It's been a few days since Laura got out the hospital, and nothing important or interesting has happened. Except for Theo and Sadde having just captured a new card, Glow, though that's debatably quite boring. Theo turns to Sadde, as though she might have the answers. "Okay, seriously, a card that glows? First it's wind, then it's a huge bird, then you have a blue lizard, there's a bloody Easter bunny, then a shadow, then a sword, and now a card that glows?"
"So, everything I told you was true. And the ghost lady was actually Windy, the wind card. Kero, this is William, Theo's dad." He looks at William. "William, Theo's dad, that's Kero."
"Nnnope. They apparently will cause a catastrophe." He rolls his eyes. "Oh, and I'm apparently some sort of Chosen One. Woo!"
"Inasmuch as Kero chose you, because you caused all the cards to be scattered."
"So you're not kidding me?"
He turns to the bear. "Aaand why exactly did you pick a teenage boy to help prevent a catastrophe?"
"… Why did you pick him as the main person to help prevent a catastrophe? Surely someone else would be – no offence, Theo – better suited? Such as, perhaps, an adult? Or someone with training in stunts like this?"
"Worthy," repeats William, sighing. "And do you have a more precise definition than that? Any idea why he could open the book, maybe?"
Theo leans forward and says, "Pretty sure he doesn't. Just saying," then leans back again.
He also feels like sighing.
"Okay."
He purses his lips and seems to be thinking.
"If Theo's magic, does that mean I am too? Is it hereditary?"
His dad tilts his head, agreeing with that, and then says, "But anyway – is there a way to check?"
"Yep," says Theo, sounding super enthusiastic about it. "Meditation is super fun."
(That was sarcastic, if it wasn't clear.)
"I mean, I can try doing it now? You guys can just talk or whatever while I try to not-sleep."
"Theo can meditate and figure magical things out when he does. I actually can too but it's boring."
Theo rolls his eyes. "It's boring so we let Theo do it. Gee, thanks."
But despite the complaining, he does actually shut his eyes, with the staff there in front of him, and try to meditate.
"It's also much harder for me, without the staff and stuff," he says, shrugging.
Theo's dad nods but opts not to say anything – he doesn't want to disturb the meditation, and he doesn't know what sort of conditions it typically requires.