Kiss. "What, non-humans?"

"Yes. And people who use your silly magic system." Snuggle.

Snuggle. "She'll probably be a sorcerer."

"And how silly are those?"

"From your perspective probably about the same as wizards? I don't know what you're likely to think of the comparative silliness of the differences between sorcerers and wizards."

He kisses her forehead. "I guess we'll see."

She kisses him. "Sorcerers don't use spellbooks or prepare spells," she offers.

"What do they do instead?"

"They can only cast a certain number of spells per day--excluding cantrips, of course--but know their spells instead of keeping them in a book, and they can cast any spell they know."

Kiss. "Your magic system is silly. I love you."

"I love you." Sigh. "You were going to get up, weren't you."

"I was." Nuzzle. "I should probably do that, huh."

"I assume so."

"Yeah."

Kiss.

"Love you. See you later."

And he vanishes.

She takes a bath and dons clean clothes and finds food and then returns to her cryptography.

And Serik tends to his slightly neglected spell. It's less satisfying than usual. He does some architecture, and that suits him better, and then he feels settled enough for a good long stretch of spell design.

Working on magic is great!

Isn't it just!

Definitely.

She says his name very late that evening.

He appears.

She holds out her arms for a hug.

Hug!

Hug!

"...So, um."

"Mm?"

"I really really liked waking up in your arms."