Rob Nolan

“Reverse time?” I didn’t think I was anywhere near ready to attempt that. Besides, no one knew for sure whether it was even possible. Arjen had said the time mage from centuries ago had been thought to see into the past, not reverse time itself. And no one had any proof. None of that seemed to bother Lammel in the slightest. “Yes, yes,” he told me, picking up the coin. “When I drop the coin, simply stop it midair, then slip it back between my fingers.” “‘Simply,’” I snorted. “I will admit, ‘tis easier said than done.” “And how are you going to know whether or not I actually manage to do that?” “I suppose I’ll just have to take your word for it. Are you ready? One, two—” I decided to play a little joke on my mentor. Before he could release the coin, I shouted in feigned amazement, “I did it!” Lammel blinked at me in astonishment, then stared at the coin in his fingers. “What?! Really?! On the first try?! This is ASTOUNDING! We must tell Master Arjen immediately! This is completely unprecedented! There has never been such a—” I tried to suppress my smile, but couldn’t. Lammel glanced up at me. When he saw the corners of my mouth quivering, his eyes widened—and then he gave me a rueful grin. He waggled a finger at me. “You rascal… I should have known better. For real this time, and no more trickery.”
― Rob Nolan, Time Mage