“So, your mom gave you a healing spell?” Violet asked. Crystal was holding the sheet of paper in her hands, reading it over and over. It had been a while since she had learned a new type of spell. “How does it work?”

“I think it is just a focus spell,” Crystal said, still staring at the paper. “If I focus my magic on my knee, it should heal. Maybe?”

Crystal looked up from the paper. “Okay, here goes.” As she focused on her knee, Crystal felt something inside of her snap. Magical power flowed through her in a way she had not felt before. Usually, she would move small pools of magic to her hands or to her muscles. This felt more like rivers flowing through her body, ignoring veins, tendons, and organs. For a moment, the flood of power felt overwhelming, and she almost lost hold of it. Gritting her teeth, she managed to focus the energy into her knee.

Her knee grew hot, but it did not burn. The power swirled in her knee, making her grab at it. As she did, the power settled. The knee started to cool, and when Crystal removed the bandages, there was no wound. Tentatively, Crystal stood up. It felt as if her knee had never been injured.

“Wow,” Violet said. “Geoffrey would be impressed.”

Crystal let out a small laugh and started walking around. As she did, she noticed the paper with the spell on it wasn’t on the table. Crystal bent down and looked on the ground, but it was not there either. She stood up. “Did you see where the spell went?”

“It blew up when you used it,” Violet responded. “Isn’t that how it works?”

“Kinda,” Crystal said. “Some spells can only be learned once. I thought this one might stick around since it was healing magic. It could have been useful to have others learn the spell besides just me. We have not had a healer in a long time, so I thought that it would be—“

“Crys,” Violet said.

“Yes?”

“Shut up. You’re rambling.”

Crystal blushed. “Sorry.”

Violet sat down at the table and laughed. “Well, we’re a lot better off with your leg healed. I say we rest up tonight, maybe drink a little, and then be off in the morning.”

“You brought alcohol?” Crystal asked, eyes squinting. “On the most important trip either of us will ever take?”

“Of course not!” Violet refuted, sitting up in her chair. “I don’t exactly have a lot of room in my bag. But I’m sure these guys have some booze.” Violet’s face contorted into a mischievous grin. “They’re watchmen! What else are they gonna do all day?”

“Theoretically, watch the road,” Crystal said, sitting down. She let out a sigh. “Fine, go see if they have any booze. I’m not gonna have any, though. I want to be nice and ready to head out in the morning.”

Violet grinned.