"Okay, I get it." He's not paying lip service, either. Naugus sounds terrible. (Honestly, he sounds like his brother, which only cements the bad impression.) The only trouble is, that doesn't reassure his nagging worry that Adia might have already befriended him. But he can always bring that up later with her. No need to press Amelia on the subject.

Her wry comment gets another eyebrow raise. "You're been pretty helpful so far. I'll ask Adia, too. She's a little biased, though. She thinks magic is amazing. And it is, I suppose, but it can be as dangerous as anything else. I'd at least like to understand the fundamentals." All the better to prepare against it.