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"Just under fourhave you been su "Since I was sixteen Almost four years now"

I stared at hi it close to a decade, and I don’t think I know a tenth of what you do"

"Well, I learned a lot from Master Katashi," Idris said "And now that I’le day is just…"

Another summoner trained by Katashi So, why the hell didn’t I learn anything worth a shit while I ith hi way, but how does your fa here?"

He let out a soft chuckle "Well, they don’t know I’ n school program Master Katashi takes care of all that"

"They don’t expect emails or phone calls?" I asked somewhat dubiously

"Yeah, well, Master Katashi told ain, s would be taken care of"

Holy crap, but this kid sure see with deri in the dee Yeah, sure, he was a legal adult, but it still seeed with sadness "Don’t get reat But I’ve only been with the happened to your natural family?" I winced and shooktoo nosy sometimes It’s none of my business"

"Nah, it’s okay," he replied "Actually I was adopted twice The first couple got me when I was a baby" A fond sood childhood But then his smile slipped "There was a car accident A truck crossed the center line and they died I was in the backseat" He exhaled "I was lucky--I got adopted alreat couple" The suy who lived across the street fro at his wards, and that was the start of all this" He gestured to encoave a low snort from his perch on the wall

"I’m sorry about your parents," I said quietly "My ht, and my dad was killed by a drunk driver three years later My aunt raised me She’s a summoner," I added Tracy’s comment rose in my mind We don’t have a choice They make sure we become summoners I pushed it away for now

"Do you learn a lot with Mzatal?" I asked in a ruthless change of subject By the relief on his face it was clear he was just as glad of it

"Yeah," he said, oldfish "Holy shit, there’s always more"

"Do you…like hirimace came over his face "Well, u "I get it" Likeable wasn’t a necessary requireood teacher

He cocked his head to one side "I mean, it’s hard to explain He’s always about ten steps ahead of ged "He always tells , but he always tells ht, too And he’s never stepped outside of our agree that He did sound like a good teacher, but I’d probably think more kindly of hireement? Some sort of official contract?"

Idris nodded "Yeah Katashi’s already Mzatal’s sworn summoner, so anyone else the lord works ould have an official agree questions derailed as an odd vibration went though the tower I started to ask Idris if he felt it too, but the frown on his face told me he did

"Shit," he er vibration shook the tower "Holy shit!"

I reached for the wall "What the hell was that?" I asked "Earthquake?"