Ineptitude
My refusal is soft. It goes from "you don't really want to do it" to "not everyone is predisposed to it" to finally, "it's very hard and takes years of work".
Rose nods, says that she understands, then asks again, "But what if I really wanted to?.."
When she sees that I'm adamant about not helping her, she moves on to Zeke. By then, we'd left the White Castle and rented rooms in a hotel. My guess? She thought Zeke would be more approachable after a dinner, which the three of us take in my and Zeke's room, for privacy.
Hah. As if. The amount of regard Zeke gives is very limited, and he gives about none of it to people removed from the world of magic. I think he just doesn't know what to talk with them about.
Rose knows about magic, but in Zeke's eyes, she might as well have been completely clueless about it.
"No," he replies flatly to her question. "And don't ask me again, Miss Davis."