Stella was not accustomed to attention. Even after living with Wataru and the others for some time and building a degree of trust, the scars of her past lingered. Years of being mistreated left her visibly tense when too many eyes focused on her.
Sensing her discomfort, Air and Cloche tactfully gave her space, sitting a short distance away. Stella stared down at the cup in her hands, taking a few measured breaths before speaking.
"Let's go over the options for magical protections," she said, her voice soft but determined.
"Please," Wataru replied, leaning forward.
"For your purposes, there are two primary options," Stella began, raising her gaze slightly. "The first is a magical tool designed to repel people—a ward against intrusion."
"And how does that work again?" Wataru asked.
