an impromptu chapter

Atalanta dropped a kiss on top of Rin's head as she made her way into their shared apartment. Rin didn't even look up as she was preoccupied with the large tomes and papers that currently filled the living room. It was almost comical how cute Rin was when she was concentrating. Her brow was furrowed, her blue eyes laser focused on her notes and her dark hair pulled back haphazardly. The small child would blindly reach out for a book every once in a while. In this particular situation, Rin's hand was met with air. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline as a look of annoyance crossed her face. The sheer effort of looking up was clearly evident as Rin scowled.

"Homework?"

Rin blinked owlishly as searched the room for the source of the voice. Her blue eyes questioning as it landed on Atalanta who waved from the couch. Rin sheepishly gave her a small smile before reaching across the table to grab the book she had been searching for. Rin blew her bangs from her face as she greeted Atalanta who repeated her question as she pointed to the mess around them. Rin had more or less taken over the entire room.

"Something like that..." Rin's soft voice said. "Just some light reading..." She made a face at the books which made Atalanta laugh. Rin smiled at the at sound. She had been on a non stop research and reading binge. When she got into these run's Rin pretty much shut out everything and everyone. Time slipped away from her. Rin would spend hours in the library or basically anywhere she could spread out and lose herself. Glancing at the clock behind Atalanta, it seemed as if she missed dinner today. Then as if on cue, Rin's stomach grumbled in hunger.

"Don't worry, Berserker said he'd bring you back something. "

Rin ducked in her in embarrassment at the words. Had she been so engrossed that she hadn't even noticed his presence? Apparently so, since he knew she'd be hungry when she finally came up from the hole of research she had burrowed herself into. Rin knew if failure was any measure of success, than Rin was certainly due for a win. But Rin being Rin had gotten somewhat sidetracked after finding a footnote in a rather obscure text. It wasn't that Rin had been surprised. It had just gotten the gears in her head working.

"Make any progress?"

A frown made its way to Rin's face as she ran her hands over the book in her hands. It wasn't a book she would have normally looked at. Just a fairly simple book on magical theories and what not. Something not particular essential to her current research but it solidified something she had already known deep down. It wasn't even a famous magician who wrote the book. She supposed it was helpful in the end- if anything just to confirm her suspicions.

"I just wanted to check something..." Rin looked back down at her notes. "...Turns out I was right all along."

Atalanta titled her head waiting for Rin to continue. For it seemed it was something that Rin wanted to say aloud.

"..Just that magic..." Lowering her eyes, Rin closed her eyes for a moment, holding the book close to her chest before smiling sadly. "... comes from pain…"

If anyone needs a show to watch: The Magicians on Syfy(Also on Netflix) is awesome. It inspired this chapter which is where the quote came from.