Page 170 of Axis of Fire

And after throwing enough ruined sheets into the trash, you started feeling like an accomplice to murder.

Tree murder, specifically.

“What do you like working with?” I asked, pulling myself from my thoughts.

“Oil and acrylics.”

Of course.

The two most controllable options.

The answer suited him perfectly.

Silence settled between us again.

But thankfully, not for long.

“There’s a painting course in Istmond,” Airis said.

“Students don't just improve their skills there.”

He dipped a brush into paint while speaking.

“They learn trust.”

I looked up.

“Trust?”

“And understanding.”

His gaze remained on the canvas.

“They learn how the other person thinks.”

“How?”

“Two students work on the same painting.”

That immediately caught my attention.

“They take turns adding something of their own. Piece by piece, they start understanding each other's instincts, priorities, and habits.”

He paused briefly.

“How much they trust each other.”

Another brushstroke.

“How much they respect each other.”

I considered that for a moment.

“That’s actually a little terrifying.”

A corner of his mouth twitched.

“Most people say interesting.”