Draven didn’t return until the next day after lunch.

I sat on the bench while Draven sat on Mother’s preferred chair while Father sat on his rocking chair. Dad had taken another day off from work to be here. Mother supervised Theo in his room because we worried what he would do around Draven or if he was able to confront Elliot without the chance to calm down and truly see that things were working out.

“Did you have enough time to consider my offer?” Draven asked with an easy smile on his lips.

“I did. Can you ensure that I won’t be taken from my family?” I asked.

“I’ve given you my word. As the tower master, you can rely on that holding significant weight. Would you like it in writing? Notarized? Fostering a happy childhood isn’t something I’d stand in the way of. And I can keep other interested parties from poaching you for their own interests. If it is known you are under my protection, they won’t touch you unless they’re willing to have all my might flood them. Someone as young as you breaching third-stage magic is nearly unheard of. I’m the only other one that I know has accomplished that and I did that a year older than you.”

“I’m sorry for not recognizing who you are,” I said, but he waved my apology away. “Your offer is very generous. I’m just curious what you expect of me once I’ve grown up.” Aware of the concept of looking a gift horse in the mouth, this was something I felt compelled to address.

“That’s something up to you to decide, but you’ll be incentivized to at least work more closely with us. You will always have the option to remain apart from us while working together or even cut your ties with the tower if that’s what you wish. I hope it won’t come to that,” Draven said like it really wasn’t a big deal.

Dad said nothing, letting this be my choice. It was oddly comforting that he trusted this to me, still a child.

“I would like to accept your offer then,” I told Draven.

He grinned as if he won the lottery. “Fantastic. For now, you’ll gradually work up a better tolerance to healing so this doesn’t happen again. I’ll have a local get in contact with you for any needs or concerns you have. As much as I’d love to foster your talent personally, I can’t stick around one place for long. There is too much for me to do. I’m glad we had the chance to meet though, and I look forward to seeing what you accomplish.” Draven stood and we followed suit.

He shook my hand and then my father’s. “I would love to stay and chat more but I’ve already stepped away too long from an assignment. I do have a parting gift I hope you’ll diligently study.” He removed a thick book from an inside pocket of his robes.

My eyes widened as he passed me the book. It had an exploding light symbol on it. “Thank you. I’ll study it thoroughly.”

He grinned at me. “I wish you and your family well and expect great things from you.” Draven stepped outside and shot down the road emitting water like a jet ski.

I looked up to Dad. “Things went well, right? I chose well, right?”

“As good as it could’ve gone, I’d say.” Dad set a hand on my shoulder, but his eyes were on the man’s rapid departure.

Within an hour the local Draven promised, Wilfred, showed his face. I recognized him and his bulbous nose as one of the magic tutors from the kid’s fun house, but had never sat in on his wind lessons. Wilfred left us with his address and assurance that he would look out for us while playing correspondence between me and the tower.

Elliot arrived before dinner and Theo rushed to the door. Mom tried getting between them, but Theo was faster. He punched Elliot square in the jaw. Elliot stumbled back, mouth agape at his best friend.

“That’s for breaking your promise,” Theo said as I hurried over.

I healed Elliot’s face and hoped this had gotten Theo’s rage out and over.

“I was worried! I’ve heard of people suffering for the rest of their life from overstepping their magic level,” Elliot defended himself. “She could’ve been bedridden for years because of me chopping that tree down!”

“And if this got you a meeting with someone from the magic tower, that was just a nice bonus,” Theo accused, seething.

Elliot’s gaze lowered. “I wasn’t inducted into the tower so that doesn’t matter.” He lifted his eyes. “I was really worried for Maddie. That was third-stage magic from a thirteen-year-old! She could have died!”

“But I didn’t.” I kept both hands around Theo’s wrist to hold him in place. Mom held his other hand as Father anchored him by the shoulders. “Elliot, if things had gone worse, I might hate you for what you did, but I forgive you.”

His forehead wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t know why you wanted to keep it a secret in the first place. If you are that advanced you should want the world to know, to value you.”

“I’m not ambitious,” I told him flatly. “If I wanted prestige, I would handle that myself. You may want to leave everything behind, including your friends and family, but I don’t.”

That made him frown. He looked to me and Theo before taking a step back. “I’m sorry.” He turned and strode away with wind sweeping him along almost as fast as Draven had departed.

Theo slammed the door and got sent to his room for his actions.

***

The next day Theo wouldn’t leave his room. He didn’t come out even when Mot and Francesca stopped by.

“I’m so glad to see you up and about,” Francesca told me as we convened around the unlit fireplace.

“I’m glad to be doing better. But I feel terrible that I lost the hat you gifted me,” I told her. It had taken until yesterday for me to realize I didn’t have it anymore.

“Don’t worry about it,” Francesca said. “But do you want to explain why Elliot refused to come with us to check on you? We stopped by his place and he said he wasn’t welcome here anymore.”

“He and Theo had a bit of a . . . falling out. I’m sure they will get over it and be back to normal soon enough though,” I said.

“Is there something we can do to help?” Mot asked.

Francesca launched to her feet. “I know! You two stay here. I’ll be back.” She dashed outside before poking her head back in. “You two feel free to talk about stuff like your feelings while I’m gone. Okay? Great!” She shut the door.

A couple seconds of silence later Mot asked, “Are you really feeling better? Should you still be in bed?”

“I’m fully recovered,” I told him, relieved Francesca’s meddling seemed to go right over his head. “A water elementalist stopped by and healed me right up.”

“I wish I knew healing magic so that you didn’t burden yourself like that. You really scared me these last few days,” Mot said, a furrow in his brow. I missed his usual mirth that had vanished during my recovery.

“I learned my lesson, believe me. I won’t be doing anything like that again. Everything turned out all right. That’s what’s important. I’ll be back dancing in town square before you know it.” I smiled, hoping to infuse some of his cheer back.

He did slightly smile, but concern remained around his eyes. “I’m really, really glad you’re okay.”

I didn’t know what to say as the atmosphere changed. I realized how close we were sitting on the bench and became incredibly aware that Mom and Theo were in their rooms and could come out at any moment.

“What do you think Francesca is up to?” I asked in a flustered panic.

“Probably dragging Elliot here to make up with Theo,” Mot said. The tension in the room disappeared to my conflicted relief. Mot was my friend. Sure, he was nice, and cute, and brightened my days, and made everything better just by being around, but we were just friends. I didn’t want to ruin that. He was friendly with everyone. Just because we were closer than he was with other people, didn’t mean he saw me as anything more than a friend. It was all that stupid note’s fault! I needed to shake Francesca’s ideas out of my mind.

“Should we check with Theo before Elliot comes over in case it’s a bad idea?” Mot asked, arm resting on the back of the bench as he looked at Theo’s door.

“Yes!” I shot up almost as fast as Francesca had. I knocked on Theo’s door, trying to get my nerves to mellow out. Nothing was happening! Nothing was ever going to happen!

“Yes?” Theo’s joyless voice responded.

I cracked open the door to find him staring up at the ceiling from his bed. In typical Theo fashion, clothes and wooden swords cluttered his floor. As much as he wanted a real sword, we didn’t have the budget for such a pricey item. I wished we did just to see his face light up.

“Elliot’s coming over. We think you need to talk to him and make up,” I said.

“Why?” Theo scowled at the ceiling. “Tell him to go. I don’t want to see his face ever again. He broke my trust and almost cost our family you.”

“But he’s your best friend and was only trying to make things right. I’d hate if I’m the reason you two stopped being friends,” I said as Mot stood beside me outside Theo’s room.

“You should at least try to work things out,” Mot encouraged with a little of his typical boundless joviality.