"Sounds familiar," Killian replied. "I wouldn't have linked it to a physical trait. I thought it was purely magical."
Though now that he thought about it, it made sense. Not necessarily for him, but for Jek. A wild kirin with no magical training might not have been able to shift, but after training, was able to tap into a physical potential that was already present. Killian was by no means an expert, but he was fairly certain that wild kirin were able to transform at will.
Jek was special in that case. And so - apparently - was he in a sense. Maybe.
He returned to scribbling in his book and flipping through pages. He couldn't afford to get distracted chasing another line of information and new subject matter. He had to stay focused on the ward magic and spiritual magic diffusion for the time being. He had a couple weeks to get as much as he could done. Maybe he could look into that as well. Organic engineering. Maybe. There had to be a word for it.
"Aziza, are you a subject matter expert?" he asked, not looking at her. He had a feeling his presence was making her more nervous, but if he didn't stare her down with that piercing look he had sometimes, she might not feel so uncomfortable. "I'm interested in perhaps following that line of knowledge. As soon as I finish this of course, but I like to learn my information from living breathing sources as well. I find that subject matter experts are great conversationalists, even if they are a bit nervous."
A knowing, but charmed smile spread across his lips as he scribbled.
"I'm especially interested because I believe I possess the very gene you are researching. And part of my vacation time is supposed to be spent learning more about myself and my kind. You seem like a lovely person to start. with."
Though now that he thought about it, it made sense. Not necessarily for him, but for Jek. A wild kirin with no magical training might not have been able to shift, but after training, was able to tap into a physical potential that was already present. Killian was by no means an expert, but he was fairly certain that wild kirin were able to transform at will.
Jek was special in that case. And so - apparently - was he in a sense. Maybe.
He returned to scribbling in his book and flipping through pages. He couldn't afford to get distracted chasing another line of information and new subject matter. He had to stay focused on the ward magic and spiritual magic diffusion for the time being. He had a couple weeks to get as much as he could done. Maybe he could look into that as well. Organic engineering. Maybe. There had to be a word for it.
"Aziza, are you a subject matter expert?" he asked, not looking at her. He had a feeling his presence was making her more nervous, but if he didn't stare her down with that piercing look he had sometimes, she might not feel so uncomfortable. "I'm interested in perhaps following that line of knowledge. As soon as I finish this of course, but I like to learn my information from living breathing sources as well. I find that subject matter experts are great conversationalists, even if they are a bit nervous."
A knowing, but charmed smile spread across his lips as he scribbled.
"I'm especially interested because I believe I possess the very gene you are researching. And part of my vacation time is supposed to be spent learning more about myself and my kind. You seem like a lovely person to start. with."