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Chapter 28

Closing time came and I found myself with just enough energy to be up to magic practice for the first time in over a week. Derrick went to sleep on the floor in Milly and Hal's room (it was a bit larger than the little thing Gus and I shared), and Gus and I settled ourselves on the floor on the thin blanket that still smelled of man musk.

"Alright," I shook my arms all loose and closed my eyes. "Mind me."

"Actually, I think you should practice tonight."

"Eh? What gave you that idea? I can heal just fine."

"Not on healing. On protecting yourself."

I opened my eyes to look at him, perplexed.

"Is this another trip into your paranoia?" I asked.

I got the Gus original scowl for that--the default of his many scowls. "Another? I am not paranoid. You're an idiot to think that you won't ever have a time when you need to protect yourself."

"Alright, whatever. It's not like you listen to me anyways."

"I do listen to you."

"No you don't!"