"Oh! I didn't know they were out there hurting people! I just - he looks really sad all the time, you know, and I thought - if he had his heart back, then he'd be able to be himself again and make friends and know what it's like to be loved and happy and stuff."

"Awwwwwwwwwww. That's really sweet," he says.

She looks pretty happy that this is his take on the situation.

"You're a really good friend, Duck."

"I'm glad you think so! But you're a really good friend, too, so that makes it easy."

"Am I really? I can't tell."

"You're totally a good friend! People who aren't good friends don't offer to help their friends dance or hold onto a fear shard for them or investigate library catacombs or make sure to look after their friends all the time even when they've turned into nonmagical lamps."

"...I guess you're right."

"Yeah! So don't sell yourself short."

He laughs. "Okay."

She doesn't seem entirely sure where to take this conversation now. They still have to finish the book, but she thinks she needs to give her voice a rest before they do that.

"When's the last time you practiced, anyway?"

"Uhhhhhhh. I went to class yesterday?"

"Uh-huh. Let's dance."

"OK!"

So they can dance. She's a lot less nervous this time. Turns out that not having an extra fear shard in you is good for that.

Serafin continues to be surprisingly helpful. He can't always articulate what he means about a particular bit of technique, but when he can get his suggestions across they're good ones, and he's gentle and patient and really obviously enjoys working with her.

Duck is really determined to get better! She's still not very coordinated, and she'll need to build up more strength and endurance to be able to do some of the moves properly, but she's cheerful and attentive and she works pretty hard.

When she's been working on a particular thing for a while and she finally does it right, he beams and bounces delightedly.

She is so pleased with herself!

When they've been dancing for a while and she's tired herself out, she decides she'd better go home. She has homework to do, after all.

This is sensible.

"See you later!"

"Yeah, see you!"

They probably won't see each other again until Monday, the next time there are classes. Duck manages to not get in any immediate trouble for anything, and after their morning classes she asks Serafin if he'd like to eat lunch by the fountain or something. She's not sure where he usually does these things.

"Sure!"

Since he usually just scarfs down easily portable foods on his way from one place to another, eating lunch by the fountain like some sort of civilized person is a big step up in fanciness. He brings his easily portable foods to the fountain with her.

Then they can eat lunch together and discuss classes and ballet by the fountain.

A woman comes by, playing a barrel organ as she walks. She stops by the fountain.

"Hello, Duck. It's been a while."

"Miss Edel!"