Mythshaper

Interlude III

Jinn

With the guild and the Legionaries' help, it didn't take them long to locate the rift and prepare for a final expedition to clear it once and for all. Jinn had enlisted his name in the mission even though they likely didn't require his help, but he'd still join them and make sure everything went accordingly.

So, here they were, at first light, standing at the foothills, waiting for everyone to arrive.

“Be careful out there," Ashlyn said, stretching his enchanted cloak’s wrinkled collar with her fingertips. “Corpse flies aren’t the strongest demon out there, but I don't have to tell you how tricky those blighted things can be.”

Jinn nodded, catching her palm to plant a kiss on the back of her hand. “With all the legionaries and the guildsmen there with us," he said, "I don’t think I would have to do a lot if everything went on as planned. I’d be paid for merely spectating.”

Ashlyn snorted. “As if that had ever stopped you from throwing yourself into a fight.”

"No promises," he said, shooting a lopsided grin.

Finally, his gaze turned towards his son. Arilyn was shooting him glances from the moment Jinn began preparing. Evidently, his son had something to say. Their relationship had grown by a fair margin since he started training him, and spending more time with him, but the boy was still hesitant to speak his mind sometimes.

Considering he was among the first to encounter those disgusting monsters, Arilyn had every right to fear, though it could be something deeper.

"I'll be fine, Son," Jinn assured, ruffling a palm over his head.

"Do you really have to go?" Arilyn finally asked, lips pressed to a thin line, as if he was leaving for a long time.