A compliment to his writing? Clearly, this new-apprentice person was optimistic — or a little bit of an idiot. Fenn’s writing was unabashedly awful.

DREAMING AND SLEEP IS FINE, the puck wrote hesitantly. Banrion hadn’t been very specific on what kind of poison she needed. Her only requirement was “causes death”. But, there were some practicalities that had to be applied, considering what he knew of the circumstances which called for the poison in the first place… HONEY FLAVORING VERY GOOD. WAS GOING TO COMBINE WITH BLACKBERRY AND PUT IN TEA. WON’T DO ANYTHING FUNNY TO POISON, RIGHT? ...so he wasn’t going to be judged for this order? Nevin was just going to handle this as if it was normal?

A breathless grin split the fae’s face. Huzzah!

At the same time, Ezra’s concerns struck Fenn with a curious realization. So, that was why their voice reminded him of Banrion. They were the motherly, scolding type. That was it.

As Nevin glanced over the boy’s writing and seemed to mull the concerns over. Fenn went back to scrutinizing over the androgen. Something about this apprentice continued to seem very off to the young puck. He would know uncanny, being the child-not-child that he was.

Curiosity stirred in his chest. Very strong curiosity. Without thinking it through, the boy was set into motion. For a brief instant, Fenn’s icy fingers reached across the counter to tap Ezra on their hand. It ended almost as soon as it began. Yet, the guilty-faced fae came away with his suspicions confirmed. They — Ezra — were shockingly warm to the touch; not physically, but in that funny extra sense that Fenn had trouble describing to other people, the one that vibrated his bones like dowsing rods. Ezra themself was magic-bright.

IS EZRA FAE TOO? he scrawled with a curious twitch of his ears. DON’T THINK EZRA IS A HUMAN. VERY MAGIC-BRIGHT, ACTS NOT-RIGHT— OFFENSE NOT MEANT.

Offense not meant, but answers wholeheartedly sought.