"Do you?" Auryn says, pleased to find another friend in this town that doesn't conceal their ability.

"Well, when you exercise your body, you have to push it a little," he likens the process. "The same's true of magic: sometimes it's a little uncomfortable, tiring, but you can't get stronger or more proficient without trying new things, giving in a little to that discomfort, learning the tools and the techniques you need. It depends on what you want to do."

Auryn makes a face. He hasn't had a car for a while, but he drove his aunt's boyfriend's hand-me-down pickup until it broke, an old stick shift thing that held a bunch of rowdy goth kids well enough. "From time to time," he admits. He knows the basics. "Oil changes, brake pads. Leaky hose. It's been a while, but I think I could pick it up."