"Ah, no, thank you."

The Sage walks over to a little counter in a corner to start preparing some tea for themself, then.

"So, I met your colleague, uh, Mr. Delgado? But I think I may have annoyed him."

"Very easily annoyed, that one. And always so stressed out."

"He said he was the Sage of Mundane Magic, and you're the Sage of Creative Magic, is there a third?"

"Yes, Allyson Laurent is the Sage of Destructive Magic."

"...huh. Mundane, Creative, Destructive. What, uh, are they?"

"They are the three schools of magic." They pour the now-hot water from the electric kettle into a mug, put a teabag in it to seep, then take a seat on the little sofa and gesture for Peter to sit, too.

He sits.

"Mundane Magic," they continue, "is magic that changes the world as it is. Creative Magic creates the world as you wish it to be. And Destructive Magic undoes that which should not be. All are important components of magic, and none is complete without the others."

This person is remarkably articulate. Peter shouldn't get his hopes up and yet he is.

"What does it mean to be a Sage of Creative Magic, then?"

"Being a Sage is a sacred duty. We guide new spellcasters and teach them, and it is our duty to keep and pass on the knowledge of the most powerful known spells."

"How does one become a Sage?"

"It is a duty passed down to the worthy. The previous Sage of Creative Magic, Tess Dyer, chose me to be her successor."

Okay he has to ask. "Sage Ember, are you self-aware?"

"Goodness, no! What dreadful business that sounds."

He blinks. "It... does?"

"Yes, yes, I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

"I don't know I kinda like it?"

"Well, I'm certain it works for you," they say, sounding dubious.

What the...

"Are you messing with me?"

"Whatever could have given you that impression?"

"...uh..."

They blow softly on their tea.

"No, seriously, is there a community of self-aware people or people who aren't, like—timesliding and stuff?"