Daphne sighs and gets out her wand. "Watch." She waves it over the page, and magic ripples over the book, revealing marks where something has been on top of the paper.
Huh. I guess she's right. Something has been stuck over the top of it.
"What do you think it was?"
"I don't know," she admits. "But I think there was some magic involved too."
The urge to point out that it's a spellbook and therefore full of magic threatens to take over me. But I'm good and keep quiet. She knows what it is, and doesn't need me telling her things.
"There are some traces. One second." She taps her wand on the paper again, and this time, a ripple effect travels over it, revealing small sparkles that line up with where the glue seems to have been applied.
"Wow."
"Yep." Pride shines through the word, and I don't blame her. That's an impressive piece of magic she did there, and no one can take that away from her. My professors should be talking to her and not me about being powerful. Daphne truly has what it takes to go far in life. Me? I'm not so sure.
"What do you think was on top of it?" I trace my hand over the page, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing and coming up blank.
She shrugs. "I don't know. I can't even tell when whatever was there was taken off it. Just that it was there."
"Hmm."
"But I do think it has something to do with what's going on with you."
"You do?" I can feel the frown pulling at my features. "I thought we found what it was in the other book?" Thomas found it in the secret library. I haven't seen it again since then, but he seemed pretty sure that's what was causing my issues.
Daphne shakes her head. "The first kitten appeared after we played this game." She taps on the page. "Before that, there was just a block on your magic, like we saw in the other book."
"Alright, I'm not sure I'm following, though." I thought we had the answer already, and a little part of me is disappointed that it's turning out to not be the case.
"But this book contains the specific spell that triggered your kittens. One that's been magically tampered with. I think whoever made the animal spell also made something with a magic block. They probably based their spell off the original one we found.
"Hmm. I suppose so. But then, why did my magic start working again?" Since the party, I've been able to do spells, they've just happened with fluffy consequences.
As if to remind me what they were, Rhubarb decides it's time to play, and rolls onto his back at my feet.
I pick up one of the cat toys that now litter my floor and dangle it in front of him. He bats the feathery tip back and forth, clearly loving the toy despite the fact that it's only a feather on a long piece of string with a stick attached to the end of it. I shouldn't complain, it keeps him happy, and that works for me.
"I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong..."
"You're probably not," I point out. "How often does that happen?"
"Well, that time with Heath," she counters.
"Doesn't count," I answer for her. "That was Ryan meddling in things he shouldn't." I soften a little as I say his name, but catch myself before I let too much slip. I don't want her to think I'm head over heels in love with him when I'm not. He's just a friend. That's all.
"For me, it does," she counters. "But that's beside the point. I think there's something in this
, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."
"Thank you," I blurt.
She cocks her head to the side, a slightly bemused smile on her face. "For what?"
"For believing in me. And for helping me."
"Of course I'm helping you, you're my best friend."
"Sorry, I don't know how to do this," I admit. "I've never had a best friend before."