Lucian lounged brazenly in a high-backed huanghuali chair, picked up a piece of cheesecake between two fingers, and tossed it into his mouth, chewing with relish.
Behind the low desk, Wong's plump face flushed crimson, and even the finger he pointed at Lucian trembled.
He felt his fists clenching.
"Sorcerer Lucian! This is Kamar-Taj's sacred repository of books!" Wong stressed his words, trying to reclaim his authority as the librarian.
"I know, I know. The rules." Lucian swallowed the cake and mumbled a perfunctory response.
Wanda stood obediently beside him, holding a metal food container. Seeing him swallow, she immediately speared another piece with a small fork and carefully offered it to his lips.
"Boss, try this flavor. This one's pretty good too."
Lucian took a bite and gave his satisfied verdict. "Not bad. Better than that place last time."
Seeing that he liked it, Wanda smiled until her eyes curved into two crescents. She speared another piece and carefully raised it to his lips.
Lucian obligingly opened his mouth and ate it.
Watching the two feed each other among the sacred magical texts as though no one else were there, Wong's eye twitched hard twice. He rubbed his smooth scalp and once again began silently reciting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra.
Look not upon impropriety; listen not to impropriety.
If I don't look and don't listen, I won't get angry.
This brat is someone the Ancient One values. Just bear with it. Bear with it...
"Old Wong, stop looking so sour." Lucian tapped the desk, bringing the conversation back on track. "I came to see you about something serious today."
Wong irritably straightened his robes and sat back down. "Go ahead. I'll answer depending on what you ask."
Lucian said, "Tell me, does Kamar-Taj have any enormous magic arrays that can