Quinlan was still in the courtyard outside Celia's house when the young woman returned with a pack nearly as wide as her shoulders.
They had finished examining her father, and Aurora had written down what they wanted for the expedition. Apparently, Celia had prepared a list of her own. A pot knocked against the doorframe as she squeezed through it.
Serika caught the pack's lower strap before the girl could lose her balance.
"Were you planning to carry the kitchen too?"
"I've been practising every morning!"
"No, this won't do."
"W-what do you mean?"
"What I just said." Serika removed the heaviest pot and held it out to Quinlan while she adjusted Celia's straps. He accepted it with a glance at his former teacher.
Apparently, he had volunteered.
"Sure."
Quinlan channelled mana into his pocket ring, and the pot vanished from his hand in a brief flash.
Celia stopped adjusting her strap.
"Eh?"
