"It is okay to read. And Teronmas went out on an errand, but he did mention that you're under a temporary literacy spell."

He nods. "I- yes, sir."

"Do you want the less temporary version?"

Parafi brightens slightly. "I- if that's okay? Please?"

"Sure. Are you okay with pausing your reading?"

He pauses, hand lingering on his book. "-I can come back to it?"

"You're not to bookmark the books by folding the corner or similar damage, but yes."

"I'll remember where I was," Parafi states with surprising surety. "But yeah. Now is good."

"Okay, follow me. And I am Fenrad, by the way."

He follows, and nods. "Pleased to meet you, sir."

"Likewise. Are you finding the Temple comfortable so far?"

"Yes. It's- peaceful."

"Fitting." Fenrad comments absently. They are back at the Vaesteri's place of residence again.

And again, Parafi makes it blatantly obvious that he is being very careful not to touch anything.

Dal-Yora crosses them down the hallway, talking to a secretary looking person, she waves. The two are clearly Too Busy for Small Talk.

...Oh. Good. He doesn't have to try and make his way through that then. But look at him being very well behaved and not attacking anyone or anything.

He hopes they aren't going to be here for long.

"There is no need to be nervous." Fenrad says while they set up the ritual.

"I- um. Not used to- any of this, sir," he gestures around at the Vaesteri residence in all its grandeur.

"Ah. Yeah, I guess it has that effect. I don't know the details of why you're worried, but they are not really warranted."

"I- yes. As you say."

Finishing off ritual preparation?

Yep. The ritual itself takes longer than the previous one. But isn't meaningfully harder.

He follows any instructions he's given, quickly and efficiently, eager for this to be done.

(His mind quietly reminds him that payment is going to be due...)

And done. It feels very much like the same. "There."

"I really am very grateful, sir," Parafi says, stepping a little closer, half waiting for a cue.

Does staring at Parafi with a flat-yet-judgemental look while floating a step away counts as a cue?