Alaric left the Core Compound, determined to find the answers he needed to make his decision.
Ciprian didn't know that the mental summons he was so fond of using to get Alaric to jump when he called him had turned into a link that allowed Alaric to feel the other man's presence if he tried hard enough, and Alaric preferred to keep it that way. It wasn't a skill he enjoyed using considering Ciprian's presence was typically the last thing he wanted to feel, but he did appreciate that it allowed him to find time to be alone with Loma on those rare occasions when he actually had time to spare.
Today it would be useful for something less enjoyable.
He reached out through the link with his spirit, seeking confirmation of Ciprian's whereabouts while being careful not to alert him of his intent, but unable to make a connection. Just as he was about to give up and return to Loma, he sensed the faint flicker of Ciprian's energy.
