"Slacker, can you teach me Blackfield?"
The question had come out of nowhere.
Since Soren had begun the day again, making such an out-of-the-blue request was weird.
After all, to them, this was the first time Vinegar was introducing Soren to Slacker.
Fortunately, Soren had asked only after the introductions.
Otherwise, it would have been unsettling—almost off-putting—to know Slacker's name before being told.
Slacker paused, those narrow eyes looking to Vinegar, and then they traced back to Soren.
"No."
The answer was flat.
It surprised Soren. "Why?"
A reasonable question, in his opinion. The others had been willing to teach him—eager, even.
"Reason...hmm." Slacker flipped the map closed. Then he glanced towards Vinegar again.
Soren caught it.
"She will hurt," Slacker replied.
Soren didn't understand what the man was getting at. "Please, I really need to learn it."
"No." The answer came without further explanation.
