Minor Mage

by T. Kingfisher

Oliver was a very minor mage.

First line

“You’re a cynical kid,” said Trebastion. “You make harps out of dead people,” said Oliver. “Yes, but I haven’t allowed it to taint my basic optimism.”

Leave a human alone for too long and it would get weird and sad.

“Humans need to let stuff out or they get weird. Better now?”