Vell had invited Sonder out, though only for an hour.
He had planned a visit to a nice café, hoping to enjoy some tea and maybe a slice of cake. Perhaps he'd even bring some back for the witches—they had been working hard, and a small reward felt appropriate.
The two sat outside, and Sonder basked in the warmth of the sun. It felt like ages since she had last felt its light on her skin.
A few passersby cast glances their way—curious, lingering looks, mostly directed at Sonder—but she had long since grown used to it.
She stirred a few teaspoons of sugar into her tea while Vell poured milk into his. As he dipped his spoon into the cup and swirled it around, a thought surfaced in Sonder's mind.
Watching the spoon spin, it reminded her of stories of wizards with their wands.
"Why don't you teach us any spells?" she asked.
"I hate spells," Vell replied. "Chanting words you don't even understand—it's just memorization. Nothing more. And before you say anything, Dico magic is different."
"How?"
"It… just is," he didn't have a response. "Dico magic changes reality itself, while spells rely on channeling power. They are so limited; I just don't like it."
"Does Dico magic not have any limitations?"
"Not that I know of," Vell admitted. "But I've never really tried to push its boundaries. It seems absolute. That's why it's so hard to learn, but once you learn a word, you've mastered it—permanently."
Sonder mulled over his words, then remembered something. She had used Dico magic once before.
Her gaze shifted to the spoon she had placed on the table.
"Jol," she said—the word for 'pull'—ready to catch it. The spoon instantly flew into her hand, and she was ready to catch it.
"Oh yeah," Vell remarked, as if just remembering. "I guess you've already learned a word."
Sonder turned the spoon over in her hand before asking, "What about wands?"
"What about them?"
"Will I get one?"
"You already have your bracelets from Limerence and the ring from Lunt Junior. What would you need a wand for? You don't see me carrying anything beyond my staff, do you?"
"And the witches?"
"That's up to them. If they want to use a wand, a staff, a crystal, or even a broom as a conduit for power, that's their decision."
Sonder's eyes flicked to the golden shimmer woven into Vell's robe. "Your robe has runes on it, doesn't it?"
"Well, technically," Vell said, gesturing to the intricate gold designs, "but they're purely decorative. They don't actually do anything."
Sonder nodded, absorbing his explanation.
"You don't seem to approve of my teaching methods," Vell noted. "I know they may seem unrefined—most of them don't involve magic unless necessary. Whether it's growing plants or playing cards, I teach through knowledge and firsthand experience. I even hate drawing power from elsewhere."