Master Rufus nodded. “Yes, finding seven speckled frogs in the surrounding forest.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Call said. “We killed the Enemy of Death. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“Of course it does,” Master Rufus said with a rare, small smile. “It counts as your first mission. You won’t have to do any makeup work. Now get going.”
“Tomorrow,” Call echoed. He started back through the passageways of the Magisterium, past glowing crystals and rock formations, his mind a swirl of uneasy thoughts.
“Callum Hunt,” said a voice.
It was a voice he knew well. Call stopped in place, looking up until his gaze lit on a glowing lizard partway up the wall, regarding him with half-lidded eyes. Warren’s long tongue lashed through the air.
“The end is closer than you think, Makar,” the elemental said.
Then he darted away, leaving Call to stare after him.