[ He's transparent in that respect β he's a man who appreciates a point of focus, whether it's her, or a new language (or two), or personal grooming, or some as-yet-undiscovered branch of necromancy, and he's content, for now, with their visits to the Sibling (who is at least a little less nervous around them that she was during their first encounter) as far as unraveling any further secrets about this place. And, if he's being honest with himself, he appreciates the excuse to center his efforts on her. There's nothing like embarrassment or doubt in his voice when he whispers the phrases she teaches him back to her, unbothered by the discrepancy in anatomy.
When he wakes to the two letters, he reads the one written in French, first β better practice β treating both just as carefully as the book that accompanies them, his fingers hovering over but never touching the script except to turn the pages. There's a sketch of Manfred, done in the style of the illustrations in the book, waiting for her along with his letter, placed on her dresser sometime during the middle of the day. ]
Lβamour de ma vie,
That's quite right β I suppose the only difference is that he was never alive. Such is what separates spirits and souls, at least as we define them in my world; a soul is the core of a living being, whereas a spirit originates from the Fade, an energy or idea given form rather from what was once immaterial. It is what makes him remarkable to me; I've seen many spirits in my lifetime, but never once one with such a strong will to truly live.
Thank you, my dear, for the book - and for the dance. I'd say I find it surprising that such a legend would still allow for so much fear of death, and yet β what little I've learned of the nature of Christianity, at the risk of sounding simplistic, makes the reasoning somewhat more clear to me.
All that said, tt seems, then, that we've come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. And I must confess I feel quite spoiled, myself β you're quite the generous teacher. As strict as you told me you'd be, I find myself looking forward to our lessons.
no subject
When he wakes to the two letters, he reads the one written in French, first β better practice β treating both just as carefully as the book that accompanies them, his fingers hovering over but never touching the script except to turn the pages. There's a sketch of Manfred, done in the style of the illustrations in the book, waiting for her along with his letter, placed on her dresser sometime during the middle of the day. ]