Thirty minutes later, Elder Loujt and Liam are back in the kitchen. Both of them ready. Both of them focused entirely on winning.
So focused, in fact, that neither of them notices the change in the room.
In the thirty minutes they were gone, the two Light mages and the three Earth mages have settled into something warmer and more comfortable than anyone could have reasonably expected. Sonia and Maeve look like they have known each other for years. The Earth mages are not quite there yet, but the stiffness between them is largely gone.
"Are you both ready?" Theo asks.
They nod. Enthusiastically.
"Good. Who wants to go first?"
"I will." They both say at exactly the same time.
Theo smiles to himself. Really. Two boys competing over the same toy.
"Since Mr. Loujt is our guest, he can goes first."
Elder Loujt steps forward, visibly pleased. "Thank you, Ms. Montrose. How do we proceed?"
