"It's a balloon, actually, but it's a magical balloon, you won't be able to pop it. It would also be mean to try."

"Well yeah, I'd obviously rather ask it nicely than attack it and try popping it, but... it was a joke."

Sadde giggles.

Theo smiles a bit at that.

"So we're basically decided? It's Shadow, and we're shining light on it then getting Windy to hold it still? Who's bringing the torch and what time are we doing it, then?"

"You."

"A torch might not be enough depending on how many shadows it's collected."

"... If we can find a light-switch in the shop, would that be enough? I mean, surely it'd still eat away at the shadows, even if it doesn't get rid of them all perfectly?"

"Maybe."

"You're so helpful."

"Okay, well, I think that's still our goal. Maybe you could use Change on the torch and make it brighter, too, if it's available."

"That's actually a pretty good idea!"

"Thanks!" he says, trying reaaaallly hard not to be sarcastic. It shouldn't be this hard!

She can tell! "You're cute when you're trying not to be sarcastic."

"Thanks!" he says, still reaaaally trying not to be sarcastic. Is it noticeable? Is he grinning adorably? Yes, yes he is.

"I stand by my assessment."

"So. Are we gonna do any other important things before the mysterious vigilantism, or just while half the day away?"

"Question Kero about the other cards, of course. I'm particularly curious about Time."

"Actually, yeah, me too, and what about..." – he looks at his list again – "Illusion, Mirror and Twin?"

"The Time can speed time up, slow it down, stop it, or turn it back. It's one of the most powerful cards, and you need a lot of magic to even use it."

"...can you use it to change time?"

"Yes, but unless the person who uses it is very powerful, sorcerers retain their memories."

"Whoa, wait, what! That's ridiculously powerful. And how does that even work, anyway? If someone used to it go back in time, would we just be younger versions of ourselves with the same memories, or would we have to wait until they made a change and have some sort of weird déjà vu of stuff that did-but-didn't happen, or what?"

"Young versions with memories."

"Okaaaay. Sadde, did you live somewhere obscure when you were younger? Will I never be able to find you if something like this happens? If you happen to wake up like 10 years in the past, could you please come to my house – I've lived here most of my life – and then can we try to stop whoever's messing with time?"

"Yes. I've lived in London most of my life, but I was born in Knutsford and spent a few years there before Mum left the jerk."