Over the next two days, Magnus slowly got back to work. Christmas was on Saturday and several orders needed to be finished. He worked in a daze, mindlessly completing memories, not noticing the movement of his hands.

Alvis stopped by at one point, ostensibly to invite Magnus to his Christmas Eve party, but Magnus knew he’d heard about the argument with Val. Magnus gave a few noncommittal responses to Alvis’s questions, and his friend soon left the workshop muttering and shaking his head.

The whole time, the memory of the fire sat in the center of the work table, untouched, but not unnoticed. Continually throughout the day, Magnus’s gaze wandered over, yet he never disturbed it.

It was the morning of the 23rd when Shay visited the workshop. “Sorry to interrupt, Magnus, but I’ve got another memory for you.”

“Alright.” Magnus did not look up.

“Everything okay?”

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Magnus finally caught up to Val outside of Mr. Dakken’s place. The two were talking in the front step when Magnus arrived, breathing heavily through clenched teeth. “What do you think you’re doing?” He snatched the memory from Mr. Dakken’s hand. “What’s going on with this?”

Val stood there, too stunned to speak.

Mr. Dakken cleared his throat. “Now, Magnus, I quite like-”

Magnus held up his hand, silencing him, but continuing to stare down Val. “Did you make any other deliveries?”

Val narrowed his eyes and glared back at him. “Not yet.”

“Good. Let’s get back to the workshop.” Magnus stomped down the street, leaving Mr. Dakken in his open doorway, mouth agape.

“Listen,” Val called as he jogged after Magnus, “you’re the one that said I could do this.”

“What? Use my reputation to sell your own inferior work?”

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