“Something up?” Yiran said lightly.
“I haven’t seen or heard from him since that night at karaoke. I’ve tried calling, but he’s not picking up. I’m going to check his shop.”
“I can give you a ride there.”
Rui shook her head. “I won’t take long.”
Yiran decided not to push it.
“He told me he was going to sell the spell for a lot of money and leave the city if it worked,” she continued, uncharacteristically willing to talk to Yiran today. Maybe it was because he was the only person who knew of Zizi’s existence in her life. “The spell worked, didn’t it? Even if it didn’t work the way he meant it to. What if he aban—” She stopped talking and picked up her pace.
Abandoned.
She was going to sayabandoned. His mother’s face flashed in his mind, but he stuffed the memories back into the vault where they belonged.
“Zizi doesn’t seem the sort to bail on his friends.” Yiran didn’t know if it was true, but he knew it was true in Rui’s case. “Maybe he’s out on some pilgrimage looking for rare herbs or maybe he’ll show up in your roomtomorrow.” Yiran flailed, putting on his best Zizi impression. “What’s up, Rui? I fell asleep in a cave and lost track of time, but I discovered a way to solve all our problems. By the way, do you like my clown pajamas? I got them for half-price at a sale.”
“Zizi can’t get into the dorms. There’s security.”
Yiran waved a hand. “Teleportation.”
“That’s not how his magic works—that’s not howourmagic works. Haven’t you been listening in class?” Rui said, exasperated. “We can’t vanish into thin air. That’s ridiculous, the stuff of fantasy movies.”
“I was being hyperbolic. But my point remains, the wizard’s not gone forever. He’ll come back.”
“I hope you’re right.” She seemed like she wanted to say more, but she pressed her lips together and walked on.
Yiran groaned. “I can’t believe you got me to defendZiziof all people.”
“Whyareyou defending him? I thought you hated him.”
Yiran replied as solemnly as he could, “Hateis a strong word.An intense repulsive feeling of dislikewould be a more accurate description.”
Rui finally laughed. She had a lovely laugh. He wished he heard it more. When they both stopped being jerks to each other, that connection from the magic transfer felt... comforting.
She gave him a look as if she could tell what he was thinking.
A riff from an indie rock song started to play.
Yiran answered his phone. Rui tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for him to be done. He was doing a bad job of keeping his expression in check.
“Okay, we’ll be there.” He hung up, his stomach crawling with anxiety. But there was a glimpse of opportunity. A chance to get hold of one of Rui’s swords.
“What’s wrong? You okay?” she said.
“I hope you have something presentable to wear. You’re having dinner with my grandfather.”
Rui’s mouth hung open. “Tonight? Why?”
“Something about meeting the top student at the Academy and the person who saved me from a Revenant. You can’t turn it down.” Yiran couldn’t imagine any cadet saying no to meeting the Head of the Exorcist Guild.
“Oh my gods, oh my gods,” she said, her eyes wide, hands to her head.
Yiran was amused by her reaction. No one was immune to Song Wei’s reputation. “I’ll pick you up at the station after you’re done at the shophouse.” He paused. “My grandfather’s probably going to ask you about that night.”
Rui narrowed her eyes. She understood him perfectly. “We can rehearse in the car.”
26
