A Different Path

Chapter 2

"I've noticed," Narinder was aware of her different religion, but he didn't know it well.

"Sorry if this makes things awkward..." Rose wasn't sure what to say now.

"... Come, it is getting dark." He said.

Rose nodded and followed him. Narinder led her back up his office where the book she had been reading was. It was when he went to get it from its shelf that she spoke up.

"Narinder? Could we perhaps get to know each other for today?" Rose asked of him.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"We talk and get to know one another. You learn about me, I learn about you. It's usually how friends begin," Rose explained.

"I wouldn't know," he put the book back. "But if that is what you'd like."

"It is," Rose nodded.

"Very well," Narinder sat down.

The two started to talk and chat, learning about themselves. Rose told him more about her species and even let him touch her wings. Narinder in turn told her what he could about his life.

"I am unfortunate enough to recall my time before the Crown, as it is what brought me to claim it. However, after obtaining it, I was raised by my two elder siblings. And in turn aided in raising the younger two," Narinder told her.

"Hm, it somewhat reminds me of how I met my siblings in arms. We started out as strangers, but we eventually became friends, and then called each other brothers and sisters," Rose took out a picture of them five.

Narinder looked at the photo. "My eldest sibling calls it 'found family'."

Rose smiled fondly. "That's what we call it too."

In the photograph, Lumos had his arm around Brightstar while Callisto had his arm around Rose, and Ayato was hugging them all.

"Your family looks lovely," Narinder said.

"Thank you. This was taken almost a century ago, back when we were all much younger. It was my blood brother who took it," Rose took out another picture. "This is the one with him in it. A friend took it for us."

"These are very detailed drawings," h commented.

"They're called photographs. With the right spell, a special moment can be captured and visually recorded in the blink of an eye. It took so long to develop that spell too..." Rose recalled all the mishaps that came with that one...

"Fascinating," he was genuinely intrigued in what she had to say.

Rose told him how the spell was developed as a faster way to record things since no one had time to draw battles. It took a lot of work and people ended up temporarily blinded from the bright flash required to brighten things up... Narinder listened to every detail, even snickering a bit at the funny moments that occurred with the flash.

"There are still a few bugs to work out, but that's all we have for the moment," Rose finished.

"Amazing," Narinder was impressed.

"And convenient," she said.

Rose told him about Noonveil, how she helped magic users escape persecution, and make the barrier that protects her home. She was a bit hesitant to say that she ended up killing a man once... Specifically the Magic Inquisitor... it was in self-defense and the man was a sadist. Narinder didn't mind at all. In fact, he told her how he had slain many gods, most of which were pretty bad and would be worse if they weren't put down. He then got to the topic about his family and Rose listened once more.