'In any case, that's not for us to deal with,' Arin said at last. 'As long as we keep our stories straight, we ourselves shall face no trouble with the officials.'
'Yes,' Siel nodded.
As Arin looked at the younger tower magician, he suddenly noticed the boy's lips twitch.
A small smile slowly spread across his face.
'What now?' Arin asked, confused, and somewhat wary about the sudden change of tone.
Had the pressure finally gotten to the kid?
'Ah, it's just that...' Siel quickly raised a hand to hide his smile, which had evolved into a larger, toothy grin now. He looked off to one side, possibly in an attempt to appear at least somewhat nonchalant.
That only made the crinkling at the corners of his eyes easier for Arin to notice.
???
He couldn't think of any reason why any of the things they'd just discussed would evoke such a reaction.
...Was the kid ok!?
'Speak, Siel,' he said, slightly worried now.
'Apologies, senior brother Rin!'
The boy straightened up. 'A sudden thought came to my mind; Once these matters have all been reported, and recorded by the officials - the two of us shall become well-known across the land!'
Arin blinked.
'After all, this will be the only recorded case of a distortion ending without great loss!' Siel exclaimed. He then took a deep breath , before opening his mouth again.
Arin braced himself.
The kid was on a roll now.
'And while, yes, some people did indeed die, thousands of other were saved,' Siel laughed. 'Even those who had already been targeted by the distortion! Such a thing is unheard of!'
'Truly, once I'd learned of what we were facing, even I had believed we could only meet death at the end of that road. I only persisted because of the faith I have in you. And you did it!'
'You went back into the dream, and saved the residents of Silvershade. So many people, who would all have been declared dead by any other magician, even while their lungs still drew in breaths.'
'But you are different, senior brother Rin! I've always known that to be true! Given your identity -'
All of a sudden, the younger tower magician caught Arin's eye and stopped. He drew in a sharp gasp of breath, and his large eyes widened in...
...fear?
Now, Arin was seriously worried.
Worried about the becoming 'well-known across the lands' part, yes. Obviously.
He couldn't afford to have too many eyes on him while he was still wearing Rin's identity like an ill-fitting shirt.
But more so, worried about Siel.
Seriously, what was up with him?
Why was he flipping moods like channels on cable TV? Going from serious and contemplative, to overjoyed, to now fearful.
Whatever it was...
'It's ok,' he said soothingly, hoping to calm the kid down first.
'I'm sorry! I - I didn't mean to! I just found out -!' Siel cried at the same time.
...huh?
Siel had stepped up to him, and was now speaking in a hushed, yet just as panicked voice. 'Your - your identity! It was an accident. I swear, senior brother. You must believe me when I say I wasn't snooping!'
It took Arin a moment to realize what the younger tower magician was talking about.
It was what the white-haired tower master had mentioned to him just a few days ago, while they'd been discussing Rin's family.
Something about it being based in the capital city.
About it being the royal family of this empire.