'Perhaps…' The man laced his long fingers together on his lap.
Arin sighed. 'Y'know, would it kill you for us to have one conversation where I don't have to keep digging for information at every turn?'
'Hm, no. I don't believe it would, Arin.' The man paused again, and Arin had to suppress a sudden urge to jump up and shake him by his broad shoulders.
Thankfully, the man started speaking again soon afterwards. 'I realize I may have conveyed my point with a touch too much enthusiasm' – really? Was that when you said it was good news your student had been killed, my guy? – 'so you should know that the chances of this having occurred are still rather low. All that has happened is that a new possibility has been introduced for our consideration.'
'Fair enough,' Arin shrugged. 'I'll take that. Something is better than nothing, anyway. So, there is a small chance that Rin is occupying my body, then?'
'Mm,' the white-haired man nodded. Regarding Arin with a slightly amused expression, he added, 'Do you suppose he'll face much trouble, if he is?'
Arin tilted his head, thinking for a moment. 'Uh, I don't think so,' he said. 'He'd probably be safer there. No one's actively trying to kill me in my world, anyway.'
Not unless you counted his boss, who'd definitely been trying very hard, and for many years, to kill his spirit.
…Oh well, he had a feeling that someone used to dealing with fratricide attempts wouldn't be too affected by semi-coerced unpaid overtime.
Arin tapped a finger on the armrest of his chair. Part of him couldn't help but hope that Rin really had been transported into his body, at the moment of his supposed death. Since Rin's body had had no visible injuries when he'd first appeared, maybe his own body back home had also somehow escaped its fate, miraculously unscathed.
And if he really was safe… then maybe his family wouldn't have to worry or grieve for him.
That'd be for the best.
Eventually, he spoke again. 'I've been meaning to ask for a while now, but… what, exactly, is your plan to return us to our rightful bodies? Tell me everything; the method, the steps, and whatever things I'll need to do for it to work. I promise, I'll do my best.'
The man before him didn't respond immediately. He'd been leaning back in his chair, looking up at the constellations painted on his room's domed ceiling. Arin glanced to follow his gaze, wondering if astrology was also a thing in this world. His childhood crush had been very into that stuff, and things hadn't worked out with her because he himself had never made it past learning he had a Pisces sun. Or was it moon? Whatever that meant.
After a few more seconds, the man finally looked back down, a small smile playing on his lips.
'I have no concrete method in mind. In turn, there are no steps for us to be following at present either. I am, however, gladdened to hear that you will be doing your best. And as for what you can do – ' he continued, holding up a finger to cut off Arin's dismayed 'Huh!?' – 'well, you can learn to emulate my student's mannerisms, travel to the capital city undiscovered, and find a way to gain access to a certain tool stored in its vaults.'
'What tool?' Arin furrowed his brows.
'Not yet,' the man said. 'First things first, Arin; this is the last time I shall refer to you as such. You will now be Rin. And what better way to begin than by pulling wool over his fellow disciples' eyes?'
'Hang on!' Arin interjected. 'All I know about the guy is that he's unexpressive and gloomy.'
'Astute. Then you already know how you must behave.'
'No, I don't! For starters, didn't you say he had some beast-bonding powers? All I have is Tarra! And while I'm grateful for all her help, I'm still not too sure she accepts me.'
'If Tarra didn't accept you, she'd have long since bitten off all your limbs and presented me with the parts for us to fix before bringing him back,' the man responded. 'Instead, it seems she likes you enough to cooperate with your guise.'
'Oh.' Arin shuddered slightly as he remembered that brief moment of deep, inexplicable fear he had experienced while facing her horse-form in the clearing. He was suddenly very aware of the snake's slender body that remained coiled around his ankle.
'But I should mention that, to everyone else besides Rin and myself, Tarra is a simple winged-horse. A common beast of transportation in our world. You must make sure to keep her… other abilities, to yourself.'
'Ah, okay.'
Perfect. More secrets. More stuff for him to figure out.
'As for Rin's skill with summoning beasts, hmm…' The man stroked his chin contemplatively. 'I did mention that his true talent was not what he revealed to the world. Any displays of it came from the use of a camouflaging tool I gave him.'
He suddenly flicked his wrist, and Arin saw a small blur move through the air in an arc towards him.
He caught it, and looked down to see a thin, silver bracelet. It was dull and unadorned, and he might have even mistaken it for a loop of gray thread if not for the cool, metallic touch against his fingertips.
'Wear that, and think of a beast – any beast – that you might need in battle. It shall appear. Of course, it will all be an illusion with limited power, so I'd advise the use of caution against making overly grand displays. At least for now, while you are still unaware of the ways of our world, use it only to make an escape. If you and Tarra learn to cooperate, there might be some ways for you to trick stronger adversaries without giving away her abilities.'
Arin blinked, then shook his head. 'Uh… 'battle'? 'Make an escape'? 'Stronger adversaries'? Sorry, what are you talking about?'
The white-haired man smiled. 'Since we are putting your performance to the test, you will now be accompanying one of your fellow disciples on an assignment. It is imperative that you gain experience and successfully play the part without being found out. If you fail, it would simply mean that proceeding to the capital would be the equivalent of walking to your own doom.'
'Assignment? Can't I just… I don't know, start with fooling the others while still in your tower? Wouldn't that be far safer?'
The man's smile widened, lighting up his beautiful face. 'No,' he said pleasantly. He added nothing further.
Arin huffed.
On-the-job training, was it?
Sure. Whatever. He could manage. There was, however, one more thing he'd need to know.
'What if I'm attacked by Rin's brother while carrying out this assignment? Isn't he still out there?'
The man laughed softly. 'Ralen should be temporarily subdued following his recently failed attempt. As long as you don't travel too near the capital, or its surrounding cities, you shall not be facing him or his confidantes any time soon.'
Arin nodded slowly. 'Since Rin's family is based in the capital…' he observed, trailing off.
The man inclined his head. 'Since our royal family is based in the capital city, indeed.'
…
Wait, what?