Like a real spark on dry wood, the flames of excitement spread in Abrial's mind, igniting her chest and her limbs, even crackling slightly in her eyes. Without her noticing, her mood had entirely shifted. Where a moment ago she had been that numb, lifeless ghost, now a smile creeped across her cracked lips, and her eyes glinted with a hint of scarlet. She was transforming again into the picture of an insane person, crazed by rage and glee. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse like the scraping of an ax on stone.
"This tattoo…is very special to me…" She chuckled. The chuckling was involuntary. It slipped out with her words like air. "It was drawn…by my mother…"
"Oh?" Magnus's eyes lit up, and he pressed her face further to the side to examine the tattoo with relish. "It must be very important to you, then, heh. You even spoke for the first time today!"
