[color=#39b54a]“Oh, please don’t call me Mr. O’Toole,”[/color] he replied. [color=#39b54a]“You can just call me Loke.”[/color]

	The fellow sparrowman continued to smile, peering over to see Caelum’s work near completion.

	[color=#39b54a]“Your sketch looks good so far,”[/color] Loke continued. [color=#39b54a]“Perhaps one day we could do a private session together.”[/color]

	Caelum’s hand slowed to a stop. He slowly lifted his head, as if raising a lantern for illumination. Upon eyeing the mischievous grin, Caelum was met with a knowing wink.

	[i]He had been thoroughly illuminated.[/i]

	Caelum gave a subtle, awkward smile that was equal parts uncertain and flattered, and returned to his work. Loke decided to make himself comfortable in the gnarled roots beside him as he did so. It was strange, but mainly… [i]comforting[/i]. Caelum never really had visitors. When he did, however, it was a pleasant surprise that he quietly cherished.

	[color=#39b54a]“I’m just painting some homes that were recently built,”[/color] Loke began to answer Caelum’s question as he pulled something from his pocket.

	Caelum used a shard of a pebble to sharpen the remains of his twig as he listened.

	[color=#39b54a]“My associate is taking care of it while I am on break.”[/color]

	It was a pipe and tobacco. Caelum reached up to lend a hand.

	[color=#D86B3E]“Allow me, Mr. O’Toole.”[/color] he muttered, a slight curl to one corner of his mouth.

	He put his palm over the finely ground leaves, then moved his hand away to reveal a faint orange glow. A small snaking trail of smoke began to rise. Caelum then used his thumb and index finger to coax a fresh ignition from the freshly whittled twig. A moment of watching a strand of smoke rise, and he snuffed it with a slight wave from his hand. With that, he began the finishing touches, enjoying the friendly company while he finalized the image.

	For several moments, they sat in relative hush. Loke puffed on his pipe, and blew shapes with each exhalation. Caelum actually enjoyed that part a lot. Smoke was always fascinating to him.

	[color=#D86B3E]“You have quite a knack for that,”[/color] Caelum observed.

	Just then, Magnolia and her companion emerged from the depths and onto the shore. Loke noticed, too, smiling and waving at the pair after they had returned to the bank. Caelum had hoped to remain unnoticed… but when the light caught her—hair clinging like silk, form shimmering as if shaped by the lagoon itself—his concern faded like the smoke shapes from Loke’s pipe.

	Caelum gave the fairy a slow nod when she looked their way, with a tiny smile leaking out as he lowered the incomplete page and took up a fresh one, never taking his eyes off of her.

	[i]His muse was especially kind today.[/i]

	Seemingly without thought, his practiced hand began to dance upon the page, as it roughed out a particular pose he had seen her form take as she had emerged—she was almost one with the waters.

	[i]The Lagoon itself, incarnate.[/i]