"I mean, mostly it's Kanimir who's interested in learning magic. Daphne and I aren't totally uninterested--we're sane, after all--but he's the one who really, really wants it."

"...The amount of money I can draw on without Father asking questions I'd rather not answer doesn't cover a medallion but it would cover those books. If I bought them for you would you be willing to do some kind of time-share on the one there's only one copy of? We could meet--somewhere public, of course, I'm all but a stranger--say once a week to exchange it and discuss? Having a teacher doesn't seem to be on the table, but having someone else to learn with seems worthwhile."

"...You are offering to buy the books for me, so that I will have them, in exchange for me showing up somewhere periodically to study buddy with you," says May, blinking. "Is that what you're saying?"

"That's mostly it. I also enjoy spending Father's money on things he would disapprove of. And I would not wish to deprive you of access to information on magic, given how difficult it apparently is to find."

"Our dad's a neglectful prick and you seem cool."

"Well, I'd be very silly to turn down this deal, and I am many things but that's not one of them. You have yourself a study buddy, Kanimir."

"Wonderful. I expect this Avalon would be an appropriate location, depending on how convenient it is for more regular visits."

"It's convenient enough for me weekends and afternoons. But not summers or some holidays; I visit my dad."

"Understood. I'm available...most any day of the week, actually." He smiles wryly. "As my sister is so fond of reminding me, I don't have much of a social life outside of her."

"Are you not in school?"

"I meant afternoons, on weekdays."

"Okay. Well, my social life being similarly impoverished, does 'daily' sound good until we've worked through this thing?" She waves Runecasting.

"I think that sounds excellent."

"Excellent. Four sound good? Earlier on weekends, optionally."

"Four sounds fine. I'm available at arbitrary times on Saturday, but not until after eleven on Sunday."

"Let's just make it four daily unless it turns out to be really tempting to sit in the park for six hours at a time spellcrafting, in which case it can be earlier weekends."

"Suits me."

He also buys the other copy of the dictionary for himself, of course. That's just good sense.

"Thank you," May beams at Kanimir when she receives her books. "It's nice out - well, it's technically indoors, even outdoors - we can study in the park?"

"That sounds pleasant."

"I don't mean to ditch you," May adds to Jaromira and Daphne. "If you want to look over our shoulders I won't object."

The girls exchange glances.

"We're good."

"Have fun poking at magic."