We didn’t. Because you were busy trying to drown yourself. [Koby says it lightly, sitting back on his heels and smirking – smirking! – up at Matt. He knows damn well that isn’t the case, that there was no self-harm intended, but still. It’s sort of fun to tease him.

The explanation of the mechanics gets a thoughtful nod. Koby’s gotten better at conceptualizing things like energy and aura, and has asked Shanks about a thousand questions regarding it. He knows where he’s from that the wellspring of energy has its limits, just like physical energy would. And Matt had specified – a simple spell.

Tilting his head to one side in that intent, uncanny way he has, when the thread of some mystery presents itself and demands to be unraveled, Koby presses:] What about complex spells? Do you need to borrow energy, or generate it some other way?