"One of the Nexus mages attempted to send him a message on my behalf." And if Stratos had any doubts about strange foreign magic, or if his faith in Jim's survival is less about evidence than refusing the alternative... he's not going to admit that. It's not a discussion either of them needs.
"She was certain of his condition, though as to where he could be found or how to reach him... one moment, excuse me." He's frowning deeply at the message waiting on his phone, fumbling a reply to Felix on the little keypad.
He doesn't have to wait on an answer himself: there's a little PINpoint flash as another man appears beside them. He's about ten years younger than the tribune, a bit shorter and lighter-built under his rumpled blue tunic and trousers. His hair is still odd - the black is growing in again, giving him dark uneven roots and small streaks in otherwise stark white hair.
There's enough similarity in their features to guess this is Stratos's brother, even before he turns right on the tribune and exclaims, "I got a message!"
Stratos glances apologetically at the captain. "Yes, I sent-"
"No, I mean Jim sent a message, Stratos. At least I think it was him. But all he sent was a string of-" The wild-eyed young mage takes note of the other Jim standing there at last, and his expression changes rapidly much as the elder Caelus's did earlier. A split second of stunned hope- and then his eyes narrow sharply. He sounds much calmer when he asks frostily, "Who is this?"
Sorry Jim, Stratos got run over by the timey-wimey ball there
"She was certain of his condition, though as to where he could be found or how to reach him... one moment, excuse me." He's frowning deeply at the message waiting on his phone, fumbling a reply to Felix on the little keypad.
He doesn't have to wait on an answer himself: there's a little PINpoint flash as another man appears beside them. He's about ten years younger than the tribune, a bit shorter and lighter-built under his rumpled blue tunic and trousers. His hair is still odd - the black is growing in again, giving him dark uneven roots and small streaks in otherwise stark white hair.
There's enough similarity in their features to guess this is Stratos's brother, even before he turns right on the tribune and exclaims, "I got a message!"
Stratos glances apologetically at the captain. "Yes, I sent-"
"No, I mean Jim sent a message, Stratos. At least I think it was him. But all he sent was a string of-" The wild-eyed young mage takes note of the other Jim standing there at last, and his expression changes rapidly much as the elder Caelus's did earlier. A split second of stunned hope- and then his eyes narrow sharply. He sounds much calmer when he asks frostily, "Who is this?"