The next day, Dev hands me a bag of wardstones, courtesy of Ellie and Zach. "Here. You said you needed them for your dorm barrier, right?"
I peer into the bag with a mix of gratitude and gut-twisting guilt. The wardstones catch the afternoon light, winking at me like they know my secret. These aren't exactly what I need—not specialized enough for the security system I've mentally blueprinted for our apartment. But something about Dev's eager expression stops the truth from leaving my lips.
"Thanks. That's... really generous." I run my finger along one smooth stone. "Why would you guys give me something this expensive?"
The garden buzzes with afternoon activity—students lounging on patches of grass, others hurrying down paths with armfuls of books, a few practicing small charms that make the air shimmer around them. Normal college stuff, if your college happened to be filled with magic. There seems to be a higher ratio of students wearing robes lately, too.
