“One more thing.” I stop him for a final time. “Really, it’s the last thing,” I assure his agitated expression. “My barrier, how did you—” “You suspected correctly. I used the fire spirit to burn through it,” he says, matter-of-fact. Never have I hated being right. “Almost couldn’t do it, though. No physical items worked and the spirit was nearly not strong enough.” “So my magic wasn’t bad,” I whisper. “Quite the contrary.” The corners of Evander’s lips tug slightly, as though he is fighting a smile.
