"Well, I mean, it's less straightforward but not not straightforward."

"Well, mark me as a lot more interested in this party idea now, a mage that can develop his own spells isn't something you pass up."

"Mm."

"Well, I'm flattered."

"But it's still far too early to really think about that. Once we have a hundred porings under each of our belts we can start thinking about moving on to bigger threats, like fabres."

Annika snorts.

"Gosh, I'm not sure when I'll be ready for that kind of action. Seems a little bit too exciting, you know?"

"Just wait until I tell you about rockers."

"I'm not sure I'll ever be powerful enough for rockers. Fire wolves, sure, but rockers? With those disgusting antennae? Terrifying."

Giggle.

"We're even getting laughter, now! We must be so charming."

...she scowls again and decides that's too much time spent around extroverts. "Good night," she says, abruptly getting up and stalking off.

"I think she likes you."

"Do you think if she likes me enough she'll punch me?"

"I'm sure if you try hard and believe in yourself you can get her to."

"Oh I will try."

"...you will?"

"Have you seen what she can do with those fists? If she punched me like that I'd say 'thank you'."

"I think you and I are going to be very good friends."

"But are we going to be the kind of very good friends who fall into bed together on the same day they met?"

It turns out that they are in fact going to be that kind of very good friends.

The next morning after breakfast Vallynn goes looking for the Mages' Guild representative where he's been told they'd be on the first floor.

The enrobed man in the room, reading from a tome that looks almost as heavy as he is, doesn't look much older than Vallynn himself, maybe 25 if that. When Vallynn knocks on the doorframe he looks up then looks back down and says, "Dancers' Guild is two doors down the hallway."

"—uh, no, I'm looking for the Mages' Guild, actually."

He looks back up and squints. "...for yourself?"