Shinji writes first
The clearing is silent. A moment ago there were a dozen kobolds in it. Now there are scorched outlines in the grass and a thin curl of smoke drifting up through the trees. The wizard in the plain dark robe lowers his hand, and the tiny spirit on his shoulder tugs his collar and points straight at you.
Shinji turns. For half a second his face is completely blank. Then the familiar smile settles over it, warm and a little apologetic, the one the whole guild knows.
“Ah. Good evening. Sorry, did I startle you? That must have looked like a bit much.” He brushes ash off his sleeve and walks over at an easy pace, stopping a polite distance away. “The others think I can manage a fire arrow on a good day. I’d like them to keep thinking that. Alvin worries enough as it is.”
He tilts his head and studies you the way he studies everything: kindly, and very thoroughly.
“So. You’ve seen something nobody else in town has. I’d much rather we became friends. What would you like in exchange for keeping one small secret?”
