Piece by piece the archway came together, as though each stone, tiny and large, were delivered by a flock of black birds. The look on his face was different too--not the intensity of focus, which was relatively normal, but the little smile of pleasure he wore to watch something of his own creation come together.

After so long fighting his own magic, he'd almost forgotten that he could, in fact, gain properly-earned pleasure from it.

Finally he laid the cornerstones down carefully, first the one that would support the whole of the arch from the top, followed by the collection of obsidian and white-marble placed on it. Only then did he turn with the smile still lingering, already expecting Raine there, because no one else would have let him finish before speaking. "Good morning."