"...Too easily abusable, which, I will admit I have nonzero sympathy for in light of the apparent conspiracy. But not that much."

"I feel like arbitrarily disliking people who have the potential to become Great Mages is not a viable solution to that problem!"

"I think it's less 'you could be a Great Mage, ergo you are inherently bad' and more 'you are planning to follow through on becoming a Great Mage and I have skewed ideas about how social incentives work' but I could be wrong."

"Still! Don't just discourage everyone from becoming Great Mages; encourage better people to become Great Mages!"

"He seems to pretty much categorically believe they shouldn't exist. I haven't argued with him in depth about his beliefs."

"Eh, fair enough."

"Maybe you could, especially if he hasn't heard of your ambitions yet."

"Maybe I will!"

"That would be convenient! Especially if you decide to study botany and get him for a teacher."

"Maybe I should audit your botany class tomorrow to see what I think of botany."

"It's Advanced Botany, not Intro or Intermediate."

"Yeah, but I've got a friend in it."

"Sure, just letting you know."

Shrug.

"Advanced classes have even more technical vocabulary to look up later."

"Ooh."

"Shoot apical meristem," she says, wiggling her fingers at him.

He laughs.

There is a knock on the door, and then it opens.

Presumably this is Odette's dad! Milan smiles at him.

"Ah, hello," he says when he sees him. "--Milan?"

"Good guess!"

"It's good to meet you. Karole Zavier."

"Good to meet you too!"

"Have you had dinner yet, I'm guessing no."