trying to get used to so many new things."
"But maybe it really was for the best," she said, smiling. "I never realized that meeting new people and going new places would be so exciting. No wonder you enjoy traveling around so much."
"I found out pretty quick that it's a lot more interesting to learn about people and places in person than just through a book alone," he says with a smile as he turns off the movie.
"My folks decided to do some travelling for their work once I graduated from academy, so I decided to head out into the Black with them, at least for a while. It was really exciting, even more so when I decided to start wandering around on my own. These two feet have taken me all kinds of places, both good and not-so-good. It's never been dull, that's for sure."
He looks thoughtful for a moment.
"Tell you what - if we can take care of this Keaton business, we'll try to carve out some time and I can show you some more stuff about the places I've been. I know it can't compete with the thrill of making things like this," as he picks up some random vehicle part, "work again - but it might illustrate my point rather than just talking about it," he says with a grin.
He looks thoughtful for a moment.
"Tell you what - if we can take care of this Keaton business, we'll try to carve out some time and I can show you some more stuff about the places I've been. I know it can't compete with the thrill of making things like this," as he picks up some random vehicle part, "work again - but it might illustrate my point rather than just talking about it," he says with a grin.
She laughed. "That sounds wonderful. Now hand me that compressor so I can get back to work," she added with a grin, holding out her hand.
She laughed. "That sounds wonderful. Now hand me that compressor so I can get back to work," she added with a grin, holding out her hand.
He looks thoughtful for a moment.
"Tell you what - if we can take care of this Keaton business, we'll try to carve out some time and I can show you some more stuff about the places I've been. I know it can't compete with the thrill of making things like this," as he picks up some random vehicle part, "work again - but it might illustrate my point rather than just talking about it," he says with a grin.
"You're the boss," he says with a respectful bow (though he's still grinning) as he carefully hands the compressor back to her.
After a couple of hours, the pile of parts is starting to look a lot like a hoverbike. Only a few parts remain on the floor beside Aananda.
"So you were going to tell me what it is that you tinkered with. Or at least I think that you agreed to that. I forget."
"I just realized how weird it's going to be to not be able to look up and see them for a while...."
After a couple of hours, the pile of parts is starting to look a lot like a hoverbike. Only a few parts remain on the floor beside Aananda.
"So you were going to tell me what it is that you tinkered with. Or at least I think that you agreed to that. I forget."
After a couple of hours, the pile of parts is starting to look a lot like a hoverbike. Only a few parts remain on the floor beside Aananda.
"So you were going to tell me what it is that you tinkered with. Or at least I think that you agreed to that. I forget."
"Oh. Yeah. Tinkering...hmmm. Small arms - handguns mostly. Though I do occasionally work on...special commissions."
He crouches down next to Aananda and shows her what appears (at least at first glance) to be a breach load for some type of handgun. Her expert eye notices that there is strange, very fine detailing on it...
After a couple of hours, the pile of parts is starting to look a lot like a hoverbike. Only a few parts remain on the floor beside Aananda.
"So you were going to tell me what it is that you tinkered with. Or at least I think that you agreed to that. I forget."
"Oh. Yeah. Tinkering...hmmm. Small arms - handguns mostly. Though I do occasionally work on...special commissions."
He crouches down next to Aananda and shows her what appears (at least at first glance) to be a breach load for some type of handgun. Her expert eye notices that there is strange, very fine detailing on it...
"That's fascinating. What does it do?" She asked, examining the small items. "And what is a 'handgun'?"
"That's fascinating. What does it do?" She asked, examining the small items. "And what is a 'handgun'?"
She notices that the detailing is in fact a complex set of runic characters etched into the metal. She doesn't know what they mean, and they're awfully hard to make out due to their small size.
"The item Kannic was getting ammunition for at the store he took us to is one type of handgun. It's a weapon that normally fires a projectile at long range and high speed. They hurt a lot when you get hit by one, so I don't advise being on the receiving end of them if you have a choice," Tam says, making a face.
"These are spare parts to a type of gun I made several years ago. All by hand, which was really tedious at some points," pointing at the small runes. "This one is where the 'projectile' would be loaded. I guess it would be easier to just show the whole thing," he says as he moves his duster to the side and very gently unholsters his Caster from his hip. She can see where this part would go on the back of the device, along with what appear to be other moving parts. At first glance the thing looks neglected and almost like a piece of junk, but she can tell that key parts of it are meticulously clean...
He heads to his room
He heads to his room
She notices that the detailing is in fact a complex set of runic characters etched into the metal. She doesn't know what they mean, and they're awfully hard to make out due to their small size.
"The item Kannic was getting ammunition for at the store he took us to is one type of handgun. It's a weapon that normally fires a projectile at long range and high speed. They hurt a lot when you get hit by one, so I don't advise being on the receiving end of them if you have a choice," Tam says, making a face.
"These are spare parts to a type of gun I made several years ago. All by hand, which was really tedious at some points," pointing at the small runes. "This one is where the 'projectile' would be loaded. I guess it would be easier to just show the whole thing," he says as he moves his duster to the side and very gently unholsters his Caster from his hip. She can see where this part would go on the back of the device, along with what appear to be other moving parts. At first glance the thing looks neglected and almost like a piece of junk, but she can tell that key parts of it are meticulously clean...
"Ah," she said, examining the handgun in his hands. She was clearly studying it, and her eyes darted quickly from one part to the next. "I presume there's a reason you don't want it to look all shiny? And do you happen to know exactly what that piece there does? I can't quite figure out the mechanism..."
"Er. Sorry. I get a little ummm, overly enthusiastic when I see a new piece of tech. I promise I won't try to disassemble it," she added with a self-conscious laugh.
In his room, Kannic goes over his options. Trying to help a genie in a cracked bottle is a fool's errand, but the young Seer seems to have his heart in the right place. The danger lies in the brother, Keaton. His knowledge of bloodlines warns him that the younger brother could have powers beyond a simple vampire. And his use of summoned creatures is a wild card. Placing the two in direct conflict will be dangerous, but it's likely the only way to put an end to the killings.
He thumbs through an old journal as he mulls over the dilemma, landing on the section where he had to kill his own cousins-turned-vampires.
"Ah," she said, examining the handgun in his hands. She was clearly studying it, and her eyes darted quickly from one part to the next. "I presume there's a reason you don't want it to look all shiny? And do you happen to know exactly what that piece there does? I can't quite figure out the mechanism..."
"Er. Sorry. I get a little ummm, overly enthusiastic when I see a new piece of tech. I promise I won't try to disassemble it," she added with a self-conscious laugh.
"Well, it's not just a piece of tech, which is why you probably can't figure out the mechanism," he says with an odd smile. "But that's by design. And trying to disassemble it would be pretty dangerous, so you'd better leave that to me if it becomes necessary."
He carefully lays the Caster out in both hands so she can examine it a little better.
"And as far as the looks - flashy can draw all kinds of unwanted attention. Since I tend to travel in places where things are well-used, it makes sense for my stuff to look the part."
"Ah," she said, examining the handgun in his hands. She was clearly studying it, and her eyes darted quickly from one part to the next. "I presume there's a reason you don't want it to look all shiny? And do you happen to know exactly what that piece there does? I can't quite figure out the mechanism..."
"Er. Sorry. I get a little ummm, overly enthusiastic when I see a new piece of tech. I promise I won't try to disassemble it," she added with a self-conscious laugh.
"Well, it's not just a piece of tech, which is why you probably can't figure out the mechanism," he says with an odd smile. "But that's by design. And trying to disassemble it would be pretty dangerous, so you'd better leave that to me if it becomes necessary."
He carefully lays the Caster out in both hands so she can examine it a little better.
"And as far as the looks - flashy can draw all kinds of unwanted attention. Since I tend to travel in places where things are well-used, it makes sense for my stuff to look the part."
"Yeah, that I can understand. I do the same with my hoverbike." She squints at the gun. "Oh, wow. It's just crawling with those weird little mites. Ummm. I'm kinda the only one I know who can see them," she said apologetically. "Master Quo always said that I was imagining them."
"Yeah, that I can understand. I do the same with my hoverbike." She squints at the gun. "Oh, wow. It's just crawling with those weird little mites. Ummm. I'm kinda the only one I know who can see them," she said apologetically. "Master Quo always said that I was imagining them."
He looks at her curiously.
"Mites?"
He starts looking carefully at the Caster, a hint of concern on his face.
"Yeah, that I can understand. I do the same with my hoverbike." She squints at the gun. "Oh, wow. It's just crawling with those weird little mites. Ummm. I'm kinda the only one I know who can see them," she said apologetically. "Master Quo always said that I was imagining them."
He looks at her curiously.
"Mites?"
He starts looking carefully at the Caster, a hint of concern on his face.
"Yeah. Here, and here, and ooh, there's a lot of them right here," she says unerringly pointing out all of the magic infused pieces of the Caster.
"Yeah. Here, and here, and ooh, there's a lot of them right here," she says unerringly pointing out all of the magic infused pieces of the Caster.
He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a pair of gloves, putting them on the table.
"If you'd humor a weird foreigner - take a look at those gloves, with the same scrutiny as you were giving to this. What do you see?"
"Yeah. Here, and here, and ooh, there's a lot of them right here," she says unerringly pointing out all of the magic infused pieces of the Caster.
[i]He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a pair of gloves, putting them on the table.
"If you'd humor a weird foreigner - take a look at those gloves, with the same scrutiny as you were giving to this. What do you see?"
She looks hard at the gloves for a minute. "Yeah, these have mites on them too. Just not as many as on your handgun."
She looked up at him. "Do you know what they are? You believe me that I really see them? They're not just imaginary?"