[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/c3d3f7d6-605b-4375-8e41-965765b1aa79.gif[/img][/center]
Aaron could feel fatigue creeping in as he worked, but he was so accustomed to it that it only served to encourage him, letting him know he was accomplishing something. Much like learning a new technique with Lucan, each attempt felt a little more controlled than the last, and recognizing his mistakes and how to fix them ratcheted up his confidence a little each time. He didn’t even notice the time passing until Professor Daun spoke up to tell him class was over. 

With a deep breath he hadn’t noticed he needed, Aaron straightened from the hunch he’d sunk into while he worked, cracking his back and looking around like he’d forgotten what room he was in. In a way he had; even now his mind was swarmed with butterflies as his concentration reluctantly faded away. Aaron would have preferred to practice longer, but Daun’s praise was welcome, and his stomach complained almost on cue at the mention of eating. 

[color=f0d705]“Yes sir,”[/color] he muttered amicably, giving the professor a smile with his thanks as he gathered up his things. 

Out in the brisk winter air, the snap of cold helped Aaron shake off the fog of intense focus completely – of course, with the unwelcome side effect of remembering all the things other than magic that demanded his attention tonight. A glance at his phone for his schedule reminded him about Varis’ proposal; one that, if he was smart, he’d spend every spare moment weighing. Not that there was much to weigh – in every sense he’d already basically accepted. What choice did he have? It wasn’t like he could refuse. Even if Varis kept him around and didn’t dispose of him outright, there was no way he could serve a master who couldn’t trust him. The very thought brought back a wave of the intense shame he’d felt when Varis told him so. He meant what he said; whoever he was, it wasn’t right to force a vampire to live with a mage he couldn’t trust. And how could Aaron live with himself knowing he was nothing but an untrustworthy burden, rather than an asset? That would be a fate worse than expulsion from service altogether. 

No, he wasn’t so much considering his choice as he was dreading what it [i]meant.[/i] As much as he tried to convince himself that his old life didn’t matter, he couldn’t just shake off twenty-one years of utter devotion. And Starag or not, [i]any[/i] mage would be daunted by the complete loss of contact with his family for a whole year, not to mention being banned from seeking Princess Ryner’s counsel. He knew this was the only respectable choice, but that didn’t stop him from agonizing over it. 

It took Aaron a moment to realize he’d just been standing in the snow, but an insistent nudge from his stomach reminded him that he only had half the usual lunch period to eat and get going. Trying to leave his dark thoughts outside, he rushed to the dining hall, letting the warmth and the hum of conversation distract him for the moment. There was something else demanding his attention too – Lilie!

Just the name in his head lifted Aaron’s spirits.. Right, he’d promised her they’d meet at lunch, and talk about that lovely little date she wanted to treat him to! A giddy warmth replaced the growing knot in his chest at the thought, and his eyes brightened as he looked around the dining hall, searching for a streak of white among the heads of the students. 

[right][sub][@Hero][/sub][/right]