More than Flesh (Part 1)
'Like me?' Kelia echoed in confusion.
'You are the one who pulled all those all-nighters.' Dusk replied. 'You studied hard to cram years of academy into months. You practiced magic non-stop until Invigoration lost its effectiveness.
'All those things are on you, not me. You didn't delegate the written tests to me nor did you leave your body to me to train it. Even your bright green core and our academy life are your doing.
'I wanted to delay your breakthrough and the academy until the following year.
'It's you who decided otherwise, even against my judgment. So don't sell yourself short because if it was for me, we would still be hotel hopping while I taught you the basics of magic instead of being on the first Train of Mogar.'
'Thanks.' Kelia clenched her teeth, doing her best to get that sincere praise past the wall of her self-doubt.