If he knew the source of the scars splashed across Cal's face, he wouldn't make such a joke. But caught up in his own worries — and his magical studies have bestowed on him so many fun new ones — he doesn't consider the discomfort hiding underneath the other's wincing.

"Almost a month now," he confesses. "So I barely know what I'm doing."

Which is what anyone would hope to hear from a kid who was just juggling fire around. At least he looks appropriately contrite about this lacking, a shame that is only thinly disguised by the casual tone of his self-ribbing.