Page 38 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong (Lost Arts #2)

Chapter Sixteen

T he next day, as soon as Perian caught sight of Chamis in the training yard, he rushed over and flung himself at him.

“Thank you so much, Chamis,” he gushed. “It’s the most amazing gift ever.

Truly, it’s just so beautiful, and I can’t imagine how you made it, but you really have such talented hands.

His little face! It looks so much like him, and he stands just like that , and you got all the elements, and it’s just…

truly, I will treasure it forever, thank you so, so much. ”

A big hand rather tentatively patted him on the back.

“You’re welcome.”

Perian finally made himself let the man go.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I know that’s probably not your thing. I got a bit excited. Truly, I love it.”

Chamis was blushing, and he looked a little bashful, but he was smiling. “I’m glad.”

Bennan had come over and was beaming like he was the proudest partner ever, and Perian gave him a little wave and then left poor Chamis alone, because of course everyone was staring and probably thought Perian was now involved with him, too.

He rolled his eyes. He didn’t care, but Chamis wasn’t likely to need or want that sort of attention.

At least it was clear he and Bennan still got along, so hopefully no one thought Perian was trying to steal the big man.

Training went a little easier without Brannal glaring at everyone, although it made Perian realize he had definitely lost some of the ability he’d gained.

Onadal patted him on the shoulder. “It will come back. Being frustrated with yourself isn’t going to help.”

Perian huffed a laugh. “Does anyone saying that actually ever make anyone feel better and less frustrated?”

Shrugging, Onadal said, “Possibly not, but I’ve done my part. The rest is up to you.”

Perian pouted, which of course moved Onadal not at all, and that made Perian laugh a little.

He tried to focus on what he was doing, which worked until Brannal showed up. Perian thought at first it was just to swing by and glare at everyone, but then he realized he was actually singling Chamis out, and from the look of that blush, thanking him for the carving.

Oh, that was so sweet.

Brannal didn’t spend too long with him, and Perian noticed that Bennan had come over to support Chamis again. And Brannal totally did his Summus glare as he left, like he wanted to remind everyone he could appear at any moment and no one had better harm a hair on Perian’s head.

He was so cute when he was protective.

Perian was glad to get back into his old habits, to exercise more. Renny was keeping him constantly updated on her riding. When he asked, Kee said he could go to the stables when Renny was down there, but it didn’t do any good.

“He just feels awkward, standing there outside a stall when his horse doesn’t know he’s there. He prefers to stick near me.”

And there wasn’t anything Perian could say to that .

After dinner one night, when Brannal had to work late doing Summus things, Molun demanded, “What’s all this we’ve been hearing about an amazing statue? Why haven’t we seen it? Please tell me there really is an amazing statue and I’m not going to be utterly disappointed by the rumor mill.”

Perian grinned at him. “For once, the rumor mill is completely correct! Wow, we should probably throw a party in celebration!”

They laughed.

Perian continued, “No, but seriously, it is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen, and when you see it, you’re going to be completely blown away.”

Molun and Arvus exchanged glances.

“Now I just feel like you’re building it up so much that nothing is going to compare,” Molun told him.

“Nope, nope, it really is that good!” Perian said cheerfully, convinced they would be as impressed as he and Brannal had been.

As they reached the entrance to Brannal’s rooms, he told them to cover their eyes.

Molun was now eying him suspiciously. “Am I going to get a bucket of water dumped on me? Because I seem to remember a prank starting like this, and I’m not going to fall for it a second time.”

Perian laughed merrily. “Oh, did someone decide to get you back?”

“Someone absolutely did,” Arvus informed him.

Molun pouted. “But it’s my element . And people look so pretty when they’re wet.”

Perian grinned. “You have a point there, but as someone who’s been doused before, it’s not always the most pleasant of sensations. Do you think you could switch to warm water?”

Molun spluttered about how the temperature of the water was entirely arbitrary, and did he look like he controlled fire?

“Wait,” Perian said, distracted. “Does that mean Brannal could conjure warm water?”

Molun’s head tilted. “Actually, I don’t know. I feel like he might just conjure a lot of steam, to be honest.”

Perian hummed a noise. “Well, that sounds promising.”

“Hold on,” Arvus sternly. “I can see your mind going to the gutter as we watch. Keep in mind that a steam room might be fun, but steam can actually be extremely dangerous and burn you. Brannal might be one of the only people who could do this, and that probably means it hasn’t been studied much.

Don’t go getting ideas that are going to wind up with a visit to the doctor again. ”

Perian made a face. “Oh, yes, that makes total sense. Don’t worry.

Brannal is way more sensible than me.” He suddenly remembered what they were actually doing.

“Hey! No more distractions. I swear this is not for a bucket of water, though I will keep that in mind for the future. Both of you close your eyes—and then cover them with your hands, because I don’t trust some of you not to peek. ”

“Hey!” Molun protested.

“I will guide you to where I want you to stand. I won’t let you bump into anything, and it’s not a prank, I swear. I just want you to have the full effect, all right?”

Molun grumbled, but they both covered their eyes, and Perian opened the door and then guided first Arvus and then Molun into the room, because he definitely didn’t trust Molun on his own in front of the fireplace while he went to get Arvus.

Once they were both standing there, he let the tension build for a moment before he said, “All right, open them!”

They let their hands fall and opened their eyes, blinked for a moment, and then both saw the carving.

Molun’s mouth actually fell open, and Arvus’s eyes widened.

“Wow,” Molun breathed.

They both stepped closer, and Perian beamed as they examined it.

“Chamis made it,” he gushed. “And he gave it to me as a thank you for helping him and Bennan get together. Have you ever seen anything so amazing? I just couldn’t believe the detail and how he was able to capture Brannal and the elements and make everything look so alive .”

“It really is amazing,” Arvus agreed, staring at it. “You’re right, it’s like everything is one second away from moving, and if you glanced away, it would be in motion…”

“Exactly!” Perian exclaimed. “It’s like he managed to capture a tiny piece of Brannal and reconstruct it here. I just love looking at it. I mean, the real thing is better, but this is a close second.”

Molun snorted with laughter. “Oh, have you told Brannal that? I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear he ranks a bit above this statue.”

Perian nudged him. “That is not what I meant!”

But they all giggled and continued to admire the carving .

A few days later, Arvus tugged him aside in one of those rare moments where he wasn’t with Molun and asked if he thought Chamis would take a commission.

“I’d like to get something made for Molun,” Arvus said quietly.

Perian beamed at him. “Aw, that’s such a lovely idea. I’m not honestly sure, but I don’t think it would hurt to ask. Chamis is pretty shy, though, so you could always ask Bennan, who could relay the message.”

Arvus nodded. “I’ll do that. Thanks.”

Perian loved the idea of Chamis’s talents being displayed to more people, but he realized it was perhaps not something Chamis was expecting. At the next opportunity, he apologized to Bennan, who laughed and said they’d already had people asking, and Chamis was a little overwhelmed.

“Oh, no,” Perian said, feeling his heart drop. “I didn’t mean that, I was just so excited!”

But Bennan shook his head. “No, don’t worry about it.

I’ve stepped in as a sort of broker, and that leaves Chamis to just do the carving, which he loves to do anyway.

I think he’s still a little puzzled that people love the carvings as much as they do, but the fact they are so earnest about liking them means he wants people to have them.

With me doing most of the dealing with people, it leaves him to do what he loves. It’s working pretty well.”

Perian beamed at him, relief sweeping through him. “Oh, I’m so glad. And do please let him know I didn’t mean to make him uncomfortable, but I really do believe everyone should get to see just how amazingly talented he is.”

Bennan beamed at him. “I will.”

Yes, that was one proud partner right there, and Perian loved it. He was so glad for the little part he had played in helping to get them together. It made him determined to keep giving nudges if he saw the opportunity.

Perian asked for a few beginning texts on magic, which Brannal was confused about his wanting.

Perian shrugged. “I know I’m not ever going to be magical.”

Twenty-two was past the age where magic was going to manifest. He’d never felt drawn to a particular element—not that that necessarily meant anything.

Some people were strongly attracted to an element when young and subsequently manifested an ability to control it.

For others, though, it was a complete surprise, and sometimes it was even contrary to what they might expect.

There was no real evidence that anything actually influenced someone becoming a Mage, apart from an improved chance if a parent was a Mage.

Even then, it wasn’t guaranteed, and it didn’t even definitively indicate which element.