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Toby completed a bucket bath in his room and packed his belonging.
He heard a click on the windowsill.
He dropped to one knee and peered over his bed at the window.
Hermes dropped another amulet.
Toby stayed behind the bed; he considered firing a red beam, but who knows what might happen.
The same cloud and the same handsome face.
“I wish I could say congratulations, but the danger has never been greater.”
Toby didn’t move.
“I understand, my young friend. Please protect yourself, especially around Sklavos, Raymond, and Lela. Remember how they treated you. How they held back vital information when you needed it most.”
Toby didn’t respond.
“Remember all the things going wrong at the exact wrong time.”
“Like when you sabotaged the first test?”
“Oh.” The face in the cloud didn’t move or blink for a moment. “You think I caused that?”
“Who else?”
“Who else, indeed.”
Toby tried to read those eyes but found no clues in “What do you want?”
“To offer my condolences.”
“Mom?” The words caught in his throat.
“No. I have no information about your mother. I’m sorry they keep lying to you.”
Toby stayed behind cover. Can’t get careless now.
“I must go, my young friend. Be careful and remember, they will tell the truth when it suits them.” The image faded. “We’ll talk again soon.”
Like before, the amulet evaporated.
***
“Ready to go?” Teacher said.
“He was here again.”
Teacher grabbed his arm and said, “Tell me everything!”
Toby looked down at his captured arm and back at Teacher.
Teacher found some composure and let go. “Sorry.”
Toby stepped back.
“Please, sit down.”
Toby began, and Teacher listened in silence. Toby told him everything, then said, “What’s wrong with Mom?”
“I don’t know. Hermes, or some other poor beast, can shift to Earth. Maybe he can report things.” He paused and collected his thoughts. “Tobias, you must be careful. Even he will tell the truth when it suits him.”
Wow.
“What?”
“How long can I stay at home?”
Teacher rolled his ancient appearing eyes to the ceiling. “Tobias, think.”
Toby wasn’t following.
“Shift home to the moment and location you left. Shift back to this room, to this instant, when you want to return. You can spend years there, but I wouldn’t stay too long. Some lessons,” he raised a ruined eyebrow, “are too painful to learn twice.”
Teacher took a few steps toward the door, but he stopped, “You will not use the Amulet on Earth except to come back here.”
“Why not?”
He touched the Book of Messengers. “Chapter three. You could not explain your actions; they could take the Amulet, but most of all, something is different there. Amulets are unreliable, and there was one fatality.”