"Yeah, it looked kind of involved? But like...it's not a bad thing to do right?"

"Karl's smarter than me. He'll do it right. If not, well. Justice and I can reach in there and pull everyone out." 

"I'm sure they'll be fine. They're both pretty strong. And if anyone's gonna know how to do this, it's gonna be Karl."

"So, it's just gonna be the two of them?"

Anders brow furrows, and Ilska's flames jump in response. "Sorry, Ilska." He tamps himself down. 

"I don't think he's decided yet," Ilska says, flexing her fingers and dismissing the flames from them.

Anders' frown deepens, but he doesn't say anything else on the matter, instead turning both their attention back to magic.

Cia looks like ey wants to poke him, but ey lets him distract em for now.

Study passes well, and Anders seems very pleased with both of their progress, though he does laugh at Ilska's ease with the more destructive magic.

"Hey guys, it's getting on, maybe stop for now? Have some food?" Karl's voice says, teasing. 

Mostly directed at Anders. He's very familiar with Anders getting lost in his work. 

That's probably a good idea. 

"Cia, Ilska, you heard my Karl. Go eat." He's still rifling through a book, folding corners where he sees appropriate spells. 

Cia tugs at Anders' sleeve. "Not unless you come with us."

"Course!" He kisses eir head. "Be right down."

"I don't think that's what ey meant, love."

"Nope," Cia says cheerfully. "I'll have Ilska throw you over her shoulder if you don't come now."

Anders laughs. "And I don't doubt for a second that she could, but I really don't want to lose my train of thought. Five minutes? Then Ilska can come and drag me down."

Karl frowns at him.

Cia pouts.

Ilska learns against the wall. "I'll wait."

"I will. Magic is hungry work, Ilska, get going." Karl flashes a grin at Ilska, and then sits next to Anders, pointedly.

Ilska raises an eyebrow at Karl, but, surprisingly obediently, shepherds Cia out of the room.

As they leave, they can hear Karl speak. 

"Anders. Is this about this morning? ...love, you can't-"

Cia drops eir head, and leans into Ilska.

"It'll be fine," Ilska murmurs. "You'll see. C'mon. Let's go get food."

And they go to do that.

A little while later, certainly longer than five minutes, Karl emerges. He wraps an arm around Raeli once he gets close to hug her from the side. 

Raeli slips her arm around his waist in turn. "He okay?"