Shadowburn (2)

Chapter 13

Several books lay sprawled out in front of Andreas on his desk, most haphazardly thrown about. Some of the books were open with the covers facing up, others closed, and some were just stacked on top of each other in whatever manner he had found most convenient at the time. None of them had what he was looking for.

How was it that in all his time studying magic, he'd never come across a language spell? He loved learning new languages, was fluent in every one in the entire world -- well, in this one -- but he'd never needed aide in learning one before. There were always books he could peruse in order to teach it to himself.

Sin's language, however, the one he'd heard her speak in the Nox, wasn't of his world. There was no way he could learn it the traditional way, and asking her to teach him... well that would ruin the surprise. He didn't know why he was so adamant about surprising her, with giving her this small gift. But, it nagged on him, ever since she showed up on his doorstep speaking fluent Eerean. It wasn't fair that she had to be the only one making the adjustment.

Though, if he was being honest with himself, he didn't find it fair that she was allowed to learn a new language and he wasn't. He'd run out of ones that he could learn. This was something new, something he could focus his attention on. It had been so long that he had such a clear, easily achievable purpose that didn't loom somewhere in the future.

He could finish this by tonight if he so desired. If only he could find that blasted spell.

It was somewhere in one of his magic books. He knew it was. He remembered reading about it years ago when he first studied the books, but never bothered with it. It was so much more fun to actually spend the time to learn the language.

However, he didn't have that luxury now.

He really wanted to give her something... something that was special. She did, after all, give up her entire world to come to him. How did one go about repaying something like that? Andreas wasn't used to repaying anyone for anything. It had been years since he'd even allowed himself to care for someone. And as much as he had been trying to fight it and deny it, he was starting to care for her. Might already be there.

He couldn't remember how one was supposed to go about showing that.

One thing he knew about her, the only reason he hadn't tried to push her away, was that she could take care of herself. He'd seen it with his own eyes. He also knew how hard it was for her to let someone in the way she had him. Truthfully, she was a million steps ahead of him. And she'd already shown him she cared in the biggest way possible.

Andreas rubbed his temples, sighing deeply.

He was getting a headache. Figuring out how to show someone he cared about them was exhausting. At least ten years had passed since he'd even had to consider the feelings of another person.

He dropped onto his arms, deciding to rest his eyes for a bit, when he heard someone pounding on his study door. Of course, the moment he decided to rest someone would want to disrupt him. If it was Kalen, he'd kick his ass for this.

He waved his hand, allowing the door to open and permitting whoever was outside entrance.

Sin marched into the room, her gait very determined, and her expression extremely frustrated. She held a book up irritably, without even bothering to look around like she normally would've. She waved the book at him. "What, by all that is an echo, is the matter with this language?" Her tone matched her expression, though, there may have been even more frustration in it, Andreas thought.

He regarded her curiously, slightly annoyed by her timing, and pinched the bridge of his nose before leaning back in his chair, raking a hand through his dark hair. "What language?" he asked impatiently.