The corners of his mouth turn down abruptly at her barb. "For circumstances sadly beyond my control. Don't brook this tone with me, child. I'll have none of it, same as you."

Still frowning, Naugus turns the ice cream cone in his hand. "I'm sure I could still work Ixian magic where you're from. So long as there's air, fire, water and earth, I can conjure wonders. But we've had this conversation before, haven't we? You can't afford to learn it or bring it there because you'd rather not deal with the fallout. Even though you'd have the tools right at hand to end any possible outcry or uprising; that of course being the magic that upset the rabble in the first place.

"So let's hear it then; what's this one grand solution of yours to maintain mediocrity back in your zone of origins?"